With Independence Day on Tuesday, the weekend will be full of opportunities to enjoy the holiday in the Chattanooga region. There's plenty of other events as well to fill out the weekend itinerary. Here's a chronology.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
— Dalton, Georgia, will have Pops in Burr Park presented by the Creative Arts Guild at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Burr Performing Arts Park, 101 S. Hamilton St. The event will include live music by Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie Jazz Band and the Creative Arts Guild Chamber Orchestra. The event will also feature dancers from Ballet Dalton, a community children's choir and other performances by soloists and ensembles. The night will conclude with a fireworks show. Find more information on the event's Facebook page.
— LaFayette, Georgia, will have a Freedom Festival starting at 5 p.m. Friday at the Ross Abney Complex behind the old high school, 252 First St. The festival will include music, activities, vendors and a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Find more information at mycityoflafayettega.org/events.
— Ringgold, Georgia, will host the Catoosa County Fireworks Fest starting at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Northwest Georgia Amphitheater, 220 Catoosa Circle, and the Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle. There will be a craft market at the Colonnade, live music, food and beverages available for purchase, children's activities and games. The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. Find more information on the Catoosa County government's Facebook page.
— Soddy-Daisy will have an Independence Day celebration starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Soddy Lake Park, 197 Durham St. This event, hosted by the Vietnam Veterans of America Soddy-Daisy Chapter 942, will feature food trucks, children's games, a car show, live music and a variety of vendors. Fireworks will begin after dark. Find more information at vva942.com.
— Chattanooga will have a fireworks show at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Graceworks Church, 6445 Lee Highway. The show will take place by the church's 110-foot cross. Find more information at graceworkschatt.com.
— Collegedale, Tennessee, will host its annual Freedom Festival from 4-9:30 p.m. Monday. The celebration will feature food vendors, live music, children's activities including inflatables and a foam party. The Ain't Just Whistlin Dixie band will perform live at 5:30 p.m., the Amber Carrington Band will perform at 6:45 p.m. and the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra will conclude the musical performances at 8 p.m. The fireworks show is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Find more information at collegedaletn.gov.
— Sewanee, Tennessee, will have a Fourth of July celebration over two days, Monday and Tuesday, with most festivities taking place Tuesday. There will be a street dance, live music and family fun from 6-10 p.m. CDT July 3 at Angel Park and on University Avenue. The July 4 activities include morning yoga, an arts and crafts fair, a parade, a concert and an aerial demonstration (weather permitting). The fireworks show will take place after dark at Lake Cheston. Find more information at sewanee4thofjuly.org.
— Chattanooga will have a Fun on the Fourth celebration starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Miller Park, 928 Market St. The event will feature carnival games, a ferris wheel, vintage cars, a variety of vendors, plenty of food and beverages available for purchase and live music throughout the day. The celebration will conclude with a laser light show finale at 9:30 p.m. Find more information on the event's Facebook page.
— Cleveland, Tennessee, will have a fireworks show around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday at Bradley Square Mall, 200 Paul Huff Parkway NW. The show, presented by Mt. Olive Ministries and sponsored by Cleveland Ford and the city of Cleveland, will have its launch site at the Perry Stone Ministries building adjacent to the mall. Mix 104.1 FM will play a synchronized music presentation during the show. The ring road behind the mall will be closed before and after the fireworks, and the mall building will impede the line of sight. The best parking for viewing is on the east side of the mall. The mall entrances will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find more information on the mall's Facebook page.
— Dalton, Georgia, will have an all-day celebration beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Heritage Point Park, 1275 Cross Plains Trail. Events during the day include an old-timers softball game, a Little Miss Dalton Pageant, a cornhole tournament, two live bands, vendors and a fireworks show to start after dark. Events will take place at Heritage Point Park and Burr Performing Arts Park, 101 S. Hamilton St., throughout the day. Find more information on the Dalton Parks and Recreation department's Facebook page.
— Henagar, Alabama, will have its annual Sand Mountain Potato Festival, a community tradition since 1983, beginning with an Independence Day parade at 10 a.m. Tuesday starting at Limon's Mexican Restaurant, 50 Lloyd Crye Drive, and ending at Henagar City Park, 18294 AL-75. The all-day celebration will feature a cruise-in with vintage cars and motorcycles, pony rides, a cornhole tournament, a volleyball tournament, craft and food vendors, live music and much more. The fireworks show will begin after dark. Find more information on the city of Henagar's website and Facebook page.
— Signal Mountain will have the annual Fourth of July BBQ hosted by the Signal Mountain Lions Club. Festivities will begin with a parade at 9 a.m. Tuesday that starts at Old Town Alexian and ends at Althaus Park, 809 James Blvd., where the rest of the festivities will take place. Food options will include barbeque, hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes and more. There will also be live music and a bounce house, face painting and balloon magic for children. Find more information at smtnlions.org.
— South Pittsburg, Tennessee, will have an Independence Day celebration 5-8:30 p.m. CDT July 4 at the stage on Cedar Avenue. The event will feature food and beverages, inflatables and games. The fireworks show will take place at 8:30 p.m. Find more information on the South Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Facebook page.
— Sweetwater, Tennessee, will have an Independence Day celebration from 4 p.m. to dark in downtown Sweetwater. The celebration will feature live music, children's activities, a parade and a fireworks show at dark. Find more information on the city of Sweetwater's Instagram page.
