Staff File Photo
Faith Everett, of Dalton, studies the colorful glass designs of artist Mark Payton during the 4 Bridges Art Festival.
Staff Photo by Lesley Onstott
Azilee Uhles, left, who occassionally teaches dance in Chattanooga, and Alysha Cantrell, a dance teacher in Knoxville, dance on the floor in Coolidge Park at Swingfest.What makesus special?Situated in the rich cultural landscape of the southern Appalachias and at the crossroads of two interstates, Chattanooga is within a two-hour drive of major urban centers, and local festivals strike a balance between the modern and traditional.
With its location within a two-hour drive of major cities in the Southeast, the Chattanooga region hosts dozens of annual festivals.
Here are some events to plan your year around.
April 16-18: 4 Bridges Arts Festival. A juried fine art show sponsored by Association for Visual Arts. Held at the 50,000-square-foot First Tennessee Pavilion, with an adjacent outdoor area hosting food/drink vendors, musicians and crafting activities for kids. Anticipated attendance for this year's festival is about 30,000. Admission: $5 adults, children free.
April 29-May 1: Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass Festival. This 19-year-old event is the first up on a list of regional bluegrass festivals. The lineup typically features a dozen acts, including local, regional and nationally recognized talent. Held at the Raccoon Mountain campground. Before April 15, tickets for April 29 are $10, $15 for April 30, and $20 for May 1. Three-day passes are $45. After April 15, add $5 for any of the daily passes and $15 for the three-day pass.
May 1, 15, 22: Tennessee Strawberry Festival. This free "celebration of small-town life" was started in 1947 as a one-day festival but has blossomed into an extravaganza attracting thousands. Events include musical acts, food, a parade and the crowning of the Strawberry Festival Queen.
June 5: Bella Sera: Enjoy an evening of food and wine tastings with a silent auction and the dulcet sounds of area musicians in North Chattanooga's Renaissance Park, $60.
June 10-13: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. This music festival in Manchester, Tenn., is 75 miles from Chattanooga and is considered one of the marquee musical events in the country, attracting tens of thousands of people to a 700-acre farm for four days of musical and comedy acts. Past performers include Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Metallica, Radiohead, The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs and Phish.
June 11-19: Riverbend Music Festival. For nine days, Chattanooga's downtown waterfront hosts about 100 national, regional and local acts for a massive multistage festival that is the city's preeminent musical even. Riverbend attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Darius Rucker, the Charlie Daniels Band, Dan Baird and Drivin' 'N' Cryin' are the first four announced acts this year.
July 3: Pops on the River. Chattanooga rings in the nation's birthday with a free, patriotic concert by the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera in North Chattanooga's Coolidge Park.
July 23-25: The fourth annual Chattanooga Dragonboat Festival. Watch dozens of teams on sleek, 41-foot boats race down the Tennessee River all day. Activities on the shore include moon walks and inflatables for the kids. This year, the event will be held in conjunction with the U.S. National Dragon Boat Club Crew Championships. Teams must pay to register to compete, but the event is free to watch from the bridges or nearby Ross's Landing.
Sept. 4: SwingFest. Labor Day weekend kicks off in Coolidge Park with this free evening of music and dance featuring some of Chattanooga's largest swing orchestras. The bands consist of local professional musicians, teachers, band directors and well-known performers. Free dance lessons provided.
Oct. 1-2: Three Sisters Music Festival. Started in 2007 by a local businessman and accomplished fiddler, Fletcher Bright, the Three Sisters Festival on the waterfront at Ross's Landing is becoming one of the banner events of the fall. Local, regional and national bluegrass all-stars perform for free for two days on a stage framing the river.
Oct. 2: Wine Over Water. More than 100 wineries from around the world have their wares on display along the historic Walnut Street pedestrian bridge spanning the Tennessee River. Tickets are $60 per person and include samples of an array of wines. All proceeds go toward historic preservation in Chattanooga.
Oct. 2-3. Nillie Bipper Arts and Crafts Festival: For more than 40 years, crafts people and artists from around the country converge on the Tri-State Exhibition Center in Cleveland, Tenn., for this juried arts festival. $5 for adults, $4 for seniors.
Oct. 23-24: Oktoberfest. Thanks to Volkswagen's recent decision to build a new factory in Chattanooga, the whole city has Teutonic Fever, and this celebration of all things German (beer, music and dance) is the perfect cure. The Chattanooga Market hosts the free event at First Tennessee Pavilion.
Late October, early November. Fall Color Cruise: Chattanooga was built along the scenic Tennessee River, and this guided cruise on the vintage steamboat Southern Belle takes passengers downriver through the beautiful Tennessee River Gorge when the foliage is in full display.
Nov. 26: Grand Illumination on the River. The Winter Days & Lights holiday season, awarded Top 20 event status by the Southeast Tourism Society, kicks off with this event. Following a parade of lighted boats on the Tennessee River, the free celebration continues with a stage show at Ross's Landing and a fireworks finale.
Dec. 4: Holiday Starlight Parade. This free event is Chattanooga's largest parade, beginning at Miller Park and proceeding up Market Street to the Tennessee Aquarium.
Dec. 10: Appalachian Christmas. The final event of Winter Days & Lights is this concert at the Waterhouse Pavilion in Miller Plaza. The ticket price includes performances by local and national bluegrass talents as well as hot cider and sugar cookies.
What makesus special?
Situated in the rich cultural landscape of the southern Appalachias and at the crossroads of two interstates, Chattanooga is within a two-hour drive of major urban centers, and local festivals strike a balance between the modern and traditional.