If you go
* What: Chattanooga Market opening weekend * When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 25; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 26 * Where: First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd. * Admission: Free * Phone: 423-266-4041 * Website: chattanooga market.com Entertainment Saturday * 12:30-3 p.m. Sweet Georgia Sound Sunday * 12:30-1:30 p.m. Naked Blue * 2-3 p.m. Jennifer Daniels
The calendar already says it’s so, but the surest sign of spring for area residents doesn’t come until this weekend with the opening of Chattanooga Market.
There’s plenty to be excited about this year, says market spokeswoman Melissa Siragusa, starting with a two-day kickoff on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, giving marketgoers an additional day to check out the offerings from local farmers, artists and food purveyors.
The market boasts a yearly roster of more than 1,000 vendors. On any given Sunday, about 200 are on-site, Siragusa says. They include farms and food artisans selling in-season produce, meats, cheeses, breads and specialty prepared foods. Regional artists and crafters offer pottery, jewelry, photography, apparel, home and beauty products. Fresh-cut flowers are a big draw too.
Siragusa says the market’s food artisan and crafter categories have expanded, and some of the several dozen new vendors are featured on the website, chattanoogamarket.com.
Opening weekend will feature a blood drive by new sponsor Blood Assurance. Each person who donates blood will receive a free commemorative T-shirt. Advance registration is recommended but not necessary, Siragusa says.
Also, the Tennessee Dahlia Society will hold its spring tuber sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Tubers are the roots from which the stems sprout.
In addition to the regular slate of vendors, the schedule features a different theme each week, along with related activities.
New this year will be the Slider Smackdown on July 19. The event will feature Krystal-inspired mini hamburgers from some of Chattanooga’s most popular restaurants.
“Don’t let the minis fool you – these unique creations will fill you right up,” Siragusa says, explaining the burgers will be made from either beef, chicken or pork. A $10 ticket will buy samples from each participating restaurant. Sales benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
Also new at the market will be a Buskers Festival on Oct. 25 that features street performers such as musicians, dancers, jugglers, mimes, puppeteers, magicians and artists.
The Firehouse Chili competition on Nov. 15 is a returning favorite. Siragusa predicts it will be one of the season’s top events. The contest among area firehouse cooks is sponsored by Chattanooga Fire Fighters Association, Local 820.
In addition to the Sunday staple on the Southside, Chattanooga Market also produces the Chattanooga River Market, continuing Saturdays through Oct. 3 at the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza, and the Chattanooga Market Farm Fresh on Wednesday afternoons at First Tennessee Pavilion starting May 6.
Siragusa says the staff and board of directors of Chattanooga Market are humbled by the community support that has made the market a success.
“We believe our efforts have made a significant contribution to Chattanooga and the surrounding region and [that we] have helped launched many local entrepreneurs,” Siragusa says, explaining that some people travel two hours to shop at the market. “Impacting our community on a number of fronts, including tourism development, drives us.
“We were recently thrilled when the first set of tickets to our Chattanooga Oktoberfest Festhalle Banquet were purchased by a family in New Zealand.”
Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6396.