More than 130 things to do, see, taste and hear - and 24 hours in which to get it all done.
That's the goal at the annual Mainx24 community block party on the Southside from Saturday, Dec. 7, through 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 8.
Mainx24 began 13 years ago as a project of CreateHere, a nonprofit based in the Southside. Its dream was to make Chattanooga a 24-hour city and draw folks to what was then the fairly new Southside development to show what was taking place in that community. Now the area along East and West Main has become a thriving retail, dining and housing area.
Mainx24 begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. with the annual pancake breakfast at Fire Station No. 1, 218 E. Main St., and wraps up in the wee hours of Sunday with a Neon Masquerade dance party at The Local, 46 E. Main St., from 2:30 to 6 a.m.
Neshawn Calloway Contributed Photo / Neshawn Calloway, her band and jazz ensemble will perform music by Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Anita Baker as part of her R&B show at The Granfalloon, 400 E. Main St., during Mainx24. Tickets are $10 and proceeds will help fund their travel to Hamm, Germany, in May for a Sister City performance. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information: www.granfalloonchattanooga.com.In between, there will be a parade, mutt strut, make-and-take Christmas crafting, music, a chili cook-off, ice plunge challenge, pop-up shops, human foosball, axe tournament, fireworks show on Station Street at 7:30 p.m., and the intriguing-sounding "What's Under My Kilt?" presented by ConNooga at 8 p.m. at Gate 11 Distillery in the Chattanooga Choo Choo.
For a complete schedule, check the Mainx24 website: http://mainx24.com/schedule/
Musical performances
Musical performances are scheduled through the 24 hours, and those in venues along Station and Market streets will have cover charges. Here is a cross-section of what’s on tap:10 a.m. Music by Buddy Shirk, Summitt Pianos, 55 E. Main St.10 a.m. Funky Jazz Brunch, Blue Orleans, 1463 Market St.Noon. Ariel Omarzu Ketterer, Locals Only, 1421 Market St.1 p.m. Get Down/Throw Down porch party with Priscilla and Little RicKee, Chrysalis, 1401 Williams St.2:30 p.m. Ryan Oyer Band, Pax Breu Ruim, 516 E. Main St.4 p.m. Red Rogues at Gate 11 Distillery in the Choo Choo, 1400 Market St.5 p.m. Denny Jiosa, Stir, 1444 Market St.6 p.m. Mainx24 Rock Fest, Bicycle Bar, 45 E. Main St.7:30 p.m. Neshawn Calloway with her band and jazz ensemble at Grandfalloon, 400 E. Main St.9 p.m. The Malemen at Songbirds South, 35 Station St.10 p.m. Flavorless, A warehouse, 1511 Cowart St.