Here's what's happening in the Chattanooga area this week.
TO DO SUNDAY
> Eat ice cream. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday as National Ice Cream Day. According to NationalToday.com, which keeps a calendar of such events, ice cream was invented in 500 B.C. when people of the Persian empire began pouring concentrate of grape juice over snow. The Ice Cream Index, a study on consumption preferences and trends conducted by market researchers Top Data, found a significant increase in the demand for ice cream in the United States, with purchases of ice cream up by 29% this year compared to last year. The top flavors overall are chocolate (14 states), rocky road (12 states) and Neapolitan (seven states). The favorites in Tennessee are strawberry, Neapolitan and chocolate. In Georgia, coconut, cookies-and-cream and chocolate rule. In Alabama, the favorites are chocolate, cookies-and-cream and rocky road. See the calendar listing below for details on the Ice Cream Crawl at downtown eateries.
CALENDAR
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/events.
THEATER
CHATTANOOGA THEATRE CENTRE - 400 River St. World premiere of "Giant Steps: An Urbean Musical," a contemporary interpretation of "Jack and the Beanstalk" by Chattanoogan Michael Dexter (music and lyrics) and Eric Weinberger (book), 8 p.m. July 22-23, 2:30 p.m. July 24, 7 p.m. July 28, 8 p.m. July 29-30, 7 p.m. Aug. 4, 8 p.m. Aug. 5-6, 2:30 p.m. Aug. 7. $15-$25. theatrecentre.com
CUMBERLAND COUNTY PLAYHOUSE - 221 Tennessee Ave., Crossville, Tenn. Show times vary. ccplayhouse.com
- Through Aug. 6: "Junie B. Jones Is Not a Crook," a summer production for young audiences. $7-$8.
- Through Aug. 11: "On Golden Pond." $16-$30.
- Through Aug. 21: Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella." $18-$34.
- Through Sept. 8: "Escape to Margaritaville." $18-$34.
EAST BRAINERD COMMUNITY THEATRE - Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road. "The Music Man," 7:30 p.m. July 21-22, 2:30 p.m. July 23. $15. Buy at the church or online. ebctchatt.com
OBVIOUS DAD - UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St. "Brief Chronicle, Books 6-8," 2:30 p.m. July 17 (final show). $15. obviousdad.com
RHYME N CHATT - Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market St., fifth floor. Fresh Out the Shoebox open mic, for poetry readers, writers and listeners, 7-8:30 p.m. July 19. Free. rncpoetry@gmail.com
THE RINGGOLD PLAYHOUSE - Ringgold Depot, 155 Depot St., Ringgold, Ga. "The Play That Goes Wrong," 2 p.m. July 17, 7:30 p.m. July 21-23, 2 p.m. July 24. $8-$10. Eventbrite.com
SCENIC CITY SHAKESPEARE - Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market St. Discussion of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," 7 p.m. July 21. Free. Zoom link available. Facebook.com/ScenicCityShakes
SCOPES TRIAL PLAY - Rhea County Courthouse, 1475 Market St., Dayton, Tenn. Production of "Monkey in the Middle: The Scopes Evolution Trial," 2 p.m. July 17 (final show). $10-$15. Festival outside the courthouse includes arts, crafts and food vendors. rheaheritage.com
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN PLAYHOUSE - 1104 James Blvd. (outdoor amphitheater). "Matilda the Musical," 8 p.m. July 22-23, 29-30. Ticket sales and camp chair setup start at 6 p.m. Picnic dinners welcome (no alcohol). $5-$15. smph.org
Contributed Photo by Shelia Cannon / The stars of the Signal Mountain Playhouse production of "Matilda the Musical" include, from left, Dani Clark as Miss Agatha Trunchbull, Maddie Meier as Miss Honey, Bea Burbank as Matilda Wormwood, Roger Cass as Mr. Wormwood and Valerie Duke as Mrs. Wormwood. The production continues Fridays and Saturdays in July.
