Market merriment

Dancers can take to the floor for Chattanooga Market’s Big Band Swing Fest on Sunday. Sweet Georgia Sound will provide the music.

Things are going to be swinging at Chattanooga Market's Big Band Swing Fest on Sunday.

The annual event features the Sweet Georgia Sound. Professional and amateur swing dancers from across the region will showcase their talents.

"We set up a dance floor for this event," said Melissa Siragusa, Chattanooga Market spokeswoman. "We have all sorts of people join in the fun and even a few regulars who favor this event each year -- no dance groups, per se, but certainly people show up who know what they are doing."

Siragusa reminds marketgoers that those who arrive early gets first dibs on the market's fresh produce and fruits, especially the first peach crop of the season. Strawberries, always in demand, have been plentiful at the most recent markets, she said.

With nearly 175 vendors selling everything from food, furniture, arts and crafts, the market offers something for everyone, she said.

This weekend, Chattanooga Market doubles its Saturday offerings:

* Chattanooga River Market continues in its regular time slot, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Tennessee Aquarium plaza, 1 Broad St. Local artisans and live music are featured each week. The Madison Community Band will perform at 1 p.m. A free yoga class by Chattanooga Yoga Collective starts at 9 a.m.

* The Ringgold Market debuts Saturday, 8-11 a.m., at the Catoosa County Courthouse in downtown Ringgold, Ga. It is co-presented by the Chattanooga Public Market, the city of Ringgold and the Ringgold Telephone Co.

This "tailgate" market will feature fresh produce and a selection of local arts and crafts, according to a news release.

Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill. Subscribe to her posts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen nazorhill.