Thursday is Veterans Day, which means banks are closed and there's no mail delivery, but veterans can take advantage of free meals and other discounts from local businesses. Three events themed to the holiday are listed below, along with information on three widely divergent stand-up comedians here this weekend and a Wednesday visit by a psychiatrist whose best-selling book was co-authored by Oprah Winfrey.
Also two singers with "American Idol" credentials, a rapper with the perfect stage name and a piano showman whose fingers starred in a Jerry Lee Lewis biopic will perform in the Chattanooga area this week. Larger venues will host shows by Ledisi, Ashley McBryde and Tab Benoit.
VETERANS DAY
- Celebration: Join the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council and other organizations for a program at 11 a.m. Thursday at the National Guard Armory, 1801 S. Holtzclaw Ave. chattareaveterans.com
- Free entry: Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, will have free gate entry for all visitors Thursday. Gate entry is normally $10 for ages 16 and older. Rangers will lead programs at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. about "The Battle Above the Clouds." nps.gov/chch
- Concert: Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will present its 10th annual free Veterans Day concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. chattanoogasymphony.org
OUT & ABOUT
- Holiday Stroll, to kick off the holiday shopping season at downtown merchants, is 5-8 p.m. Thursday in Dayton, Tennessee. The event includes Santa appearances, food and live music, plus the lighting of the grand Christmas tree on the Rhea County Courthouse lawn, 1275 Market St., at 6 p.m. mainstreetdayton.org
- Greek Bake Sale: Orders are still being accepted for the sweet and savory Greek specialties available for pickup Friday at Greek Annunciation Church, 722 Glenwood Drive. Coordinator Christina Tutor says advance orders are recommended, but drop-in shoppers will be allowed in between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. as space allows and while supplies last. A second sale is scheduled Dec. 10. The full menu and prices are online. annunciationgreek.org
- Hearts 4 the Arts, the Performing Arts League's holiday fashion show and luncheon, is 11 a.m.-1 p.m Friday at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, 1511 Riverview Road. Proceeds support youth involvement in the performing arts. Tickets are $75. palchattanooga.org
- Roller disco: Moonlight Roller's Night Glide, featuring a live DJ, food trucks and a bar, is 7 p.m. Friday at The Arts Avenue, 1800 Rossville Ave. Admission is $15. Skate rentals, if you need them, are an additional $7 (must be 18 to rent). theartsave.com
- Museum Center at Five Points, 200 E. Inman St., Cleveland, Tennessee, has multiple events this weekend. Coffee With a Curator, 10-11 a.m. Saturday, features a talk on the history of the Cherokee in Charleston, Tennessee; free with museum admission ($9 adults). A Walking Tour of Historic Properties in downtown Cleveland is 1-2 p.m. Saturday; free with museum admission, $5 without museum entry. A Holiday Market of items donated by local artisans, businesses and clubs is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday; $10 admission. museumcenter.org
- Junior Ranger Series, a Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park program, continues at 2 p.m. Saturday with "Design Your Own American Indian Rattle" for kids (and inquisitive adults) at Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. The 30-minute program is free, but there's a $10 entry fee for anyone 16 and older. nps.gov/chch
- Spectrum, a two-day fundraiser for the Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View, concludes with a black-tie gala and live auction 6-11 p.m. Saturday. Thursday's silent auction is sold out, but you may bid online. The $500 ticket for Saturday's gala includes dinner. huntermuseum.org
- Tri-State Bluebird Society, a chapter of the Tennessee Bluebird Society, will hold its end-of-season meeting at 4 p.m. Sunday at Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave. tristatebluebirds@gmail.com
- Moccasin Bend Lecture Series concludes Monday with Amy Kostine, national trails program coordinator for the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University. Her topic is "Rivers, Rails & Roads: Transportation During the Cherokee Removal." The program starts at 7 p.m. at the Imax Theater, 201 Chestnut St. (attend in person or virtually). Admission is free, but register. nppcha.org
MUSIC
- Noontunes, a weekly series featuring local musicians, food trucks and vendors, continues 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday with Ashley and the X's at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Free. rivercitycompany.com/events
- Crystal Bowersox: The singer/songwriter who was runner-up to Lee DeWyze in the ninth season of "American Idol" plays at 7 p.m. Thursday at The Arts Avenue, 1800 Rossville Ave. Tickets are $25. theartsave.com
File Photo / Crystal Bowersox- Bun B: The Houston rapper performs at 8 p.m. Thursday at The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St. Opening is Atlanta-based rapper Landon Wordswell, whose stage name perfectly describes his skill set. Tickets are $25. thesignaltn.com
- Lee University ensembles have fall concerts coming up in Conn Center, 150 11th St. NE, Cleveland, Tennessee. The Jazz Ensemble plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Percussion Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. the following Wednesday. Both shows are free and nonticketed. 423-614-8240
- Dinner and the Opera launches Friday at the Granfalloon, 400 E. Main St. The three-course meal starts with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar at 6:30 p.m., followed by performances by soprano Natalie Almeter, mezzo-soprano Neshawn Calloway, tenor Michael Mays and baritone Ryan Henry. Tickets are $40. granfalloonchattanooga.com
- Jason D. Williams will bring his piano-pounding prowess to Songbirds, 35 Station St., at 7 p.m. Friday. In "Great Balls of Fire," Williams' hands did the close-up camera work for Dennis Quaid's star turn as rock 'n' roll's original wild man, Jerry Lee Lewis. Williams is also known for memorable Riverbend performances, including once throwing a piano bench off the stage into the Tennessee River. Tickets are $30. songbirdsfoundation.org
