Here's what's happening in the Chattanooga area this week.
MERRY GRINCHMAS
Before the holiday sparkle completely wears off, here are some highlights of a recent online survey asking Chattanooga Times Free Press readers their least favorite holiday traditions.
-- Song: Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Carol of the Bells" and Mariah Carey's inescapable "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
-- Food: Turkey, "peppermint anything or ham" and fruitcake.
-- Tradition: "The playing of awful Christmas music in the common area of our office building," "getting together with family" and "matching pajamas."
-- Worst holiday gift ever received: A giant ornament meant for an outside tree, toilet paper, Christmas/birthday combo gift for a Christmas Day birthday.
-- Least favorite person to buy for: Men (they won't tell you what they want), "my brother" (same reason), the "poor-me" type of person. One respondent put the season in perspective with this answer: "It was hard to buy for my elderly dad. Wish I still had that challenge."
CALENDAR
ARTS
ATHENS ARTS CENTER -- 320 N. White St., Athens, Tenn. "A View From the Sycamore" watercolor exhibit by Marie Spaeder Haas, through Feb. 6. Opening reception, 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 20. athensartscouncil.org
FRANKLIN COUNTY ARTS GUILD -- The Artisan Depot, 204 E. Cumberland St., Cowan, Tenn. "Recycled and Reimagined" community show, through Jan. 29. franklincoarts.org
GALLERY AT BLACKWELL -- 71 Eastgate Loop. Photographic Society of Chattanooga's fall/holiday show, through Feb. 3. chattanoogaphoto.org
IN-TOWN GALLERY -- 26A Frazier Ave. "Splash," works by eight artists of Splash Youth Arts Workshop, through Jan. 31. Opening reception, 5-8 p.m. Jan. 6. intowngallery.com
RIVER GALLERY -- 400 E. Second St. Works by Jacqueline Green, Linda Kerlin and Anna Marie Pavlik, through Feb. 28. Opening reception, 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 6. river-gallery.com
COMEDY
BARLEY CHATTANOOGA TAPROOM -- 235 E. M.L. King Blvd. New York City-based comedian/scientist Ben Miller's Stand-Up Science show exploring topics ranging from milk to thermodynamics, 8-10 p.m. Jan. 7. $7. eventbrite.com
THE COMEDY CATCH -- 29 Station St. Matt Mitchell, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Jan. 6-7. $19-$22. thecomedycatch.com
MUSIC
BARRELHOUSE BALLROOM -- Five Wits Brewing, 1501 Long St. barrelhouseballroom.com
-- Jan. 6: An Evening With Perpetual Groove, 9 p.m. $20-$40.
-- Jan. 7: 84: A Tribute to Van Halen, 9 p.m. $12-$25.
GATE 11 DISTILLERY -- 1400 Market St. Songwriters Stage competition for singers and songwriters opens with first of four preliminary rounds, 7-10 p.m. Jan. 6. Preliminary rounds continue Jan. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 17. $5 cover. (Finale March 3 at Camp House with $10 cover.) Entry forms: chattown.net
JJ'S BOHEMIA -- 231 E. M.L. King Blvd. The Diamond Dogs present a David Bowie Birthday Celebration, with Tennessee Ruminators, Milele Roots, Iris Carter, Uncle Lightnin', Scarlet Love Conspiracy, Tropic Sol, Ryan Oyer Band, The Unsatisfied, 9 p.m. Jan. 7. Proceeds go to Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center. $10 suggested donation. facebook.com
OUT & ABOUT
AN OLD CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION -- Museum Center at Five Points, 200 E. Inman St., Cleveland, Tenn. Music and stories about this Appalachian tradition by the Cleveland Storytelling Guild, 6 p.m. Jan. 5. Concessions available. $5 admission ($15 family maximum). tellone@bellsouth.net
FIRST DAY HIKES -- Tennessee State Parks tradition, Jan. 1. Registration requested/required. Donations appreciated. tnstateparks.com
-- Beersheba Springs: South Cumberland State Park; moderately paced, 2-mile round trip to the great Stone Door, 1-3 p.m. CST from the Stone Door Ranger Station, 1183 Stone Door Road.
-- Benton: Hiwassee Ocoee Scenic River State Park; moderate, 3-mile round trip to Benton Falls, 1-3:30 p.m. from trailhead at Chilhowee Recreation Area, 3171 U.S. 64, weather permitting. $3 parking fee.
-- Crossville: Cumberland Mountain State Park; moderate, 1-mile hike along Cumberland Plateau Nature Trail, noon-1:30 p.m. CST from park office, 24 Office Drive, weather permitting.
