LEISURE
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON STATE PARK – 5801 Champion Road. 423-322-5160. For both hikes, wear hiking boots, bring water and snack, dress appropriately for weather.
* Sunday, Jan. 1: First Day Hike, 9 a.m.-noon, free, 3-mile hike along shore to the Point, meet at Recreational Area 1 parking lot.
* Sunday, Jan. 1: First Time to Hike, meet at Shelter 1-B, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., free 1.5-mile stroll along banks of Tennessee River to look for wildlife.
CHATTANOOGA MODELCON – Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St. Chattanooga Scale Modelers Association hosts scale-model convention with categories for aircraft, armor, autos, diorama, figures, science fiction and ships; vendors, air-brush demonstrations, 2-7 p.m. Jan. 6; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 7. For tickets: 423-756-0001
CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK – 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. 706-657-4050.
* Friday, Dec. 30: Night hike, 5-7 p.m., $10 plus $5 parking, ages 10 and older can join 2-mile hike to learn about park’s geology, enjoy trail by moonlight and listen for night sounds. Reservations required: www.GeorgiaGirlGuides.com.
* Sunday, Jan. 1: First Day Hike, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $5 parking, ranger-guided hike through lesser-known area of park; bring brown bag lunch, wear study shoes and dress for cold weather.
DESOTO STATE PARK – 7104 DeSoto Parkway, Fort Payne, Ala. 256-997-5025. All times are Central. First Day Hike to Martha’s Falls, 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Moderately difficult 4-mile hike, meet at Little River Canyon Center for pre-hike orientation. Bring water, snack/lunch, hiking pole (optional), wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, dress appropriate for weather. Canceled if raining. Free.
HARRISON BAY STATE PARK – 8411 Harrison Bay Road. 423-344-6214. New Year’s Hike, 11:45 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. Easy 1-mile hike to bring in New Year with family and friends, meet in parking lot across from park’s Interpretive Center.
HIKES – Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. 423-842-3619, george.r.bonneau@gmail.com.
* Saturday, Dec. 31: Snow Falls, strenuous 10.5 miles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
* Tuesday, Jan. 3: Falling Water Falls, moderate 5 miles. Meet at Walmart parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
* Saturday, Jan. 7: Heiss Mountain to Retro Hughes Trailhead, strenuous 10 miles. Will stage vehicles. Meet at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy at 9 a.m.
ICE ON THE LANDING – Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St. Ice skating rink with rink-side concession vending through Jan. 16. $10 adult ticket, $8 ages 12 and younger, includes skate rentals and two-hour skate session. Regular hours (through Jan. 3): 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday. www. iceonthelanding.com.
* Today, Dec. 29: Family Night, one free child’s ticket for each paid adult, 5-9 p.m.
* Friday, Dec. 30: Visit with Star Wars characters from 501 Legion Midsouth Garrison, 1-4 p.m. Krystal Cruiser on-site 6-8 p.m.
* Saturday, Dec. 31: Early skate, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., regular admission. New Year’s Eve Skate, 11 p.m.-1 a.m. with lighted souvenirs, music by DJ Scuba Steve, sparking cider toast at midnight, $25 adults, $20 children 12 and under.
ICE SKATING – Bradley Square Mall, Cleveland, Tenn. Cleveland On Ice indoor ice-skating rink open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-7 p.m. Sunday to Jan. 1. $10 adults , $8 children 10 years and younger. clevelandonice@gmail.com.
INVASIVE PLANTS CLASS – GreenSpaces, 63 E. Main St. University of Tennessee at Knoxville professor and invasion biologist Daniel Simberloff leads free talk on issues relating to regional invasive species, sponsored by Tennessee Valley chapter of Wild Ones, 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. www.tennesseevalley.wildones.org.
KAREN LAWRENCE RUN – Sports Barn, 301 Market St. Annual 7.5K or 2-mile fun run in memory of Karen Lawrence, Saturday, Dec. 31: 4 p.m. registration, 7 p.m. 7.5k run, 7:15 p.m. fun run. $35 entry fee benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. www.RMHChattanooga.com
PARTY ON THE BLUFF – Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. Music by SoundForce, food catered by Events With Taste at New Year’s Eve bash, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. $140 single, $260 couple. 423-267-0968.
