LEISURE
ARTILLERY PROGRAMS - Point Park, Lookout Mountain. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park staff conduct artillery programs at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Park admission is $7 ages 16 and older. 423-821-7786.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH - Harrison United Methodist Church, 5621 Highway 58. Community party with free food, games with prizes, face painting, door prizes and entertainment. 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. 423-344-8228.
BATTLEFIELD BICYCLE TOURS - Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Free, 2.5-hour bicycle tours through battlefield led by Outdoor Chattanooga with rangers providing history of park. Ride is 4 miles on moderately hilly terrain; appropriate for ages 8 and older, children must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone must wear a helmet. 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18. 423-752-5213.
BIKE COMMUTING 101 - Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. Certified instructors teach rules of the road, safety and riding techniques to commute to work; followed by optional practice ride in good weather, bring helmet. 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20. Registration required: 423-643-6888.
BLUFF VIEW WINE SERIES - Back Inn Cafe, 411 E. Second St. Monthly educational wine series for ages 21 and older; $40 per person. 6:30-8:30 Sept. 6. Reservations required: 423-265-5033, ext. 4.
CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS - 432 Market St. Walking tours through downtown, ghost hunts through University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Citizens Cemetery. Adults $16.95, ages 12 and under $10. Tours 8:30 p.m. nightly by appointment. 423-821-7125.
Meet University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Tom Arth, pictured, and show your team spirit when Meet the Mocs is held Sunday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chattanooga Market in First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Members of Mocs sports teams and spirit squads will be on hand for photo-ops and autographs.CHATTANOOGA MARKET - First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Carter St. More than 200 vendors of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, flowers and original art. Free. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. 423-648-2496.
CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK - Located near Trenton, Ga., on western side of Lookout Mountain, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. Reservations required: 706-913-7170.
» Friday, Aug. 17 and 24: Radical reptiles and snake feeding, 3 p.m., $5 parking. Meet at Interpretive Center to learn about snakes and watch a feeding.
» Friday, Aug. 17: Night hike, 8-10 p.m., $10 plus $5 parking. Ages 10 and older invited to 2-mile hike to learn history and geology of park, bring flashlight.
» Saturday, Aug. 18: Rock talk, 11 a.m., $5 parking, one-mile hike to learn geology of park.
» Saturday, Aug. 18: Sunset stroll to Sunset Point, 8 p.m., $5 parking. Meet at West Rim Trail for short, easy walk to overlook to view the setting sun.
» Saturday, Aug. 18: Star party, 8-11 p.m., $5 parking. Meet at disc golf course parking lot to view the night sky through telescopes with Barnard Astronomical Society.
HIKES, TENNESSEE - Led by Soddy-Daisy Hiking Club. Bring water and snack. Carpool locations given for those who want to meet group. For more information, 423-842-3619.
» Saturday, Aug. 18: Pot Point Nature Trail, starts from parking lot across the road from the Pot House, moderate 4.3 miles with 800-foot climb. Meet at Food City on Signal Mountain Boulevard at 8 a.m.
» Tuesday, Aug. 21: Piney Falls, north of Spring City on Firetower Road, easy three miles. Meet at Durham Street in Soddy-Daisy at 8 a.m.
» Saturday, Aug. 25: Cumberland Trail from Mowbray Pike to Sluder Lane, 5 miles. Meet at Durham Street in Soddy-Daisy at 8 a.m.
LIVING HISTORY ENCAMPMENT - Point Park, Lookout Mountain. The 16th Alabama unit hosts living history encampment to show how and why the Confederates withdrew from Chattanooga toward LaFayette, Ga., 155 years ago. Programs are 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1; 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. Park admission is $7 ages 16 and older. 423-821-7786.
MAINSTREET CRUISE-IN - Cleveland, Tenn., around the courthouse square. View restored cars and other special-interest vehicles on downtown streets while music from the 1950s-70s plays over speakers. Spaces are free on a first-come, first-served basis. 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. For more information: 423-595-2912.
MELON FEST - Ooltewah Nursery and Landscape Co., 5829 Main St., Ooltewah. Do the Watermelon Crawl, sample a variety of melons, purchase watermelon baked goods, watermelon jams and jellies, melon-flavored popsicles, enter seed-spitting contest at Ooltewah Farmers Market. 3-6 p.m. Today, Aug. 16. 423-238-9775.
OUT ON 8TH - Eighth Street between Pine and Chestnut streets. Friday night street party with appetizers, small plates, cocktails, beer, live music, artist demonstrations and items for sale from West Village merchants. 5-8 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 5. www.facebook.com/westvillageCHA.
