Ironman, Santana, symphony’s opening night on Chattanooga-area entertainment calendar

Contributed Photo by Brad Cansler / Kayoko Dan, music director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, will lead the orchestra in the CSO's season opener Thursday at Memorial Auditorium. Contributed Photo by Brad Cansler / Kayoko Dan, music director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, will lead the orchestra in the CSO's season opener Thursday at Memorial Auditorium.

By Lisa Denton September 22, 2021 9 min read

With so much on the Chattanooga-area entertainment calendar, you might be surprised to know that coronavirus concerns prompted cancellations of some events that would have been on the horizon this weekend, including the Hamilton County Fair, the start of a weeklong Wine Over Water celebration and Siskin StarNight.

You should also know that a handful of concerts are sold out, including Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers at The Caverns in Pelham, Tennessee, and Casting Crowns at Abba’s House in Hixson. Also, a Trident Transport cornhole tournament and a SoundCorps Buskers Bash have been postponed until October.

But there’s plenty to keep you busy, including the Ironman triathlon, five theater productions and the opening of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera’s 2021-22 season.

Photo Gallery

Ironman, Santana, Chattanooga symphony’s opening night

Contributed Photo by Brad Cansler / Jeremy Campbell, Erin Skelley Holderman, Julie Van Valkenburg and James Lawson, from left, appear in the Chattanooga Theatre Centre's production of Neil Simon's romantic comedy

Contributed Photo by Shelia Harding Cannon / Shandra Burnett, left, and Dennis Parker star as Melissa and Andrew in the Mountain Arts Theatre production of A.R. Gurney's

Carlos Santana will bring his band, Santana, to Memorial Auditorium on Tuesday. / AP File Photo/Julie Jacobson

The Lee University School of Music will premiere "New Worlds," a work by Chattanooga composer Dennis Hedwig, on Friday.

Staff File Photo by Robin Rudd/ The sun rises behind the Walnut Street Bridge as spectators watch the swimming segment of a previous Ironman Chattanooga triathlon.

Staff File Photo / Tours of Spring Frog Cabin, with an actor portraying Audubon Acres founder Robert Sparks Walker, will be a highlight of the Torchlight Gala at Audubon Acres on Saturday.

MUSIC

* The Arts Avenue, 1800 Rossville Ave., welcomes two acts, though Friday’s show by party band Funk You is sold out. Saturday delivers An Evening With Erick Baker, a roots/rock musician, at 7 p.m; tickets are $20. theartsave.com