LEISURE
BATTLEFIELD BICYCLE TOURS – Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Free monthly bike tours through 3 to 4 miles of Civil War battlefield for adults and children ages 8 and older accompanied by an adult, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 16. Helmets required. Loaner bikes available from Outdoor Chattanooga with reservations: 706-866-9241.
CAMBRIDGE SQUARE NIGHT MARKET – Cambridge Square, 9453 Bradmore Lane, Ooltewah. Live music, food and handmade art and crafts from regional artists, 5-8 p.m. Fridays through July. 423-648-2496.
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS – The Little Curiosity Shoppe, 138 Market St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery. Adults $15.95, ages 12 and under $10. Tours 8:30 p.m. nightly. 423-821-7125.
CHATTANOOGA SIDEWALK TOURS – Choice of two tours daily: Dynamo of Dixie at 10 a.m., or Bluff and Bridges Tour, 6 p.m. Fee is $15 adults, $7 children 12 and under. Reservations required. Call 423-228-0448 or reserve online at www.chattwalktours.com.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL – McKenzie Arena, 720 E. Fourth St. Cirque du Soleil performs for first time in Chattanooga with its newest touring show, “Ovo,” 7:30-10 p.m. Wednesday- Friday, July 20-22; 4-6:30 and 7:30-10 p.m. Saturday, July 23; 1:30-4 p.m. and 5-7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24. $35-$156. 423-266-6627.
CIVIL WAR PROGRAM – Cravens House, Lookout Mountain. Free, 39-minute programs on Reconstruction in Chattanooga will explore how white Chattanoogans, Freedmen and northern emigrants rebuilt the city after the Civil War. Program schedule applies Saturday-Sunday, July 16-17. 705-866-9241.
* 10 a.m.: “A New City: Union Veterans and the Rebuilding of Chattanooga.” The role Union veterans, including the U.S. Colored Troops, played in rebuilding Chattanooga.
* 2 p.m.: “An Unending War: Racial ad Political Violence Around Chattanooga During Reconstruction.” Violence around the country continued long after the Confederacy surrendered. This program examines the history of this violence in Chattanooga.
* 3 p.m. “Robert Cravens: Rebuilding a Home and an Industry.” Cravens rebuilt his Lookout Mountain home the year following the Civil War. Hear how the family met the challenges of Reconstruction during a tour of the Cravens House.
CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK – 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. 706-657-4050.
* Saturday, July 16: Nature Arts ‘n Crafts, drop by Interpretive Center between 1 and 3 p.m. for kids make-and-take craft. Activities change weekly. $5 parking.
* Saturdays, July 16 and 23: Rock Talk and Stroll, $5 parking, hear about the park’s geology during one-mile hike.
* Saturdays July 16 and 23: Sunset Stroll to Sunset Point, 8:30-9:15 p.m., $5 parking. Short walk with naturalist to Sunset Point to see Lookout Valley at sunset.
DESOTO STATE PARK – 7104 DeSoto Parkway, Fort Payne, Ala. 256-997-5025. All times are Central.
* Friday, July 22: Salamanders of Alabama, 8 p.m., free campfire talk by Dr. George Cline on diversity of salamanders that call Alabama home. Bring a camp chair; talk moves to Nature Center if raining.
* Saturday, July 23: Voices of the Night, 8 p.m., free campfire talk by Dr. George Cline on frogs, their calls and how to identify them. Bring a camp chair; talk moves to Nature Center if raining.
FORT PAYNE CRUISE-IN – Gault Avenue in downtown Fort Payne, Ala. Free car cruise-in with music, kids activities, food vendors and discounts at downtown merchants. 5-9 p.m. CST. Saturday, July 16. www.facebook.com/3rdSaturdayFortPayneAl.
FRIDAY NIGHTS IN THE PARK – Angel Park on University Avenue, downtown Sewanee, Tenn. Sewanee Business Alliance sponsors Friday night block party with food and drink vendors and live music. 6 p.m. Friday, July 15. 954-830-4760.
HARRISON BAY STATE PARK – 8411 Harrison Bay Road, Harrison, Tenn. 423-344-6214. Full Moon Kayak Tour, 7:30-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 19. $45 per person includes equipment, children must be 14 or older and accompanied by an adult. Leisurely tour around islands and sloughs of Chickamauga Lake led by Outdoor Chattanooga.
HIKES – Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619.
* Saturday, July 16: North Chickamauga Creek to Stevens Branch and back, strenuous 9 miles. Meet at Walmart in Soddy-Daisy at 8 a.m.
* Tuesday, July 19: Big Soddy Gulf to Big Soddy bridge and back, moderate 5 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 8 a.m.
* Saturday, July 23: Heiss Mountain to Big Soddy Gulf, moderate-to-slightly-strenuous 6 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 8 a.m.
HOME EDUCATION EXPO – Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Homeschool expo offers 75 exhibitors, 50 workshops, resources for education enrichment, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Friday, July 15; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association members $4 per family for two-day admission; nonmembers $8 per family for two-day admission. www.csthea.org.
HYDRANGEA CLASS – UT Extension, 6183 Adamson Circle. Master Gardeners of Hamilton County member Carol Mathews leads free monthly gardening class on the car of hydrangeas, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 16. 423-855-6113, mghc.org.
PADDLE SMART CHATTANOOGA – Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. Experienced instructors teach how to set up your boat, paddling techniques, entry and exit practices, understanding water flow, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19. Session concluded with optional paddle tour. $25. 423-643-6888.