PEARLS AND PUMPS DAY - Stratton Hall, 3146 Broad St. Chattanooga alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority fundraiser for Chattanooga Area Food Bank's snack pack program; $40 per person. 4-9 p.m. Sept. 8. cac1941delta.eventbrite.com
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF CHATTANOOGA - St. John United Methodist Church, 3921 Murray Hills Drive. Award-winning fine art photographer Kathryn Kolb speaks on "Minimalistic and Artistic Photography" at 7 p.m. Today, Aug. 16. Photo boot camp at 6 p.m. Free and visitors welcome. 423-344-5643.
REFLECTION RIDING ARBORETUM AND NATURE CENTER - 400 Garden Road. Hours of operation 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Closed Mondays. All events require registration: 423-821-1160.
» Saturday, Aug. 25: Summer family night, 7-10 p.m., free with suggested donation of $8 to $20 per person. Join naturalist to learn about nocturnal animals and take part in an owl prowl.
RUBY FALLS LANTERN TOURS - Ruby Falls, 1720 South Scenic Highway. Experience underground cavern with only lanterns to light the way; $29.95 adults. 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays through November. Reservations required: 706-820-2531.
TRAIN RIDES, CHATTANOOGA - Departing from Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 894-8028. Check website for designated weekend train rides such as Chickamauga Turn, Dinner on the Diner and Hiwassee River Rail Adventure. www.tvrail.com.
» Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga to TVRM's repair shop. $17 adults, $11 ages 2-12. August schedule: Trains depart every Saturday and Sunday at 10:40 a.m., 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 and 3:35 p.m. The railroad is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but trains depart Wednesdays-Fridays at 10:40 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
CHILDREN/TEENS
CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY
All locations of the Chattanooga public library system have preschool story time. The Downtown, Eastgate and Northgate libraries have Adventure Club for children ages 6 and up. The library's teen center, Teen Stack, is located in the Downtown Library. For more information about all programming held in the Downtown, Eastgate, Northgate or South Chattanooga libraries, call 757-5310 or visit www.chattlibrary.org.
» Lego Clubs: Downtown branch, every Monday, 5-6 p.m., for ages 5-11, free; Northgate branch, first Saturday of each month, 2-3 p.m., for ages 3 and up, free. 757-5314.
» Toddler Time: Learning program for ages 18-36 months and parents/guardians, preregistration not required. Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Eastgate Library, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Northgate Library. Saturday: 11 a.m., downtown branch.
» Baby Bounce: Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10-10:30 a.m., Eastgate branch. Finger play, songs and stories for infants up to 18 months and their parent/caregiver.
» Saturday, June 23: Chattanooga Readers and Writers Fair, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., downtown branch.
CHILDREN'S STORY HOUR - Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., 11 a.m. Saturday, storytime. 423-893-0186.
» Today, Aug. 16: Children's summer game night series, 7 p.m.
» Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 18-19: Educator Appreciation Shopping, pre-K through 12th-grade teachers receive 25 percent off most books, toys, games, movies, music and more.
CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM - 321 Chestnut St. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $14.95 adults and children. 423-756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.
» Current exhibit: "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood."
DALTON-WHITFIELD COUNTY, GA., PUBLIC LIBRARY - 310 Cappes St., Dalton, Ga. TnT movie night for teens and tweens, guests under 13 must have signed permission slip available from library, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 21. 706-876-1360.
ROSSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY - 504 McFarland Ave., Rossville, Ga. Ready to Read storytime, Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.706-866-1368.
DANCES
BALLROOM - Ballroom Magic Dance Center, 4200 N. Access Road. $10 per person. 8:30-10:30 p.m. Fridays. 423-771-3646.
BIG BAND SWING NIGHT - Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 3405 Peerless Road, Cleveland, Tennessee. Evening of dancing to Sweet Georgia Sound with hors d'oeuvres and desserts; $15 per person. 6 p.m. dance lesson, 6:45 p.m. band begins playing, Saturday, Aug. 18. 423-472-9578.
CONTRA DANCE - Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road. Chattanooga Traditional Dance Society hosts dance with music by Ed and Elise, caller Charlotte Crittenden. $10 individuals, $7 students and senior adults. 7:30 contra lesson, 8-11 p.m. dance. Saturday, Aug. 25. 423-629-0333.
ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE - Heritage House at Heritage Park, 1428 Jenkins Road. Free introductory class for new dancers that teaches fundamental moves, then several dances from the historical repertoire. Bring soft-sole (sneakers or flats) shoes for dancing. No experience needed. 7-9 p.m. Resumes Aug. 28. 423-855-9474.
SHAG, BOP, SWING, JITTERBUG - Elks Lodge 91, 1067 Graysville Road at East Brainerd Road. $5 members, $7 guests. 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. www.choochooshagclub.com.