LEISURE
ANTIQUE ALLEY & YARD SALE — U.S. Highway 11. Roadside sales along a 502-mile route between Bristol, Va., and Meridian, Miss., today-Sunday, May 15-18. Passes through Monroe, McMinn, Bradley and Hamilton counties in Tennessee, Dade County in Georgia and DeKalb County in Alabama. www.us11antiquealley.com.
BACKPACKING 101 — Desoto State Park, 7104 Desoto Parkway, Fort Payne, Ala. Learn fire safety, basic tinder to look for and three ways to start a fire on backpacking hike for ages 14 and up (youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 17; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, May 18 (all times Central). Meals and all equipment provided for fee of $110, meals and provide own equipment $85, instruction only $65. 256-634-8370.
BARGAINS AT THE BESSIE — Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd. Vendor reservations due by May 23 for community yard sale, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. May 31. Nonrefundable $50 rents 10- by 10-foot outdoor space with table. 423-266-8658, info@bessiesmithcc.org.
BENEFIT BARBECUE — American Legion Post 81, 227 James Asbury Lane, Cleveland, Tenn. Pulled pork, sweet potato fries, beans and coleslaw sold for $8 a plate to benefit Alvin C. York Veterans Medical Center and Veterans Day Room Activities, 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 16. Under 18 can attend until 8:30 p.m.; entertainment 8:30-midnight. 423-476-4451.
CHATTANOOGA FOOTBALL CLUB — Finley Stadium, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. Soccer match between Chattanooga Football Club and Nashville Football Club, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17. $5 online, $7 at the gate ages 6 and older; $30 season tickets. $5 parking at Finley Stadium starting at 6 p.m. www.chattanoogafc.com.
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, 7:30 nightly. $15 adults, $10 ages 12 and under. 423-821-7125.
CHATTANOOGA SIDEWALK TOURS — Choice of two tours daily. $15 adults, $7 children 12 and under. Reservations required: 423-228-0448, www.chattanoogasidewalktours.com. Dynamo of Dixie tour departs from Sheraton Read House, corner of Broad Street and M.L. King Boulevard, 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Bluffs and Bridges tour begins at south end of Walnut Street Bridge, 4 and 6 p.m.
CHATTANOOGA TOUR DE CURE — First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd. Bicycle ride to benefit American Diabetes Association offers 10-, 25-, 40-, 68- or 101-mile routes. 7 a.m. Saturday, May 17. $15-$200. 423-266-4041.
CHEROKEE ROSE FESTIVAL — East Armuchee Community Center, 11471 E. Highway 136, Villanow, Ga. Free outdoor festival with entertainment, food and craft vendors, car show, children’s area, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 17.706-397-9987.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROCKABILLY ROUNDUP — Mountain Creek Harley-Davidson, 1001 Market St., Dalton, Ga. Ride-in bike and car show, Ms. MCHD Pin Up Contest, tattoo contest, music by Huskey Burnette and Atomic Boogie. Registration for all events from noon to 2 p.m. Party noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 17. 423-370-7433.
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, May 17: Nickajack connector trail, moderate 6-8 miles, meet at Red Bank Bi-Lo parking lot, 8 a.m.
Tuesday, May 20: Enterprise South, easy-to-moderate 6 miles, meet at Highway 153 Target parking lot, 8 a.m.
Saturday, May 24: Booker T. Washington State Park, easy-to-moderate 7 miles, meet at Highway 153 Target parking lot, 8 a.m.
JUNIOR GUN SAFETY PROGRAM — American Legion Post 81, 227 James Asbury Lane, Cleveland,Tenn. Join Legionnaires for dinner and program on Junior Shooting Sports Program, a gun safety and education program, 6-8:30 p.m. May 23. $8 per person. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 423-476-4451.
MASQUERADE: A FISH & CHIPS EVENT — Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St. Fundraiser for Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County includes casino games, silent auction, food and dancing, 7-11 p.m. May 30. $75 general admission, $150 VIP. cachc.org.
MAY DAY AT PARADISE ARABIANS — Paradise Arabians Farm, 721 Gowan Road, LaFayette, Ga. Open house for the public to see Egyptian Arabian horses and other animals, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 17. Free but donations collected for Lana’s Love fund. 706-217-9507.
NATIONAL RACKING HORSE ASSOCIATION SHOW — Tri-State Exhibition Center, 200 Natures Trail, Cleveland, Tenn. Choo Choo chapter of National Racking Horse Association hosts benefit for Open Arms Care, which serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 5-10 p.m. Saturday, May 17. $5. 423-667-0440.
NATURE WALK — Stringer’s Ridge, Bell Avenue entrance off Cherokee Boulevard. Jay Clark, author of “The Wildflowers of Pigeon Mountain, leads leisurely outing through urban forest to identify species and discuss roles they play in the ecosystem, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 17. Free. 423-693-4729, campfamily63@yahoo.com.
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA — St. John United Methodist Church gymnasium, 3921 Murray Hills Road. Boot camp on photography gadgets, 6 p.m. today, May 15. Program at 7 p.m. by Brett Wells on macro photography. Free. 423-344-5643.
REFLECTION RIDING ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER– 400 Garden Road. All events require registration: 423-821-1160.
Sunday, May 18: “The Secret World of Red Wolves, The Fight to Save North America’s Other Wolf,” talk by author DeLene Beeland followed by book signing, 1:30 p.m. $10 members, $15 nonmembers.