PEACH TRUCK FREESTONE TOUR – Georgia company’s annual five-state tour selling Freestone peaches by the 25-pound box. thepeachtruck.com/tour.
* Saturday, July 16: The Feed Store, 928 Highway 70, Crossville, Tenn., 9-10:30 a.m.; The Meat Market, 2694 Nashville Highway, McMinnville, Tenn., 12:30-2 p.m. (all times Central).
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA – St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive. Program by Genna Sellers of Knoxville on architectural photography, 7 p.m. July 21. Free. Opens with 6 p.m. boot camp on ways to improve image exposures. 423-344-5643.
PINK BRIDAL SHOW – Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. The Pink Bride expo brings all types of wedding vendors to one location, includes choreographed fashion shows, cake tastings, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 17. $12 online, $15 at the door. www.ThePinkBride.com.
PRODUCTS OF THE HIVE WORKSHOP – Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St. Interactive presentation on bees and products gained from their hives, with demonstrations making body care products from honey and herbs, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 16. Crabtree Farm members free, nonmembers $10. 423-493-9155.
Q & BREW – Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Enjoy barbecue, beer, country music and animal encounters. 6-10 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Zoo members $12 member adults, $7 ages 3-12 member children; $15 nonmember adults, $10 children. In honor of the five servicemen slain July 16, 2015, all current and veteran military personnel with valid ID get in free. www.chattzoo.org/eventsqnbrew. Military use code noogastrong16 to get free tickets when ordering online.
RED CLAY STATE PARK – 1140 Red Clay Park Road, Cleveland, Tenn. Meet at Visitor Center gazebo for ranger-led tours at 1 p.m. and Cherokee games at 3 p.m. Weapon demonstrations at 5 p.m. at amphitheater near the council spring. Saturdays, July 16, 23, 30 and Aug. 6. 423-478-0339.
RUBY FALLS LANTERN TOURS – Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Highway. Rarely seen view deep within Lookout Mountain cavern, 8:30-10:30 p.m. every Friday through September $26.95. Reservations required: 1-800-755-7105.
STATION STREET SIP & SAVOR – Gardens of Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. Beverage and food tasting to benefit Kids on the Block, 5-9 p.m. July 30. Must be 21 or older to attend. General admission $45, VIP $65 includes admission to special Riedel glass tasting at 4 p.m. and three Riedel glasses to keep. www.stationstreetsipandsavor.com.
WINE TASTING – Back Inn Cafe, 412 E. Second St. Join Michael Vasta, Bluff View’s wine director, to learn more about rosé wines through a series of tastings, 6:30-8:30 p.m. yoday, July 14. $37. Reservations required: 423-265-5033.
FARMERS MARKETS
BRAINERD FARMERS MARKET – Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave. Open 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays. 423-698-0330.
CHATTANOOGA MARKET – First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd. Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. This week’s theme: Jack’s Chattanoggins, the sixth annual head-shaving event to raise funds for kids with cancer; money raised goes to Children’s Hospital Foundation at Erlanger. jackshaves.org. Music by Brian Ashley Jones at 12:30 p.m., Davidi Elliott at 2 p.m. 423-402-9958, www.ChattanoogaMarket.com.
CHATTANOOGA RIVER MARKET – Tennessee Aquarium plaza, 1 Broad St. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. www.ChattanoogaMarket.com.
COLLEGEDALE MARKET – Site of Collegedale Commons, behind Ooltewah Library on Apison Pike, Collegedale. Open 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. 423-664-3022.
HIGHLAND PARK COMMONS – 2000 Union Ave. Open 4-7 p.m. Thursdays. 423-838-9804.
LOOKOUT FARMERS MARKET – Audubon Acres, 900 North Sanctuary Road. Open 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays. www.lookoutfarmersmarket.com.
MAIN STREET MARKET – 324 E. Main St. Open 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays. mainstfarmersmarket.com.
OOLTEWAH FARMERS MARKET – Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co., 5829 Main St. Open 3-6 p.m. Thursdays. 423-238-9775.
RED BANK FARMERS MARKET – Red Bank United Methodist Church front lawn, 3800 Dayton Blvd. Open 3-6 p.m. Mondays. 423-838-9804.
SODDY-DAISY FARMERS MARKET – Poe’s Tavern Historical Park by Soddy-Daisy City hall, 9835 Dayton Pike. Open 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays. 423-332-5323.
ST. ALBAN’S HIXSON MARKET – St. Alban’s Church, 7514 Hixson Pike. Open 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays. 423-842-1342.
ST. ELMO -Incline Railway, 3917 St. Elmo Ave. Open 4-7 p.m. Fridays. 423-838-9804.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
BOOK SIGNING – Star Line Books, 1467 Market St. Brian Keene signs his latest novel, “Under Pressure,” 3-6 p.m. today, July 14. www.starlinebooks.com
CHILDREN/TEENS
CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1001 Broad St. (main library) and branches at Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga. 423-757-5310, www.chattlibrary.org. Signing story time for ages up to 5 and parent, 10:30-11 a.m. Monday, July 18, Eastgate. Learn sign language through songs and stories.
DANCE
LINE/COUPLES DANCE – VFW Post 4848, 1491 Riverside Drive. Beginner two-step lesson at 7 p.m., dance at 7:30-11 p.m. Friday, July 22. $5. 423-624-6687.