FILM
BOBBY STONE FILM SERIES - Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com
- July 17: Lawrence of Arabia," 2 p.m. $10-$12.
- July 19: "Ratatouille," 11 a.m. $5.
- July 21: "The Hobbit," 11 a.m. $5.
- July 22: "The Godfather," 7 p.m. $10-$12.
- July 23: "Citizen Kane," 3 p.m.; "The Big Lebowski," 7 p.m. $10-$12 for either.
- July 24: "Double Indemnity," 2 p.m. $10-$12.
IMAX THEATER - 201 Chestnut St. "Thor: Love and Thunder," through July 24 (plus final 3D screening July 17). $15. tnaqua.org/imax
MUSIC & FILM
MUSIC & MOVIES AT MILLER - Miller Park, 928 Market St. Summer series features music, games, artists and food trucks at 6 p.m. July 23, with Latin Sunshine Band headlining, and an outdoor screening of "Encanto" at dusk. Bring your own seating. Free admission. rivercitycompany.com
SPECTATOR SPORTS
CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS - AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley. Class AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in three-game home series versus the Tennessee Smokies. Kids Run the Bases promotion after every game. $6-$11. lookouts.com
- July 22: 7:15 p.m. Chattanooga's biggest birthday party marking the United Way of Greater Chattanooga's 100th year, with attempt to set a world record for most people wearing party hats (provided); fireworks finale.
- July 23: 7:15 p.m. Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night, a celebration of Marvel comics and superheroes, with Lookouts players in Captain America jerseys; used car giveaway.
- July 24: 2:15 p.m. Receive a free general-admission ticket by donating a canned good to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank; Catch on the Field after the game.
CHATTANOOGA RED WOLVES - CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. USL-League One men's professional team versus North Colorado Hailstorm FC, 7:30 p.m. July 23. $15-$52. chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com
SOCCER FEST - Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Over-40 tournament for men's, women's and coed teams concludes July 17. Remaining matches start between 7:30 and 9 a.m. Free admission for spectators. adultsoccerfest.com
MUSIC
BARKING LEGS THEATER - 1307 Dodds Ave. Jazz in the Lounge with Dexter Bell & Friends, 7 p.m. July 20. $5. barkinglegs.org
THE CAVERNS - 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham, Tenn. Tickets may be upgraded to include cave tours and accommodations. thecaverns.com
- July 23: Crowder, 7 p.m. CDT, outdoor amphitheater. $40-$60.
Photo Contributed by Shore Fire Media / Christian rocker Crowder will be in concert July 23 at The Caverns in Pelham, Tenn.- July 24: Steve Earle and the Dukes, with The Whitmore Sisters, 7 p.m. CDT, underground. $50-$65.
NIGHTFALL - 850 Market St. Weekly concert series continues with headliner The Abrams at 8 p.m. July 22, with Barefoot Nellie & Company opening at 7 p.m. Artists, games and food vendors at Miller Park, 910 Market St. Free admission. nightfallchattanooga.com
RIVERFRONT NIGHTS - Ross's Landing, 201 Riverfront Parkway. Nine-week summer concert series continues 7-10 p.m. July 23, with The Shindellas headlining and Luke Simmons & the Lovestruck opening. Free admission. Concessions available; coolers welcome. riverfrontnights.com
THE SIGNAL - 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com
- July 22: Muscadine Bloodline, with Ben Chapman, 8 p.m. $25-$45.
- July 23: Chattanooga Girls Rock Camp showcase, 6 p.m. $10.
SONGBIRDS - 35 Station St. songbirdsfoundation.org
- July 20: Durry, 8 p.m. $12.
- July 23: 10,000 Days: A Tool Tribute, 8 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 of show.
