The success of the East Ridge centennial celebration last year has spawned the city's first fall festival, set for Saturday at Camp Jordan Park.
"We had great participation and attendance at our centennial event last year," Mayor Brian Williams said in a news release. "Even during that event and afterwards, we had so many requests for East Ridge to have a fall festival this year. I am so happy we are able to have this festival and let this be the start of a great annual East Ridge event."
Shawnna Skiles, director of parks and recreation, said the festival won't have celebratory fireworks or a beer garden this year, but families will find plenty of free entertainment. City departments will have games and giveaways. A children's area will include giant inflatables, face painting, pumpkin painting and children's tattoos, all for free. Topgolf will provide multiple cornhole and giant Jenga setups.
"We charge for (events and services) all year long out here, so we see this as a service back to our community," Skiles said in a phone interview. "The only thing they'll be responsible for is whatever purchases they make at the vendors and food trucks. This gives us a chance to give back to everybody."
The East Ridge Fall Festival is one of multiple festivals happening this weekend. The following list represents those closest to Chattanooga. A more comprehensive list that includes events within a two-hour drive can be found in the 2022 Fall Festival Guide at timesfreepress.com.
AT A GLANCE
BALL TIL YOU FALL FESTIVAL -- 5410 School Drive, Hixson. Hixson Youth Athletic Association includes inflatables, face painting, petting zoo, costume contest, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, trunk or treat, music, cornhole, market and food vendors, 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. facebook.com/hyaawildcats
BREWTOBERFEST -- Lula Lake Land Trust, 5000 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Hiking, biking, beer, ax throwing, music and games, noon-4 p.m. Saturday. $35-$65. Proceeds support the trust's trail work and conservation efforts. lulalake.org
CHATTANOOGA MARKET'S SCENIC CITY WINGS -- First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. Competition to determine Chattanooga's best wings to benefit Chattanooga Area Food Bank, plus arts, crafts and produce vendors, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission; $15 to sample and vote. chattanoogamarket.com
COLLEGEDALE APPLE FESTIVAL -- Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive. More than 150 craft and food vendors, entertainment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission and parking. 423-650-1388
DANCING GOATS FOLK FEST -- Hefner River Park, 1557 S. Main St., Ellijay, Ga. Juried folk art show, crafts, mountain music, storytelling, traditional foods, goat beauty pageants, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. dancinggoatsfolkfest.com
EAST RIDGE FALL FESTIVAL -- Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge. Inaugural event includes 125 craft, specialty and business vendors, inflatables, games, food trucks, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Music by the Essentials, noon-4 p.m. Free. facebook.com/EastRidgeTN
FALL COLORS SPOOKTACULAR -- Fall Creek Falls State Park, 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tenn. Leaf peeping, boat rides, campsite decorating competitions and hayrides, all day Saturday, plus campground trick-or-treating, 5-9 p.m. CDT. tnstateparks.com
FALL FAMILY FUN FEST -- Miller Park, 910 Market St. First Things First event includes live music by Peace, Love & Happiness, food trucks, s'mores, pumpkin painting, face painting, fall photo booth, family games, inflatable soccer stadium, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free. facebook.com/events
FALL FESTIVAL -- Mayfield Farm Park, 257 Highway 307, Athens, Tenn. Three corn mazes, pumpkin patch, zip lines, pig races, obstacle course and rope mountain, through Oct. 30 (schedule varies). Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, 1-7 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays. $17 online, $20 at gate all visitors ages 3 and up; individual and family season passes available. mayfieldfarmpark.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). Friends of Cloudland Canyon present tractor-pulled hayrides running continuously 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
FREDONIA MOUNTAIN CRAFT FAIR -- Fredonia Community Center, next to the Fire Hall, 5216 Fredonia Road, Dunlap, Tenn. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Friday and Saturday.
FUN ON THE FARM -- Guthrie Farms, 490 County Road 67, Riceville, Tenn. Corn maze, hayrides to pumpkin patch, animal petting barn, bounce pad, games, through Oct. 30. Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sundays. $15 ages 2 and up. guthriepumpkinfarm.com
HARVEST CELEBRATION ON THE MOUNTAIN -- Flat Top Mountain Farm, 638 Cemetery Road, Soddy-Daisy. Corn maze with "Tennessee Road Trip" design, hayrides, pumpkin patch, fall flowers, through Oct. 30. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. $10 ages 4 and up. Facebook.com/flattopfarmTN
OKTOBERFEST -- Rabbit Valley Farmers Market, 96 Depot St., Ringgold, Ga. Market's season finalé includes oompah bands, German food, draft beer, 4-9 p.m. Saturday (change in hours from regular market). rabbitvalleyfarmersmarket.com
RIDGEDALE FALL FESTIVAL -- 1319 Dodds Ave. Inaugural event includes art and food vendors, music, games, sand mandala creation, noon-6 p.m. Saturday; parade at 7 p.m.; Drive-In Dance at 8 p.m. barkinglegs.org
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
VINTAGE MARKET DAYS -- Mountain Cove Farms, 994 Dougherty Gap Road, Chickamauga, Ga. Upscale, vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market with original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, home decor, outdoor furnishings, foods, plantings, 10 a.m.5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. $5-$10. vintagemarketdays.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.