— Trenton, Georgia, will have the annual 1945 Dade County Fair to celebrate Independence Day. The opening ceremonies will begin at noon Tuesday at Jenkins Park on Price Street. Events include a car show, watermelon and Moon Pie eating contests, redneck games, live music, vendors and much more. Some events have a required entrance fee for participation. Find more information at 1945fair.com.
MUSIC
— Nightfall, a weekly summer music series, continues at 7 p.m. Friday at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St., with opener Interval. The headliner will be Road to Nightfall winners James Lee Wilson & James County playing a mix of rockabilly, traditional country and gospel. The art market starts at 6 p.m., and the food trucks start serving at 6:30 p.m. The event is rain or shine, and admission is free. Learn more at nightfallchattanooga.com.
— An Evening with Dominique Hammons will take place at 7 p.m. Friday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Recording artist and violinist Dominique Hammons will play a mix of R&B and pop hits. The evening will also feature local artists like Swayyvo, ReeceTheTruth, Denise Dave and Jimmy Allgood. Tickets cost $40. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
OUT & ABOUT
— Little Debbie Park will have a grand opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday at the park behind the Commons, 4750 Swinyar Drive, Collegedale, Tenn. The new park features a variety of play structures for children including some modeled after Little Debbie snacks. The grand opening will feature an unveiling of a Little Debbie statue by local artist Alex Paul Loza. Learn more at collegedaletn.gov.
— Lula Lake Land Trust's Open Gate Days will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the trust's Core Preserve, 5000 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Hike the trails of the preserve and take in the natural scenery of the land and waterfall. With multiple trails offering various difficulties, there is plenty to do for anyone looking to get out over the weekend. Spots and arrival times are limited. Admission is $16. Learn more at lulalake.org.
— Chattanooga Market will host a "Red, White and Blueberries" edition of its weekly market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd. The Fourth of July-themed market will feature three blueberry pie eating contests. Attendees can sign up at the front desk. Learn more at chattanoogamarket.com.
— Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 N. Terrace Road, will have a Chilling and Milling event beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The center, funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, is offering an air-conditioned, indoor alternative to the usual July 4 celebrations. The event will feature summer foods like chicken barbeque, potato salad and coleslaw with desserts and live music performed by local band Triple L Trio. While there, take a look around the center's current exhibition "Jews, Blues and All That Jazz" which features works by Tom Farnam and other local artists. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $28 for two, $36 for a family of four, $7 for children 7 to 16 and free for children under 7. Find more information at jewishchattanooga.com.
— Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St., will have the annual Red, White and Blue Day from 12-4 p.m. Tuesday. The day will feature themed activities and crafts including glitter gel fireworks, straw rockets and a 21 geyser salute with Diet Coke and Mentos. All activities are included with admission. General admission tickets cost $16.95. Find more information at cdmfun.org.
— Lake Winnie Amusement Park, 1730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville, Ga., will have a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Tuesday. The park will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. SoakYa water attractions will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Online tickets for guests, ages 3 to 59, cost $41.95 to get into both parks, tickets for guests 2 and younger or 60 and older must be purchased at the gate. Find more information at lakewinnie.com.
SPORTS
— Chattanooga Lookouts will play a home series against the Tennessee Smokies, with games Wednesday through Monday at AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley. Friday and Monday will have a fireworks show after the game. Tickets cost $6-$11. Find more information at milb.com/chattanooga.
— East Ridge Community Center, 1515 Tombras Ave., will begin offering lessons in Korfball from 6-7 p.m. on Fridays. Korfball is a sport originating in the Netherlands in 1902 in which two teams consisting of eight players, four male and four female, attempt to throw a ball into a netless basket, the Korf, that is mounted on a 11.5-foot pole. For more information about Korfball and joining the free lessons, contact Hannah Spear, the center's coordinator, at hspear@eastridgetn.gov.
— Lady Red Wolves will have their home finale game against the South Georgia Tormenta FC at 7:30 p.m. Friday at CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. There will be a fireworks show after the game. General admission tickets cost $10. Find more information at chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com.
THEATER
— Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St., will have a premier screening of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" at 9:15 p.m. Thursday. Harrison Ford returns as the iconic archeologist and adventurer in the fifth installment of the "Indiana Jones" franchise. The film will screen at 5 and 7:45 p.m. June 30 through July 4. General admission tickets cost $15, member tickets cost $13. Find more information at tnaqua.org/imax.
— Athens Area Council for the Arts will present "Disney's Winnie the Pooh KIDS" at 6 p.m. Friday and at 12 and 2 p.m. Saturday at The Arts Center, 320 N. White St., Athens, Tenn. The stars of the show will be the participants of the council's 2023 Jr. Musical Theatre Camp who have spent two weeks learning and preparing to put on the show. Adult tickets cost $10, student tickets cost $5. Find more information at athensartscouncil.org.
— Bobby Stone Film Series at the Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave., begins at 7 p.m. Saturday with a screening of "Moonrise Kingdom." The film, directed by Wes Anderson, follows two 12-year-olds who have fallen in love and choose to run away as a group of adults mobilizes to find them. The Bobby Stone Film Series will have screenings of multiple films throughout the summer. General admission tickets for adults cost $12, and tickets for students and adults over 65 cost $10. Find more information at tivolichattanooga.com.
Contact Sam Still at sstill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6579.