Some of the Chattanooga area's most anticipated fall events are happening this weekend, including Wine Over Water and the New Salem Mountain Festival, which are returning after two-year COVID-19 hiatuses.
Faye Nichols, co-chair for New Salem, said the festival will pick up where it left off in the fall of 2019.
"I had almost 50 (crafts) people who rolled over for two years," she said in a phone interview. "They'd already paid their booth fee. When we canceled in 2020, they rolled over to 2021, and in 2021 they rolled over to this year."
Todd Morgan, who has been executive director of Preserve Chattanooga (formerly Cornerstones) for less than a year, said Wine Over Water will return as the exuberant salute to wine that local oenophiles have come to expect. But it's not just about the wine, he said in a phone interview.
"I think people will have a really great experience with the chefs," he said. "We're highlighting four local chefs who have created tasting menus to pair with the wines. We're very excited about that."
Their menus include such delicacies as oyster hand pies, crostini, short rib and chocolate-covered cherries. Five musical acts will provide the evening's soundtrack as festivalgoers traverse the Walnut Street Bridge.
AT A GLANCE
These are weekend events closest to Chattanooga. Find more in the 2022 Fall Festival Guide at timesfreepress.com.
› 423 NIGHT MARKET -- Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists parking lot, 4829 College Drive East. Eighty booths showcase creativity of Southern Adventist University students and employees, with live music and handcrafted items including pottery, soap, greeting cards and food, 9 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. southern.edu
› BLESSING OF THE BUFFALO -- Vital Buffalo Farm, 8220 Highway 60, Georgetown, Tenn. Buffalo program accompanies fall festival with bluegrass music, American Indian storytelling, drums and flutes, children's activities, petting zoo, antique vehicles, concessions, 3-7 p.m. Saturday. Free. Bring your own seating. Facebook.com
› CHATTANOOGA OKTOBERFEST -- First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. A two-day Chattanooga Market celebration with German food, more than 100 seasonal beers, oompah bands, chicken dances, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday (with all-ages costume contest at 6:30 p.m.), 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Free. chattanoogaoktoberfest.com
› FALL FUN -- Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. (Pavilion 6 near the start of the disc golf course). Tractor-pulled hay rides run noon-4 p.m. Saturdays in October; family activities including corn hole and temporary tattoos, noon-5 p.m., food available noon-3 p.m. Free; $5 parking (free with Georgia State Park pass). friendsofcloudlandcanyon.org
› GEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL -- Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 S. Main St., Ellijay, Ga. More than 300 arts and crafts vendors, demonstrations, parade, antique car show, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (same hours Oct. 15-16). $10 ages 13 and older; civic and school groups handle parking with requested donation. georgiaapplefestival.org
› K&S CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER MARKET -- Camp Jordan Arena, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Vendor booths, selfie stations, children's activities, live music, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free admission and parking. eventswithkimk@gmail.com
› NEW SALEM MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL -- New Salem Community Center, 12477 Highway 136, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Arts and crafts vendors, live music, food prepared by New Salem United Methodist Church, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (all times Eastern). $5 ages 12 and older. newsalemmountainfestival.com
› PRATER'S MILL COUNTRY FAIR -- Prater's Mill Historic Site, 5845 Highway 2, Dalton, Ga. Fair centered on functioning 1855 mill at Coahulla Creek, with 160-plus artists and crafters, traditional craft demonstrations, homemade Southern foods, live entertainment, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $10 per day (cash only) ages 13 and older (free with military ID); free parking and shuttle service. pratersmill.org/fair
› PUMPKIN PALOOZA -- Greenway Park and Pavilion, 755 Raider Drive, Cleveland, Tenn. Family festival with arts and crafts, product vendors, food trucks, inflatables, petting zoo, music, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. familycornerstones.wordpress.com
› PUMPKINTOWN -- 106 S. Jackson St., Athens, Tenn. More than 250 vendors, powwow, quilt show, mutt strut, flower show, children's activities, music on two stages, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Dexter Thomas Band closes out Sounds of Summer concerts at 7 p.m. friendlycityfestivals.com/pumpkintown
› ROCKTOBERFEST -- Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga. German music, food, specialty beer, Birds of Prey shows, costumed characters, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in October. $18-$28. Reserved timed-entry tickets required. seerockcity.com
› WINE OVER WATER -- Walnut Street Bridge, 1 Walnut St. Preserve Chattanooga's primary fundraiser for historic preservation features 200 wine varieties, food from Chattanooga restaurants and three stages of music on the pedestrian bridge spanning the Tennessee River, 5-8 p.m. Saturday. $125 ticket includes souvenir wine glass (must be at least 21, ID required). Optional kickoff event, Best Cellars, 6-9 p.m. Friday at Hunter Museum of American Art; $225 ticket includes Saturday admission. preservechattanooga.com
› WOODEN FAMILY HARVEST FESTIVAL -- Oren Wooden's Apple House, 6351 New Harmony Road, Pikeville, Tenn. Crafts, food, pumpkin patch, family activities, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT Friday and Saturday. 423-447-6376