Schedule
‘ Today, May 14: Chili supper and bingo, 6-9 p.m., Chickamauga Civic Center, 1817 Lee Clarkson Road; $5 supper, 25 cents per bingo card ‘ Friday, May 15: Movie in the Park, 8:30 p.m., Holland-Watson Veterans Memorial Park, Crittenden Avenue at West Eighth Street; free; bring lawn chair to watch family-friendly movie ‘ Saturday, May 16: Down Home Day, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., downtown Chickamauga; free ‘ Sunday, May 17: Viewing stands set up downtown to watch Ironman 70.3 race pass through Chickamauga, 8 a.m.-noon
The Chickamauga, Ga., Lions Club usually hosts its Down Home Days celebration the first weekend of May. But the Lions are moving their weekend street party to the middle of this month to add to its festival atmosphere by coordinating with the Chattanooga Ironman 70.3 race. A portion of its 56-mile bike course will pass through historic Chickamauga on Sunday morning, May 17.
Lions Club president Lee Miller says the original intent of Down Home Days when it was founded 43 years ago was to give folks who had moved away from town the opportunity to return and reconnect with friends and family. As the years have passed, the reunion has taken on more of a festival atmosphere, a celebration of things that make its small-town Southern life so attractive.
The party kicks off tonight, May 14, with a chili supper and bingo party in the Chickamauga Civic Center. Friday night, May 15, families can bring blankets or lawn chairs to Veterans Memorial Park to watch a G-rated movie under the stars.
The big block party is Saturday, May 16, in downtown Chickamauga, where there will be 80 food and craft vendors, a 2 p.m. parade, a car show, kids activities and two stages of entertainment. Miller says the Crystal Springs Stage will feature six gospel acts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m,
Over at the Cove Road Stage, the music kicks off at 11 a.m. with Crosspointe Praise Band and concludes with popular party band The Beaters at 7:45 p.m. The only break in performances will take place at 2 p.m. when the parade rolls through town.
Members of the Friends of Gordon Lee Mansion will open that historic home for tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tour tickets are $5 adults, $1 children and all proceeds will help preserve the stately 1847 antebellum home.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.