RED CLAY STATE PARK – 1140 Red Clay Park Road, Cleveland, Tenn. 423-478-0339. New Year Rockin’ Hike, 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Meet at gazebo by visitor center, easy 1-mile hike with interpretive tour for all ages. Free.
RUBY FALLS DISCOVERY DAY – Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain. Ruby Falls celebrates 88 years since its discovery in 1928, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. Every visitor will receive a flier with fun cave facts and vintage-style postcard. First 88 guests can visit for original $2 entrance fee; all others $19.95 adults, $11.95 children. 423-821-2544.
SPLASH DEEPER INTO THE TENNESSEE AQUARIUM – Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St. Behind-the-scenes tours to see animals and meet the staff members who care for them, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Jan. 7. $60 members, $80 nonmembers; ticket includes lunch. Reservations: 423-267-3473.
TRAIN RIDES – Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road. 423-894-8028, www.tvrail.com. North Pole Limited takes riders on imaginary trip to North Pole where Santa joins them giving a surprise to every child. Evening trains depart 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday trains also depart 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 30-31.
ZOO YEAR’S EVE – Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Inaugural children’s New Year’s Eve party celebrating cultures around the world represented by zoo’s animals; games, crafts, animal encounters, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. Included in regular admission: $9.95 adults, $6.95 children 3-12. www.chattzoo.org.
CHILDREN/TEENS
CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY – 1001 Broad St. (main library) and 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. 757-5314.
* Toddler Time: Learning program for ages 18-36 months and parents/guardians, registration not required. Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. Eastgate Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Northgate Library. Saturday: 11 a.m., downtown branch.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM – 321 Chestnut St. $13.95 adults and children.756-2738, www.cdmfun.org. New Year’s at Noon children’s party, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31; doors will close from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for noon countdown and apple juice toast. Fee included in museum admission.
DALTON-WHITFIELD COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY – 310 Cappes St., Dalton, Ga. 706-876-1360.
* Tuesday, Jan. 3: Story hour, 11 a.m.
* Wednesday, Jan. 4: Adult coloring, 3-6:30 p.m., tea, quiet music and coloring materials provided.
* Saturday, Jan. 7: Friends of the Library book sale, 10 a.m- p.m.
NORTH GEORGIA ZOO AND FARM – 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland, Ga. Admission $3 adults, $21 children ages 2-11 for guided zoo tour and petting farm. 706-348-7279.
* Saturdays, through February: Winter Wonderland tours, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $28 adults, $26 children. Guided exotic animal tour, wagon ride through hoof stock area, feed and pet animals, dress warmly. Also offered are winter wolf encounters, $100 per person, assist with training. Reservations recommended for either tour.
* Today-Friday, Dec. 29-30: Tree Toss, 1-3 p.m., included in regular zoo admission, see what animals do with recycled trees.
DANCES
BALLROOM – The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn ballroom dancing, Saturdays. Group class, 7:30 p.m., $5. Dancing, 8:30 p.m., $10. No partner required; casual dress. 423-394-6428.
BALLROOM – Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. Dance, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. $10. 423-771-3646.
RHYTHM BALLROOM – The Ballroom, 7001 Middle Valley Road. Learn fundamentals of rumba, cha cha, East Coast swing, 6 p.m. Mondays, 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Casual dress; no partner required.$5. www.theballroomathixson.com.
SATURDAYS AT THE SUITE – 2193 Park Drive, Suite 101. Nonstructured class using dance for health and wellness benefits, 10-11 a.m. Saturdays. $5; free mimosas. 423-316-5319.
SHAG, BOP, SWING, JITTERBUG – Elks Lodge 91, 1067 Graysville Road at East Brainerd Road. Dance with Choo Choo Shag Dance Club, 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. $5 members, $7 guests. www.choochooshagclub.com.