BARRY COURTER: Lisa, even though Memorial Day is not until next Monday, next weekend will have a lot of events. One of those is 1890s Day in Ringgold, Ga. This is a chance to party like it's 1890.
They'll have gospel music and a dance and fiddle contest on Friday night. Then on Saturday, they kick things off with a parade at 11 a.m. and follow that with folk, country and rock music, a car show and cruise-in and conclude the day with fireworks.
LISA DENTON: I like to think that a century ago there would have been a minstrel wearing purple farm clothes who encouraged his fellow Ringgoldians (is that a word?) to "party like it's 1899." But that's just me. I'd also like to add that I was dreamin' when I wrote this; forgive me if it goes astray.
BARRY: I can imagine that damsel in purple sporting a raspberry bonnet, the kind you'd find in a dry-goods store, driving her little red horse-drawn carriage around town shouting "Let's go crazy." Pretty sure the Ringgoldians of today think we got there about 20 minutes ago.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
Anyway, since Memorial Day is about honoring the people who have died during their military service, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has a variety of special programming planned this weekend at Point Park. In addition to guided ranger tours of the park and Cravens House both days, on Saturday, they will host an artillery program hourly beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the last one beginning at 3:30 p.m.
LISA: Also Saturday, they're asking visitors to bring a photograph or small memento of a loved one who died in service to the nation, and those service men and women will be recognized during the programs. That's a fitting tribute.
It's good to have these solemn remembrances, but there are also fun things to do this weekend too. Like Lake Winnepesaukah opens its SoakYa water park. Rock City kicks off its Summer Music Weekends. The Lookouts are at home starting Wednesday. The Imax Theater debuts "Amazon Adventure 3D" on Friday.
And Creative Discovery Museum will open its "Very Eric Carle" exhibit Saturday. It will run through mid-September with activities that correspond to some of Carle's books, including "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," "The Very Busy Spider," "The Very Lonely Firefly," "The Very Clumsy Beetle" and "The Very Quiet Cricket." Talk about spinning the emotional wheel.
BARRY: I have a new title: How about "The Very Musical Wednesday Lunch Hour"? Noontunes continues this week with Husky Burnette. Husky is really good and does some raucous blues and rock 'n' roll. If you can't get out to Miller Plaza for his show, we'll have the great Roger Alan Wade in for Music Wednesdays on Facebook Live.
Get event details every Thursday in Chattanooga Now or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.