ARTS
AREA 61 GALLERY - "Tondo, Tondo, Tondo" by Bob Fazio, through Aug. 31. area61gallery.com
AVA GALLERY - 30 Frazier Ave. Annual AVA juried member exhibition, through Aug. 12. 423-265-4282
CLEARSTORY ARTS - 1673 Holtzclaw Ave. "My Work Is Me: A Mary B. Lynch Retrospective," plus response pieces by ClearStory resident artists, through Aug. 13. ClearStoryArts.com
EXUM GALLERY - St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St. Mountain Art Guild show, through Aug. 10. 423-266-8195
GALLERY AT BLACKWELL - 71 Eastgate Loop. Summer show by Photographic Society of Chattanooga, July 22-Oct. 14. chattanoogaphoto.org
HAMILTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE - 625 Georgia Ave. "Metamorphosis: Loss and Grace," high school art competition with 59 submissions, opens with gathering for students and their families, noon July 19. Seventeen students singled out for awards, including cash prizes to top three: Sarah Burer (Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences), Abby Moore (also CSAS) and Danielle Doran (home-schooled). artsbuild.com
HUNTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART - 10 Bluff View. Admission fees apply. huntermuseum.org
- July 17: Sensory Studio, a low-sensory painting class with tour of "Enchanted," noon-1 p.m.
- July 21: Fantasy Cabaret drag show featuring local queens, 7-8:30 p.m. Cash bar.
ICA @ UTC - Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 752 Vine St. "New Acquisitions From the George Cress Estate," through July 29. hello@icachatt.org
IN-TOWN GALLERY - 26A Frazier Ave. "Ukraine Blue and Yellow," through July 31. Ten percent of sales revenue will be donated to the Ukraine Gospel Church of Chattanooga. intowngallery.com
NORTH RIVER CIVIC CENTER - 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102, Hixson. Sixty paintings by eight artists of the Regional Art Alliance, through August. 423-870-8924
NORTHSIDE GALLERY - Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave. "Mountain Musings," by artists of the "Plum Nelly" area of Rising Fawn, Ga., through Sept. 22. 423-266-1766
RIVER GALLERY - 400 E. Second St. Works by James Courtenay James, Cynthia Tollefsrud and Lee Malerich, through July 31. river-gallery.com
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM - 1 Broad St. "Washed Ashore," works created with recovered plastic debris, through Oct. 30. tnaqua.org
OUT & ABOUT
ADOPT-ATHON - Walker County Animal Shelter, 5488 N. Marble Top Road, Chickamauga, Ga. Christmas in July promotion to find good homes for shelter pets, July 22-24. Adoption fees waived for any family that donates a new toy valued at $20 or more to the Al Millard Stocking Full of Love program (usually $50 for cats, $100 for dogs). Extended hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday; no appointment necessary. Participants do not have to live in Walker County. walkercountyga.gov/residents/animal-shelter
AMERICAN DIGGER ANTIQUE MILITARIA & AMERICANA SHOW & SALE - Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Magazine's fifth annual Chattanooga event, featuring artifacts from ancient times through World War II, including Civil War relics, Indian artifacts, antique bottles, historic art and prints, military memorabilia, old coins and currency, muskets and swords, metal detectors, old newspapers, historical books and antique jewelry, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 24. Buy, sale, trade; free appraisals. americandigger.com
CHATTANOOGA MARKET - First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Weekly market of local produce, arts and crafts, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sundays. chattanoogamarket.com
- July 17: Top Tomato Festival. Free admission; $15 for Bloody Mary samples from five restaurants.
- July 24: FiveStar Food Fight.
CLUB-STYLE INVASION - White Lightning Harley-Davidson, 7720 Lee Highway. Motorcycle show (2 p.m.), music by Whiskey Dix, dogs to adopt from Humane Educational Society, 1-3 p.m. July 23. RSVP: heschatt.org
THE COMEDY CATCH - 29 Station St. thecomedycatch.com
- July 20: Open Mic Night, 7:30 p.m. $7.
- July 22-23: John Caparulo in special engagement, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. $22-$27.
