Three soccer matches and a plethora of music and performing arts are on the schedule this weekend, as is the first chance to see Independence Day fireworks in North Alabama. Here's a look at events around the region.
* Gardening class: Master Gardeners of Hamilton County will present "What Is a Sustainable Landscape?" at 11 a.m. Thursday. It's free, but you'll need to register for the Zoom link. mghc.org.
* Modern dance: Meg Brooker of Duncan Dance South and local guest dancers will interpret the choreography of Isadora Duncan at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. Their program is inspired by the photography of the latest exhibition, "Power, Passion & Pose: Photographs by Ken Browar and Deborah Ory." Nonmember admission is $20 for adults. huntermuseum. org
* An Evening at Arts Avenue, scheduled 7-9 p.m. Thursday, will introduce the new venue at 1800 Rossville Ave., Unit 110. The event includes live music by CitiCoBand, Scenic City Dance performances, food and drink. RSVP: www.theartsave.com
* Evening of Poetry: Local author KB Ballentine will discuss her new book of poetry, "Edge of the Echo," her seventh collection, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Soddy-Daisy Community Library, 9619 Dayton Pike. A Q&A will follow. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Free, but register. eventbrite.com
* Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., has two upcoming shows. Butch Ross, a multi-instrumentalist and master of the dulcimer, will be in concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the garden. This is a Chattanooga Song Circle show in support of local artists. Tickets are $12.50 online, $15 at the door. Helen Gillet's show, "Taking the Cello on a Joy Ride," is at 7 p.m. Friday. She's known for her innovative use of the cello and live looping technology. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. There's a 40-person maximum for this indoor show. barkinglegs.org
* The Ringgold Playhouse will present the romantic comedy "Funny Little Thing Called Love" this weekend at the Ringgold Depot, 155 Depot St., Ringgold, Georgia. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. $8-$10. Facebook.com
* Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd., will have a grand reopening starting at 10 a.m. Friday to show off its new design, a project begun while it was closed during the pandemic. Admission will be free Friday and Saturday. New hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. bessiesmithcc.org
* Nightfall summer concert series wraps up its June salute to local acts with R&B artist Prince T and world music band Ogya at 7 p.m. Friday at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Food trucks, local artisans and lawn games will be set up across M.L. King Boulevard at Miller Park. Free admission. nightfallchattanooga.com
* Pride Late Skate, set for 7-11 p.m. Friday, is the kickoff for a Late Skate Series presented by Chattanooga Open Spaces and Moonlight Roller at Chattanooga Skate Park, 1801 Reggie White Blvd. If you're rusty, there's an intro to skating at 6 p.m. Skate rental is $7, or you can bring your own. Proceeds from skate rentals and raffle tickets will be donated to organizations for queer and trans skaters in the community. Facebook.com
* Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts and Ideas presents its final event, the last installment of the Oscar Micheaux Black Film Festival, at 8:30 p.m. Friday on the lawn at Community Haven, 815 N. Hickory St. Free admission. blackartsandideasfest
* Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves, an amateur soccer team, have two matches this weekend. The first is Friday against the Nashville Rhythm. The second is Sunday versus Alabama FC from Birmingham. Both contests start at 7 p.m. at CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. Tickets are $10. chattladyredwolves.com
* The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., has two shows this weekend. Friday features Southern rocker Paul Thorn in a solo performance, with Rachel McIntyre Smith opening ($20-$30). Saturday has rock supergroup The Dead Daisies, with Stereofeet opening ($25-$35). Both shows start at 8 p.m. thesignaltn.com
* The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road in Pelham, Tennessee, hosts bluegrass/folk/rock band Trampled By Turtles this weekend. Seating is available only for the Friday show, with Katie Pruitt opening, at 7 p.m. CDT in the above-ground amphitheater. Tickets are $65-$100. thecaverns.com
* LibertyCon, a literary sci-fi convention, will be held virtually Friday through Sunday. Guests of honor include author Patricia Briggs, artist Tiffany Toland-Scott, space lawyer Arthur M. "Art" Dula, "Magical Mad Scientist" Doc Osborn and author Seanan McGuire as master of ceremonies. libertycon.org
* Animal assistance: Kinley Chattanooga, a hotel at 1409 Market St., will host a silent auction inside the lobby Friday through Sunday, with 100% of proceeds donated to the Chattanooga Humane Educational Society. The Exchange restaurant also will introduce its doggy brunch menu. kinleychattanooga.com
* Bobby Stone Film Series continues with four films over the weekend: "La La Land," 7 p.m. Friday; "Bridge Over the River Kwai," 3 p.m. Saturday; "Wayne's World," 7 p.m. Saturday; and "Forrest Gump," 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10-$15. The weekly kiddie matinee, at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, "The Lion King." Tickets are $5. tivolichattanooga.com
* Freedom Fest, Rainsville, Alabama's Independence Day celebration, is Saturday at the Field of Dreams Sports Complex, 100 Rodeo Lane. Festivities start at 1 p.m., with musical entertainment, food and other vendors, free activities for kids and a car, truck and motorcycle show. Nashville fixture John Stone, an Alabama native, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. (all times Central). rainsvillefreedomfest.com
* Riverfront Nights completes its June roster Saturday with the neo-blues sounds of A.J. Ghent, a third-generation singer/songwriter who once fronted Col. Bruce Hampton's band. Local bluesman Rick Rushing opens the show at 7 p.m. at Ross's Landing, 201 Riverfront Parkway. Free admission. The series will return for a second round of shows on July 24. riverfrontnights.com
* Chattanooga Red Wolves, a men's professional soccer team, will play Greenville Triumph SC at 7 p.m. Saturday at CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. Tickets start at $14. chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com
* Tennessee Association of Vintage Base Ball will field one of its Chattanooga teams, the Lightfoot Club, against the Knoxville Holstons at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 6th Cavalry Museum, 6 Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. The game is played with the customs and costumes of the 19th century. Free admission. tennesseevintagebaseball.com
* Arts in the Burg, an incubator project to help revitalize downtown South Pittsburg, Tennessee, will be introduced with a festival Saturday outside the Princess Theatre, 227 S. Cedar Ave. Events are scheduled 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT and include demonstrations by 25 visual artists and music by 15 artists on two stages, including the Raelyn Nelson Band, fronted by Willie Nelson's granddaughter. All events are free except for a concert by Ben Sollee and the Pop-Up Project dance group inside the theater at 4:30 p.m. CDT ($17.50). Food trucks and craft beer vendors will be on site. artsintheburg.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.