The Chattanooga area’s fall music season starts on a high note in September, with the Campfire Concert Series at Reflection Riding. That series will be followed in October by the 3 Sisters Festival at Ross’ Landing, the City of Chattanooga’s Fireside Concert Series at Greenway Farms and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s return to Chattanooga Oct. 20-24.
Here’s a look at some of what’s in store for area music fans this fall:
3 Sisters Festival
Bluegrass lovers can expect a mix of old and new at this year’s festival.
Nearly half the performers on the bill will be making their debuts at the 19th annual 3 Sisters Festival, which is named in honor of the three daughters of the late Chattanooga real estate executive and bluegrass musician Fletcher Bright.
East Nash Grass, Mason Via, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Appalachian Road Show and The Last Revel are set to take the Ross’ Landing stage for the first time, joining returning favorites — The New Dismembered Tennesseans, Dan Tyminski, The Traveling McCourys, Randy Steele and High Cold Wind, Big Richard, Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, and the Sam Bush Band.
The 3 Sisters Festival is free to attend and is set to run from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and from noon to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 3.
IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival
“Chattanooga welcomed us with open arms,” said Elizabeth Dewey, communications director for the Nashville-based International Bluegrass Music Association. “It was perfect for our festival, and the locals were fantastic.”
The 2025 World of Bluegrass festival “went as well as it could have” in Chattanooga, which was hosting the event for the first time.
Even so, IBMA is making changes for its 2026 return. For one, the festival is moving from September to Oct. 20-24. Dewey says that more of this year’s performances will be indoors, at venues including the Chattanooga Convention Center, Barrelhouse Ballroom, The Signal, Songbirds, Hi-Fi Clyde’s and Feed Table & Tavern.
“We’ll still have outdoor events,” she said, but the move to more inside events is meant to create a more intimate, curated experience for audiences.
Fireside Concerts
The City of Chattanooga’s popular fall Fireside Concerts Series is set for Thursdays in October. As in past years, the venue is the Sniteman Cabin at Greenway Farms in Hixson. Each night’s performance is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and attendees are invited to bring their own chairs, blankets and food.
Monica Kinsey, deputy administrator of the city government’s Arts, Culture & Creative Economy department, said the series has broadened its musical offerings in recent years and now offers a cross-section of genres.
“Bluegrass, folk, blues and a little classic rock,” she said. “The feedback has been all positive.”
Campfire Concerts
The Campfire Concert Series is back at Reflection Riding, with performances schedule Sept. 4, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Oct. 30 and Nov. 13.
Allie English, communications coordinator at Reflection Riding, says the roots of the Campfire series are in bluegrass and folk music, but have spread in recent years.
“We still have bluegrass and folk-leaning bands, but we’ll usually have one or two reggae bands and some hip-hop and jam bands as well,” she says.
English says gates open at 5:30 p.m., with the music starting an hour or so later. Tickets are available at the gate, she says, but the best option for tickets is reflectionriding.org/concerts. Concert tickets are $30 for Reflection Riding members, $35 for non-members and free to kids under 12. Attendees may also camp overnight at Reflection Riding for an extra $10.