COTTAGE TOUR & BAZAAR - Monteagle, Tenn. The 58th annual event by the Women's Association of the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly includes tour of five representative cottages, regional fine arts and crafts, resale boutique, self-guided tours of historic buildings, bake sale, lunch options (including a box lunch that should be ordered in advance) and presentation by celebrity cookbook author Elizabeth Heiskell, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT July 22. Event highlights Assembly's unique history and the Chautauqua movement. $15 in advance, $20 day of; $5 parking pass (purchase day of). 931-924-2286
EXPLORER DAYS - Georgia's Visitor Information Centers, including 2726 I-75 South, Ringgold. Visitors receive exclusive offers for state attractions, plus games, prizes and snacks, through July 17. ExploreGeorgia.org
FREE TEA DAY - McAlister's Deli locations in Chattanooga, Cleveland and Fort Oglethorpe. A free 32-ounce cup, any flavor, July 21. Limit one in store, limit four via the website or app. mcalistersdeli.com
GOLDEN NEEDLES SEWING MINISTRY - Family Life Center at Middle Cross Baptist Church, 4009 Norcross Road. Group meets 10 a.m.-noon first and third Thursdays (next: July 21) to sew gifts for residents of nursing homes, hospitals and clinics. Sewing ability not required. Cotton fabric donations welcome. 423-877-5742
ICE CREAM CRAWL - Parlors in downtown Chattanooga. National Ice Cream Day celebration with special prices and flavors at Clumpies (two locations), Downtown Dough, Peach Cobbler Factory, The Ice Cream Show, Milk & Honey, Community Pie and Coldstone Creamery, July 17 (last day). Scan a QR code at each stop for sweepstakes entry. rivercitycompany.com
LEMONADE STAND CHALLENGE - Neighborhood participation. Groups raising funds for Chambliss Center for Children's Isaiah 117 House that will serve foster children in Hamilton County, through July 17. Also, Feed Company Table + Tavern (201 W. Main St.) and the 1885 Grill restaurants in Ooltewah and St. Elmo (9469 Bradmore Lane, 3914 St. Elmo Ave.) will donate a portion of their lemonade drink sales to the cause.
MAINSTREET CRUISE-IN - Bradley County Courthouse square, 155 N. Ocoee St. Monthly gathering of classic cars, 1-6 p.m. July 23. Free. mainstreetcleveland.com
ONE CHA FEST - Miller Park, 910 Market St. Family festival by Chattanooga's Department of Early Learning includes inflatables, games, line dancing, family workouts, face painting, crafts, DJ, live music, food trucks, giveaways, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 23. Free, but registration appreciated. eventbrite.com
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA - St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive. Monthly program by James Curtis Barger on "Location Portraits: Lighting and Posing," 7 p.m. July 21. Boot Camp, to go over basics, starts at 6 p.m. with Lynn Petty on "Aviation & Action Photography." chattanoogaphoto.org
Q N' BREW - Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Barbecue, beer tasting, music by Bluetastic Fangrass, animal encounters, tortoise races, mobile axe throwing station (14 and older), games, 6-9 p.m. July 23. $10-$18 members, $15-$25 nonmembers (free for children under 2). chattzoo.org
RABBIT VALLEY FARMERS MARKET - 96 Depot St., Ringgold, Ga. Local produce, arts, crafts and musicians, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 23. rabbitvalleyfarmersmarket.com
REFLECTION RIDING ARBORETUM & NATURE CENTER - 400 Garden Road. "Save the Red Wolves" programs, 1:30 p.m. Fridays. Donations accepted. reflectionriding.org
RMHC DAY OF CHANGE - Chattanooga-area McDonald's restaurants. Volunteers posted during the breakfast rush to accept customers' donations of change to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, 7-10:30 a.m. July 22. rmhchattanooga.com
SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL - Copper Creek Farm, 1514 Reeves Station Road SW, Calhoun, Ga. Twenty-five activities including pig races, hayride, pony rides, petting barn, through July 23 (hours vary; closed Sundays). $18 with discounts for seniors and groups; free for children under 36 months old. coppercreekfarm.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.