It's about to be lights out for 2022, but you can make sure it's a memorable sendoff. The events below detail some of the ways to ring in the new year.
The end of the holiday season also means time is running out to experience some of the area's seasonal attractions. These will be gone within the week: Holidays Under the Peaks at the Tennessee Aquarium, through Saturday (tnaqua.org/holidays); NoogaLights at Chester Frost Park, through Saturday (noogalights.com); Magic of Lights at the Summit of Softball Complex in Ooltewah, through Sunday (magicoflights.com); Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights, through Sunday (seerockcity.com/lights); Holiday Window Treasure Hunt at businesses along the North Shore, through Tuesday (northshorechattanooga.com).
(READ MORE: Check out these Chattanooga-area events, attractions)
MUSIC
-- Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga., will host its 10th annual New Year's gospel concert, featuring Brian Free & Assurance and Appointed Quartet, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $15-$17. appointedquartet.bandzoogle.com/store
-- Barrelhouse Ballroom, inside Five Wits Brewing, 1501 Long St., has three shows this weekend. Thursday features Shiggy, a a soulful, seven-member music collective organized by local musician Matt "Shiggy" Shigekawa. The show starts at 9 p.m., with special guests Sunsap. Tickets are $12-$15. Friday features Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, a hybrid that reflects his range of influences, from Merle Haggard to the Grateful Dead. The show starts at 9 p.m., with support from Downboy. Tickets are $15-$20. New Year's Eve will feature Chattanooga-based Americana band Strung Like a Horse, with Slim Pickins, starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25-$50. barrelhouseballroom.com
-- Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza, will host a New Year's Eve Bash with Chattanooga party band The Beaters, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $45. eventbrite.com
-- Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave., is the Saturday stop on rock band Blackberry Smoke's tour in support of new album "You Hear Georgia." War Hippies will open the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39-$89. tivolichattanooga.com
-- The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., will boot scoot boogie in the last hours of 2022 with '90s country tribute band Neon Moon at 9 p.m. Saturday. Zach Dylan supports. Tickets are $15-$18. thesignaltn.com
-- The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham, Tenn., will celebrate New Year's Eve with country rockers The Steel Woods, at 9 p.m. CST Saturday. Opening acts are Cole Chaney and Tim Goodwin. Tickets start at $59. thecaverns.com
(READ MORE: Your weekly planner of Chattanooga-area events)
OUT & ABOUT
-- Chattown Poets will host an open mic 8-10 p.m. Wednesday at Gate 11 Distillery, 1400 Market St. (sign-ups start at 7:30 p.m.). The special guest is Kate Landers, president of the Chattanooga Writers Guild. Prizes will be awarded by audience vote for best in theme: "This Cold Winter Will Pass and New Life Will Come." chattown.net/chattown-poets
-- Dread Hollow, a Ruby Falls haunted attraction at 321 Brown's Ferry Road, will offer a chance to scream in the new year at New Year's Nightmare, available 8-10 p.m. Friday and Jan. 7. The space has been transformed into a long-abandoned toy factory where monstrous experiments to achieve immortality have left grotesque, half-human creatures to roam. Adjacent escape rooms are open 7:30-9:30 p.m. Timed-entry reservations are required. Tickets are $15 for any experience. dreadhollow.com
-- The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., will feature "Mr. Showtime" David Scott in shows this weekend. Friday shows start at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. with tickets priced at $17-$19. Saturday's first show is at 7:30 p.m., with tickets priced at $20-$25. Tickets for the late show, at 10 p.m., are $36-$40. thecomedycatch.com
-- Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., has two ways for families to celebrate the new year. The main event, Cheers to the New Year, is 6-8 p.m. Friday, with arts and crafts, a countdown led by Father Time, "fireworks" created by bubble wrap and an apple juice toast. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Saturday's event, Fizz, Pop, Boom, from noon to 4 p.m., will include activities that explore the science of carbonation, toasts with cotton candy drinks and crafts. Activities are free with regular admission ($16). cdmfun.org
-- Dave & Buster's, 2084 Hamilton Place Blvd., plans two New Year's Eve events Saturday. Celebrate the New Year Early is scheduled 4-7 p.m. and includes arcade games, buffet, video countdown and ginger ale toast. Tickets are $36. Ring Ring Ring in 2023 is 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and includes arcade games, an appetizer buffet and hand-crafted cocktails and mocktails. Tickets are $69-$96. daveandbusters.com
-- Moxy Chattanooga, 1220 King St., plans a New Year's Eve all-night dance party 6:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday. The event includes music by DJ Mixx, food trucks and a Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $75-$160 (the $249 all-nighter party pass is sold out). eventbrite.com
-- The Coker Museum, 1309 Chestnut St., is the site of a New Year's Eve party for the Chattanooga Autism Center at 8 p.m. Saturday. The fundraiser offers music, dancing, food and drink and a Champagne at midnight, with a cash bar for additional drinks. Tickets are $50. chattanoogaautismcenter.org/nye
-- The Edwin hotel, 102 Walnut St., will center its New Year's Eve festivities at the Whiskey Thief rooftop bar 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday. The $175 ticket includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, adult beverages, live DJ and other entertainment, a midnight Champagne toast, coffee and dessert bar and s'mores stations at the fire pits. eventbrite.com
-- The Read House, 107 W. M.L. King Blvd., will host a New Year's Eve Roaring '20s Party 8:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday. Tickets, priced at $180, include party admission, heavy hors d'oeuvres, open bar, entertainment by Gwen Hughes and the Retro Kats, midnight Champagne toast, dessert and coffee bar, and a time capsule dedication. Overnight accommodations may be added for an extra charge. 423-266-4121
-- Tennessee state parks will offer First Day Hikes, a New Year's Day tradition, on Sunday. Neither of the state parks in Hamilton County has activities planned, but outings are available at Fall Creek Falls in Sparta at 10 a.m.; Cumberland Mountain in Crossville at noon CST; Hiwassee Ocoee Scenic River State Park in Benton at 1 p.m.; Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester at 1 p.m; and two at South Cumberland: noon CST in Sewanee and 1 p.m. CST in Beersheba Springs. Registration is requested (and in one case required). There is no cost to participate, but donations are appreciated. Get complete details online. tnstateparks.com
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.