The Lookout Wild Film Festival is taking place this weekend, bringing a variety of outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world to Chattanooga. Also taking place is the Sandhill Crane Festival, celebrating the birds that migrate to the Chattanooga area each winter. Hot off its wins at the 2024 Golden Globes, "Oppenheimer" returns to the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater for limited reprisal screenings this weekend. Here's the chronology.
ARTS
— Photographic Society of Chattanooga continues its holiday show at the Gallery at Blackwell, 71 Eastgate Loop. Society members will have their work displayed, and prints will be available for purchase. Gallery hours are 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The show will run through Feb. 1. Learn more at chattanoogaphoto.org.
— In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave., will host an opening reception for its January exhibition, "Blank Canvas: Make Your Mark!," from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday. The exhibition is an interactive experience, featuring a large canvas and various art supplies for visitors to express themselves. Throughout the month, as more people contribute, the collaborative work will continue to grow. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The exhibition will run through Jan. 31. Learn more at intowngallery.com.
— Association for Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave., will host an opening reception for its exhibition, "Outside/Inside: Paintings, Drawings and Multimedia Works," from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday. The exhibition features the works of artists Tom Farnam and Judith Mogul. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. The exhibition will run through Feb. 23. Learn more at avarts.org.
— Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road, will host an opening reception for its exhibition, "Vessel," from 7-9 p.m. Saturday. The coffeehouse-style reception will include live music, stand-up comedy, storytelling and more. The exhibition, featuring the works of 25 local and national artists, showcases a variety of vessels, including ships, buildings, vases, the human body and more. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The exhibition will run through Feb. 23. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
— North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102, Hixson, will host an opening reception for its art exhibition, "Fine Art of the West," from 1-3 p.m. Sunday. The reception will include refreshments, a meet and greet and an artist talk. The exhibition features the works of artist David Fishman that depict "the energy and emotion of the timeless American West." Civic center hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday. The exhibition will run through April 1. Learn more by contacting the civic center at 423-870-8924.
MUSIC
— Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St., will have several shows this weekend. At 8 p.m. Thursday, Rock 105 and 98.1 The Lake will present "That Arena Rock Show," a tribute to '70s and '80s rock, with Trauma Illinois; tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 the day of show. At 9 p.m. Friday, Same As It Ever Was, a Talking Heads tribute band, will perform; tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 the day of show. At 8 p.m. Saturday, Dopapod with Kendall Street Company will perform; tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 the day of show. Learn more at barrelhouseballroom.com.
— Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift will be at 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Friday at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 N. Moore Road. The concert will be a tribute to Taylor Swift, featuring string quartet renditions of the pop star's songs. The concert will be illuminated by thousands of candles, creating a unique ambiance for the musical experience. Tickets cost $32-$70. Learn more on the concert's page at feverup.com.
— The Signal, 21 Choo Choo Ave., will host Fool House, the ultimate '90s dance party, at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets cost $28-$53. Learn more at thesignaltn.com.
OUT & ABOUT
— Ice on the Landing continues this weekend with hours from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 2-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.; hours for Martin Luther King Jr. Day are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday. From 6-9 p.m. Thursday, the rink will host R&B on Ice, featuring DJ Chai, who will be playing a variety of classic and current mixes. From noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Hits 96 will host a Disney character skate; attendees are invited to dress up as well. Tickets cost $12-$14 for adults, $10-$12 for children. Ice on the Landing will be open through Jan. 28. Learn more at iceonthelanding.com.
— Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., will conclude its seasonal Asian Lantern Festival this weekend. The attraction will be open from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. The festival features more than 30 lanterns and nine interactive displays, showcasing zoo animals, traditional Asian lanterns and natural elements. Tickets cost $13.50-$18.50 for zoo members, $17-$23 for nonmembers. The festival is ticketed separately and does not include daytime zoo admission. Learn more at chattzoo.org/events.
— Chattanooga Palestinian Solidarity Network will host a film screening and panel discussion at 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Historic Venue at 1601 Rossville Ave. The film will be "Resistance Climbing," a short film about an American climber who goes to Palestine to visit the house his grandfather was evicted from in 1948 and who also finds solace and redemption among a community of other climbers. The panel discussion, featuring Palestinian climbers and community organizers, will follow the film. Reservation is required. Learn more on the solidarity network's Instagram page.
