The world record for the largest gathering of people wearing conical party hats is 1,161, set in 2019 at a grammar school in England, according to guinnessworldrecords.com. Can Chattanooga beat that number? The chance comes Friday at a Chattanooga Lookouts game when the United Way of Greater Chattanooga celebrates its 100th year with "Chattanooga's biggest birthday party."
Katie Haremski, a marketing coordinator with United Way, said the agency has been working with Chattanooga marketing firm Mace+Carmichael Public Relations on several ways to mark the milestone year, and the "what if we set a record?" idea quickly gained traction.
"To set a world record for wearing birthday hats is less than 1,200 people," Haremski said by phone. "That's actually pretty reasonable."
Alex Tainsh, marketing and promotions manager for the Lookouts, said typical Friday night attendance is about 4,000 fans, so tripling the current world record should easily be within reach.
"We will hand out hats as people enter and ask them to put them on in the middle of the fifth inning when we sing 'Happy Birthday' to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga," he said in an email.
Meanwhile, a prestigious amateur golf tournament takes center stage next week at Council Fire. The Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational will draw the top 100 players from 47 colleges and universities, including at least 13 who have qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship, said media director Becky Blaesing in a phone interview.
"This is one of the finest major amateur events in the country," she said. "When you see these young men (play), it's amazing."
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FILM
- Chattanooga Jewish Film Series is offering a free virtual screening of director Avi Nesher's critically acclaimed anti-war epic "Image of Victory," through noon Friday. The gift screening is a prelude to the complete series starting in August. Register for link: jewishchattanooga.com
- Bobby Stone Film Series continues at the Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St. The lineup features: "The Hobbit," 11 a.m. Thursday, with $5 admission; "The Godfather," 7 p.m. Friday, $10-$12; "Citizen Kane," 3 p.m., and "The Big Lebowski," 7 p.m. Saturday, $10-$12 for either; "Double Indemnity," 2 p.m. Sunday; "Up," 11 a.m. Tuesday, $5. tivolichattanooga.com
OUT & ABOUT
- RMHC Day of Change is 7-10:30 a.m. Friday at Chattanooga-area McDonald's restaurants. During the breakfast rush, volunteers will collect customers' donations of spare change to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. rmhchattanooga.com
- McAlister's Deli, which has five locations in Chattanooga, Hixson, Cleveland and Fort Oglethorpe, will offer a free 32-ounce cup of tea, any flavor, Thursday. The limit is one per customer in store, four if purchased via the website or app. mcalistersdeli.com
- Cottage Tour & Bazaar, highlighting the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly's Chautauqua roots, is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Friday at 1 Assembly Ave., Monteagle, Tenn. Highlights of the 58th edition include tours of five representative cottages, regional fine arts and crafts, a resale boutique, self-guided tours of historic buildings, bake sale, lunch on your own and a presentation by celebrity cookbook author Elizabeth Heiskell. The Chautauqua movement was designed to bring cultural education and entertainment to small towns in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cost is $15 in advance, $20 day of, $5 for parking. 931-924-2286
- The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., will welcome John Caparulo, who was featured on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Next Generation, for a special engagement this weekend. Shows start at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $22-$27. thecomedycatch.com
- Walker County Animal Shelter, 5488 N. Marble Top Road, Chickamauga, Ga., plans a Christmas in July adopt-athon to find homes for shelter pets this weekend. Adoption fees will be 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). The shelter will be open extended hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday (no appointment necessary). Adoptive families do not have to live in Walker County. walkercountyga.gov/residents/animal-shelter
- One Cha Fest, a family festival presented by Chattanooga's Department of Early Learning, is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Miller Park, 910 Market St. The event includes inflatables, games, line dancing, family workouts, face painting, crafts, DJ, live music, food trucks and giveaways. Admission is free, but registration is appreciated. eventbrite.com
- Vann House Days, highlighting the history of the home owned by mixed-blood Cherokee chiefs James and Joseph Vann before the Trail of Tears displacement, is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at 82 Highway 225 North in Spring Place, Ga. (near Chatsworth). Among the activities are blacksmithing, black-powder firing demonstrations, quilting, carding, spinning, weaving, butter churning, Indian finger weaving, doll making, fruit and vegetable drying, corn shelling and grinding, basket making, chair caning and gardening. All programming is included in regular admission: $5.50-$6.50. 706-695-2598
- MainStreet Cruise-In, a monthly gathering of classic cars in Cleveland, Tenn., is 1-6 p.m. Saturday on the Bradley County Courthouse square, 155 N. Ocoee St. Admission is free. mainstreetcleveland.com
- Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., will offer Q N' Brew, a summer barbecue and beer tasting, 6-9 p.m. Saturday. The evening includes music by Bluetastic Fangrass, animal encounters, tortoise races, games and a mobile ax throwing station (ages 14 and older). Tickets are $10-$18 members, $15-$25 nonmembers (free for children under 2). chattzoo.org
- American Digger Antique Militaria & Americana Show & Sale, featuring artifacts from ancient times through the World War II era, is this weekend at Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Included are 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. The buy, sale or trade event offers free appraisals. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 (free for children under 12). americandigger.com
- Chattanooga Market will present its annual FiveStar Food Fight 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday in First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. This year's competitors are Wendy Smith of Sowing Seeds Farm, Dustin Concannon of Asarum food truck, Terence Locke of Chef Express food truck, Sarah Morris, assistant market manager, and Glen Kagan of Federal Bake Shop. After learning the surprise protein they'll be using, they'll be given $50 spending money and an hour to scour the market for fresh ingredients to accompany it in a main dish to serve to judges. Their live cooking demonstrations start at 12:30 p.m., and judging starts at 1:30 p.m. Admission is free. chattanoogamarket.com
THEATER
