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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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Your weekly planner of Chattanooga-area events (including the return of Riverfront Nights and tortoise races)

Staff file photo / It's off to the races for the tortoises at the Chattanooga Zoo at the annual Q 'n Brew, a barbecue and beer tasting event set for Saturday night. In addition to tortoise races, the fundraiser includes animal encounters, games, live music and airbrush tattoos in the price of admission.
Staff file photo / It's off to the races for the tortoises at the Chattanooga Zoo at the annual Q 'n Brew, a barbecue and beer tasting event set for Saturday night. In addition to tortoise races, the fundraiser includes animal encounters, games, live music and airbrush tattoos in the price of admission. Staff file photo / It's off to the races for the tortoises at the Chattanooga Zoo at the annual Q 'n Brew, a barbecue and beer tasting event set for Saturday night. In addition to tortoise races, the fundraiser includes animal encounters, games, live music and airbrush tattoos in the price of admission.

TO DO SUNDAY

* Chattanooga Market celebrates a favorite summer crop at its Top Tomato Festival, scheduled 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Admission is free to check out the vendors. For $15, you can sample Bloody Marys crafted by mixologists from Southside Social, Scottie’s on the River, Edley’s BBQ, Nic & Norman’s and Mix It Up, the market’s house bar, then vote on a favorite. Chattanooga band No Big Deal takes the stage at noon. chattanoogamarket.com

* Car show, cruise-in, bowling: The Hixson Lions Club will present a community car show and cruise-in from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Spare Time Hixson, 5530 Hixson Pike. The car show costs $20 to enter. The cruise-in is free, though donations are appreciated. Starting at 2 p.m. is a bowling tournament with a $25 entry. Trophies, a 50-50 drawing and door prizes are included in the fun. Proceeds help fund various Lions sight services. e-clubhouse.org/sites/hixsontn

* Scopes Festival: Check ticket availability for the final performance of “How It Started,” a new telling of the 1925 Scopes Trial, in which Dayton, Tennessee, schoolteacher John T. Scopes was prosecuted for teaching evolution. The play is presented at 2:30 p.m. at the Rhea County Courthouse, 1475 Market St. in Dayton – in the actual courtroom where the historic trial took place. Tickets are $8-$10. scopesfestival.com

QUICK LOOK AT THE WEEK