Thursday, May 22: Pat Fountain leads discussion of “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver, 6:30 p.m., $5 members, $8 nonmembers.
RUBY FALLS LANTERN TOURS — Ruby Falls, 1720 South Scenic Highway. Ride the 260-foot elevator down into Lookout Moutain and experience the cavern tour in a new light, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays through September. Tour size limited; reservations required. $24.95. 423-821-2544.
RUGBY SPRING MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL — Historic Rugby, Highway 52, Rugby, Tenn. The 40th spring festival celebrates Rugby’s British and Appalachian roots with music, food, local artists and storytelling, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 16-17. 423-628-2441.
SAILING COURSE — First Christian Church, 60 McCallie Ave. U.S. Power Squadron’s 11-week sail course for novice and experienced sailors begins 7 p.m. May 22. Registration required. Squadron members $45, nonmembers $68. 423-785-6756.
SPIRITS IN THE WILD — Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Adults-only party to mingle with the animals after-hours features food, wines and liquors and meet resident animals, 7-10 p.m. Saturday, May 17. Proceeds go to conservation efforts. Minimum age 21. $40. 423-697-1319, www.chattzoo.org.
STORYTELLING SHOWCASE — The Camp House, 1427 Williams St. Night of true stories told live by local storytellers, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17. $2-$5. 423-619-3528.
TRAIN RIDES — Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com.
Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM’s repair shop. $17 adults, $11 ages 3-12. Trains depart every Saturday-Sunday at 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 and 3:35 p.m. Trains depart Wednesdays-Fridays at 10:40 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
Chickamauga Turn: Six-hour, round-trip ride to Chickamaua, Ga., trip includes 90-minute layover in Chickamauga and short layover at Wilder Tower on return, departs 10 a.m., returns about 4:15 p.m. Saturdays in May. $37 adult, $28 ages 3-12.
Hiwassee River Rail Adventure: A 50-mile, 3.5-hour round-trip into the Hiwassee River gorge, Sundays in May, shuttle buses depart from Etowah, Tenn., at 1:30 p.m. $38 adults, $27 children ages 3-12.
WILDFLOWER WALK — Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness, Dayton, Tenn. Five-mile round-trip hike to scenic area with creeks, gorges and variety of native wildflowers, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, May 18. Participants take home one native flower. Wear sunscreen and proper footwear, bring bottled water, snack. $5. communitytnaqua.org/events/spring-2014.
YARD SALE FUNDRAISER — Marcella Center, 117 Washington Road, Sweetwater, Tenn. Clothes, tools, furniture, dishes and other merchandise available, starting at 7 a.m. May 24. Homemade baked goods, salsa, relish and other concessions. 423-337-4298.
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. 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.
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.
ST. ALBAN’S HIXSON MARKET — St. Alban’s Church, 7514 Hixson Pike. Open 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays. 423-842-1342.
WEDNESDAY MARKET — First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd. Open 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays. 423-648-2496, www.ChattanoogaMarket.com.
BOOKS/AUTHORS
WRITERS GUILD — Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga. Guild hosts monthly meetings to improve writing skills, provide listening and feedback to local writers and to present regional authors, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, May 19. 706-259-1822.
CHILDREN/TEENS
BARNES & NOBLE — 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Children’s storytime, 11 a.m. Wednesdays. 423-893-0186.
BOOKS NEVER-ENDING — 247 Cloud Springs Road, Rossville. Storytime for ages 3-8, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. 706-891-0774, www.booksneverending.com
CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY — 1001 Broad St. (main library) plus branches at Eastgate, Northgate and South Chattanooga. 423-757-5310, www.chattlibrary.org.
Lego Clubs: Downtown branch, every Monday, 5-6 p.m., for ages 5-11, free; Northgate branch, first Saturday of each month, 2-3 p.m., for ages 3 and up, free. 423-757-5314.
Toddler Time: Learning program for ages 18-36 months and parents/guardians, advance registration not required. Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Eastgate Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Northgate Library. Saturday: 11 a.m., downtown.
Friday, May 16: Sew What for Teens, 3-5 p.m., second floor of downtown branch, bring a T-shirt to turn into headband with flowers and work on home sewing projects.
Saturday, May 17: Crafts for ages 5-11, 3 p.m., downtown branch.
Saturday, May 17: Origama Yoda Book Club, 3 p.m., art projects for ages 7-12, South Chattanooga branch
Saturday, May 17: Sensory storytime, 9:30 a.m., downtown branch, interactive programs for school-age children with special needs and their families, caregiver participation is required.
Wednesday, May 21: Makeanooga, 5 p.m., downtown branch, program for ages 8-11 to try 3-D printing, button making, movie-making, music. Space limited to 20 per class; register at 423-757-5310.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM — 321 Chestnut St. $11.95 adults and children. 423-756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.
Saturday, May 17: PopTots concert by Chattanooga Symphony & Opera ensemble, 10 a.m.-noon.
Saturday, May 17: Countdown to Kindergarten, 9 a.m.-noon, for rising kindergarteners and their parents, program on social and emotional behavior readiness with activities for children and information sessions for parents.
Friday, May 23: Preview new exhibit, “Wizard of Oz,” 10 a.m.-noon, first 50 children who show up dressed as Dorothy, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, Scarecrow or Glinda the Good Witch receive free admission to the museum for the day.