- Scenic City Shakespeare will offer a discussion of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market St. These monthly meetups are free. A Zoom link will be available. Facebook.com/ScenicCityShakes
- Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., offers the world premiere of "Giant Steps: An Urbean Musical" starting this weekend. This contemporary interpretation of "Jack and the Beanstalk" was the brainchild of Chattanoogan Michael Dexter, who wrote the music and lyrics. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The musical runs through Aug. 7, with Thursday performances, at 7 p.m., added to the schedule starting July 28. Tickets are $15-$25. theatrecentre.com
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- East Brainerd Community Theater presents the final weekend of "The Music Man" this weekend at Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15. Buy at the church or online. ebctchatt.com
- The Ringgold Playhouse offers the final weekend of "The Play That Goes Wrong," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Ringgold Depot, 155 Depot St., Ringgold, Ga. Tickets are $8-$10. Eventbrite.com
- Signal Mountain Playhouse continues the run of "Matilda the Musical" at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the outdoor amphitheater at 1104 James Blvd. The family production will have one more weekend of shows. Tickets are $5-$15. Ticket sales and camp chair setup start at 6 p.m. Picnic dinners are welcome, but alcohol is prohibited. smph.org
ARTS
- Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd., with an assist from Chattanooga Coca-Cola, will offer free admission to all youth (accompanied by an adult) 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday. The freebie marks the 123rd anniversary of Chattanooga Coca-Cola, the world's first bottler of the iconic soft drink. The current exhibit is "Chattanooga's Black Soundtrack," which explores the careers of such recording artists as Bessie Smith, Usher, The Impressions and Kane Brown and Tony nominee Montego Glover. Facebook.com/bessiesmithculturalcenter
- Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View, will present a Fantasy Cabaret starring six local drag queens 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday as part of special programming for the temporary exhibition "Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration." Galleries will be open until 8 p.m. Regular admission ($20 for nonmember adults) applies. A cash bar will be available. huntermuseum.org
MUSIC
- Nightfall, a summer concert series, continues Friday at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Headliners are The Abrams, a Canadian country band fronted by two brothers. Barefoot Nellie & Company opens the show at 7 p.m. Artists, games and food vendors will be set up at Miller Park, 910 Market St. Admission is free. nightfallchattanooga.com
- The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., hosts two shows this weekend. Country band Muscadine Bloodline plays Friday, with Ben Chapman opening. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$45. The Chattanooga Girls Rock Camp showcase is set for 6 p.m. Saturday. The concert culminates a week in which campers ages 10-17 learn an instrument, form a band and write an original song. Tickets are $10. thesignaltn.com
- The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham, Tenn., has two shows this weekend. Friday features Christian rock artist Crowder at 7 p.m. CDT Saturday in the outdoor amphitheater. Tickets are $40-$60. Country rocker Steve Earle and the Dukes will be in concert underground at 7 p.m. CDT Sunday, with The Whitmore Sisters supporting. Tickets are $50-$65. thecaverns.com
- Riverfront Nights, a summer concert series, continues its nine-week run Saturday with The Shindellas, a trio of women who explore jazz, soul and R&B, headlining. Local band Luke Simmons & The Lovestruck will open. The show runs 7-10 p.m. at Ross's Landing, 201 Riverfront Parkway. Admission is free. riverfrontnights.com
- Songbirds, 35 Station St., welcomes 10,000 Days, a tribute to metal band Tool, at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 day of. songbirdsfoundation.org
- Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., will coax a different vibe out of local musician Lon Eldridge, best known for his blues licks, at the next Jazz in the Lounge, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday. Cover is $5. barkinglegs.org
SPECTATOR SPORTS
- Chattanooga Lookouts have two home series coming up at AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley. The Class AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds will play the Tennessee Smokies at 7:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:15 p.m. Sunday. Friday's game includes the United Way's attempt to set a world record for the most people wearing birthday party hats. Fireworks will follow the game. Saturday promotions include a used car giveaway and the Lookouts wearing Captain America jerseys to celebrate Marvel comics. Sunday game-goers can receive a free general-admission ticket by donating a canned good to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. The field will be dark Monday before the Lookouts return for a six-game series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Early promotions include buy-one, get-one tickets with a Food City ValuCard on Tuesday and a Chick-fil-A giveaway, delivered by app, Wednesday. Both games start at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $6-$11. lookouts.com
(READ MORE: Lookouts owner, city staff pitch new stadium to Chattanooga council as vote nears)
- Chattanooga Red Wolves, a USL-League One men's professional team, will play North Colorado Hailstorm FC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. Tickets are $15-$52. chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com
(READ MORE: Chattanooga Red Wolves end skid with home win)
- Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational, a medal tournament for top-ranked amateur golfers, is Monday through Wednesday on the Bob Cupp-designed, par 72 course at Council Fire, 100 Council Fire Drive. Play begins at 7:30 a.m. each day, and second-round coverage will be broadcast in a livestream 1-6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. ESPN Chattanooga radio, 95.3 FM, also will provide live coverage. Spectator admission is free. chattanoogachoochooinvitational.com
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- Alliance Fastpitch Open Nationals, a tournament for 8U-18U girls softball players, starts Wednesday, with pool and bracket play through the following weekend at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Summit of Softball in Ooltewah and Camp Jordan in East Ridge. Opening ceremonies are scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday with an exhibition game between the collegiate stars of Team Alliance and Florida Vibe at Frost Stadium, 1100 McCallie Ave. Wednesday includes a home run derby by the two teams at 6 p.m. and a second exhibition game at 7 p.m. The championship game is July 31. Spectator admission is $10 per day, $30 for the entire tournament at all parks. allianceopennationals.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.