-- Manchester: Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park; walk through time along a natural trail (roots, rocks, changes in elevation) to learn who built the historic site where the Little and Big Duck rivers fork, 1-3 p.m. CST from top of the park visitor center; 1.5 miles, two hours.
-- Sewanee: South Cumberland State Park; 3-mile hike with overlook views and geological features, noon-3 p.m. CST from the Lost Cove East trailhead, 6398 Sherwood Road. Registration required.
-- Sparta: Fall Creek Falls State Park scenic hike on the new Hardie Trail, part of Dog Cove, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. CST from parking lot at junction of Gladstone Acres Road and Old Bon Aire Road. Bring water and lunch.
NEW YEAR'S NIGHTMARE -- Dread Hollow, 321 Brown's Ferry Road. Scream in the new year at a long-abandoned toy factory where monstrous experiments to achieve immortality have left grotesque, half-human creatures to roam, 8-10 p.m. Jan. 7. Escape rooms open 7:30-9:30 p.m. Timed-entry reservations required. $15 any experience. dreadhollow.com
REFLECTION RIDING ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER -- 400 Garden Road. Registration required. reflectionriding.org/events
-- Jan. 6: Get Schooled: Native Animals, with chance to learn about the resident bobcat, raptors and red wolves, 1:30-2:30 p.m. (plus other Fridays). By donation.
-- Jan. 6-7: Owl Flight Training with new animal ambassador Winnie the barn owl, 1-1:45 p.m. (plus other Fridays and Saturdays). Must be at least 13 to participate in flight training. $25-$30 (free for children 12 and younger).
-- Jan. 7: Get Schooled: Birds of Prey, 9-10 a.m. (plus other Saturdays). $5-$10.
-- Jan. 7: Vulture Adventure, a walkabout with black vulture Vlad, 11 a.m.-noon (plus other Saturdays). $15-$20.
WINTER HIKE CHALLENGE -- Outshine Adventures challenge to hike 90 miles in 90 days, on your own or on scheduled group hikes, through March 20. Levels for casual ($20), moderate ($45) and advanced ($65) participation. A native tree will be planted for those who complete the challenge. eventbrite.com
WORLD OF WHEELS -- Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Custom auto show, 3-9 p.m. Jan. 6, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 8. Celebrity appearances include Joe and Amanda Martin of "Iron Resurrection" (11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Saturday), Jimmie "JJ" Walker of "Good Times" (noon-3 p.m. Sunday), plus Jim Howe of "Street Outlaws No Prep Kings," KITT car from "Knight Rider," pin-striper Von Hot Rod, bike stunt team, Hot Wheels drag racing (free car to children in first hour after opening). $15 adults at O'Reilly Auto Parts stores, $18 at the gate or online; $5 ages 6-11. worldofwheels.net/chattanooga
SEASONAL ATTRACTIONS
ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL -- Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Seasonal light display features 38 custom fixtures showcasing the zoo's resident animals, 6-10 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday through Jan. 15 (closed holidays). $16-$18 members, $18-$21 nonmembers. Reserve tickets online. chattzoo.org
EPB HOLIDAY WINDOWS -- 10 W. M.L. King Blvd. Holiday scenes in the windows facing Market and Broad streets, through Jan. 6. epb.com
DAYTON ICE RINK -- Centennial Park, 391 Second Ave., Dayton, Tenn. Outdoor ice rink, through Feb. 28 (schedule varies). $10 ages 13 and older, $8 younger skaters. 423-775-9847
ENCHANTED GARDEN OF LIGHTS -- Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga. More than a million LED lights throughout the park, timed entry 4:30-9:45 p.m. through Jan. 1. $26-$32 adults, $16-$22 children 3-12 depending on date. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. seerockcity.com/lights
HOLIDAY WINDOW TREASURE HUNT -- North Shore merchants along Frazier Avenue and connector streets. NorthShore Merchants Collective's eighth annual adventure to find an unlikely "hidden" object in the window of 23 participating stores, through Jan. 3. Turn in completed game cards, with minimum $1 contribution to Northside Neighborhood House, for chance to win one of three gift baskets valued at $400. northshorechattanooga.com
ICE ON THE LANDING -- Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens, 1400 Market St. Outdoor ice skating rink, through Jan. 29 (schedule varies but open holidays). $12 adults, $10 children 12 and younger (includes skate rentals). New this year: online ticket purchase. iceonthelanding.com
MAGIC OF LIGHTS -- Summit of Softball Complex, 4900 La Collina Way, Ooltewah. Drive-thru holiday lights extravaganza with more than 40 larger-than-life scenes and animated characters, 5:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 1. $25-$35 per vehicle, with discounts if purchased online. magicoflights.com
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.