— Chattanooga Audubon Society will host a winter wildlife walk, as part of its Homeschool Field Trip Days, at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday at Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road. The walk, showcasing the beauty of the sanctuary in winter, will be a 1-mile round-trip hike through the forest, fields and over South Chickamauga Creek. The walk is recommended for those 5 and older and is not suitable for strollers. Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly. Cost is free for member adults or $5 for nonmember adults and $3 for member children or $6 for nonmember children. Learn more at chattanoogaaudubon.org.
— Lookout Wild Film Festival will have screenings at 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at the Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave. The festival will bring outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world to Chattanooga. The films featured during this year's festival focus on sports like cycling, skiing and climbing, while also presenting stories about overcoming adversity, preserving natural spaces and more. Tickets cost $33-$80. Learn more at lwff.org.
— Tennessee Valley Railroad will conclude its holiday lights train rides this weekend with excursions at 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. Friday-Sunday at the Grand Junction Depot, 4119 Cromwell Road. The experience includes a 65-minute, 6-mile round-trip ride that will take passengers over four bridges and through a pre-Civil War, horseshoe-shaped tunnel, while also including a historic turntable demonstration. Tickets cost $24 for adults and $15 for children. Learn more at tvrail.com.
— Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St., will have limited reprisal screenings of "Oppenheimer" at 6:15 p.m. Friday-Monday. The film follows the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. The film is rated R. At the 2024 Golden Globes Awards held Jan. 7, the film received eight nominations, winning for Best Original Score, Best Motion Picture — Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Director. Tickets to the reprisal screenings cost $13 for aquarium members and $15 for general admission. Learn more at tnaqua.org/imax.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Cranes fly over Hiwassee Refuge as part of the Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival in Birchwood on Jan. 14, 2023. The 2024 festival will be from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m.-noon Sunday at the Hiwassee Refuge.— Sandhill Crane Festival will be from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m.-noon Sunday at the Hiwassee Refuge; parking is only available at the Birchwood Community Center, 5623 Highway 60, Birchwood, and shuttles will take attendees to the refuge and Cherokee Memorial throughout the day. The festival will feature vendors, live music, live raptor shows and more, while also focusing on the sandhill cranes that migrate to the Hiwassee Refuge each winter. Learn more on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's page at tn.gov.
— Wauhatchie BoulderFest, now in its fourth year, will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Rockmont Park, 1835 Wauhatchie Pike. The open-to-all community climbing day at the Lookout Mountain Conservancy's Rockmont Park will feature a variety of climbing opportunities for climbers of all skill levels as well as food trucks, vendors, music and more. Climbing registration costs $25. Learn more at lookoutmountainconservancy.org.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Omar Daouk of Alpharetta, Ga. climbs a boulder called "Luna" on Dec. 4, 2021, at the Old Wauhatchie Pike bouldering area. Wauhatchie BoulderFest, now in its fourth year, will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Rockmont Park.— Chill-I Willy Market, presented by Shop the Market at, LLC, will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive, Collegedale. Stay warm in the winter by partaking in chili samples and craft vendors at the market. The vendors will have winter necessities like hats, scarves, hot chocolate, tea, desserts and more. Learn more at bit.ly/CWiMarket.
— The Chattery will host "Winter Brrrding," an introductory birdwatching class, from 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Greenway Farm, 3008 Hamill Road. During the class, participants will learn how to identify birds and their songs. Field ornithologist Laura Marsh will lead the class. Registration costs $25, and additional proceeds will benefit Nova Conservation, Marsh's organization that supports environmental nonprofits. Learn more at thechattery.org.
— Jewish Documentary Film Series, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, continues its four-week run Sunday. The films will screen virtually from noon Sunday-noon Friday each week and will screen in-person at 3 p.m. Sunday each week at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road. This Sunday, "Broken Dolls" will begin screening; the film follows a daughter working to reinstate her mother's lost German citizenship after her mother fled Nazi Germany on a ship bound for Shanghai, China. The in-person screening includes free popcorn and a drink. Tickets cost $12. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Sam Still at sstill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6579.