File Photo / Jason D. Williams- Ledisi: The singer who took home a 2021 Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Anything for You" (after 12 previous nominations) brings her Wild Card Tour to the Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St., at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $26-$76. tivolichattanooga.com
File Photo / Ledisi- Scenic City Shakespeare will present selections from Broadway musicals in Music Theatre International's "All Together Now" fundraiser to support local theater at 8 p.m. Friday at Common House Chattanooga, 1517 Mitchell Ave. Tickets are $30 ($100 tables of four). sceniccityshakespeare.org
- Galactic: The New Orleans-based jam band, featuring "American Idol" alumnus Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, plays The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road in Pelham, Tennessee, twice this weekend. Supporting acts are Funk You on Friday and Kyle Tuttle on Saturday. Tickets start at $45 (two-night tickets available). thecaverns.com
- Campfire Concert Series continues 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday at Reflection Riding, 400 Garden Road. Rick Rushing & the Blues Strangers will perform. Tickets, $20-$25, include beer, entertainment and the option to camp out overnight. reflectionriding.org
- Fall Musical Showcase: The Bryan College Performing Arts Department's chorale and orchestra will present Handel's "Messiah" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Rudd Auditorium, 140 Landes Way, Dayton, Tennessee. Tickets are $6-$10. bryan.edu
- Ashley McBryde: The four-time Grammy-nominated country artist, who broke through with the 2018 hit "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega," plays the Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St., at 8 p.m. Saturday on her This Town Talks Tour. Tickets are $27-$36. tivolichattanooga.com
AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File / Ashley McBryde- Tab Benoit: The Grammy-nominated guitarist brings his Delta blues to Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave., at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20-$40. tivolichattanooga.com
- East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra welcomes a change in seasons with its Fall Concert at 6 p.m. Sunday in Founders Hall at the Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive. The concert will conclude the daylong Hope Twinkles 2021 play-along benefit for the Zan Young School of Music and Hope. Admission is free. etsomusic.org
- Chattanooga State Community College, 4501 Amnicola Highway, will present an evening of chamber music at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Humanities Theater. A student ensemble will open, then the faculty trio Chattywampus (Cindy Solfest-Wallis, Nicholas Hartline and Alan Nichols) will perform works for flute, clarinet and piano. Free admission. A livestream will be available. chattanoogastate.edu
- String Theory, a chamber music series, continues Tuesday with the music of Beethoven, Ravel and Brahms played by Radovan Vlatkovic (horn), Soovin Kim (violin) and Gloria Chien (piano), at 6:30 p.m. at the Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. A Musical Dialogue with the artists starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10-$45. stringtheorymusic.org
- Songbirds Rising, a concert series to introduce worthy bands to local audiences, will feature indie rock band Ona at 8 p.m. and folk rockers Bendigo Fletcher at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Songbirds, 35 Station St. Tickets are $15. songbirdsfoundation.org
[READ MORE: See a list of 90+ fall festivals.]
BOOKS & AUTHORS
- Book signing: Local author David Carroll will sign copies of "Hello Chattanooga: Famous People Who Have Visited the Tennessee Valley" 11 a.m.-noon Saturday at Food City, 7804 East Brainerd Road. chattanoogaradiotv.com
- An Evening of Reading: Historical fiction writer and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga English instructor J. Kasper Kramer, along with UTC creative writing graduate students Lysa Scealf and Paul Zachos, will read from their works at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on the fourth floor of the Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad St. Kramer will have copies of her books, which include "The List of Unspeakable Fears," released in September, available for sale and signing. Masks are required. chattlibrary.org
- Best-seller lecture: Dr. Bruce Perry, lead author (with Oprah Winfrey) of "What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing," a book about the emotional and biological effects of childhood trauma, will present a program at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the University Center auditorium, 642 E. Fifth St., on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing. The program is presented by the George C. Connor Professorship in American Literature and UTC's psychology and English departments. Masks are required. aaron-shaheen@utc.edu
COMEDY
- Killer Beaz plays a special engagement at The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., this weekend. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday ($17-$19) and at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday ($20-$25). Open Mic Night, for up-and-coming talents, is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday ($5). thecomedycatch.com
- Steve-O, of "Jackass" fame, brings his Bucket List Tour to Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave., at 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $35-$100. tivolichattanooga.com
- Chonda Pierce performs at 7 p.m. Sunday at Abba's House, 5208 Hixson Pike. Tickets are $29-$55 (group discounts available). abbashouse.com/events
SPECTATOR SPORTS
- Erlanger Chattanooga Marathon: Weekend events include a marathon, half marathon, 5K and kids fun run. An expo will be open 3-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. The final day coincides with the weekly Chattanooga Market, open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. chattanoogamarathon.com
- Chattanooga Football Club, a men's professional soccer team, plays the Michigan Stars FC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Finley Stadium, 1826 Carter St. This is Chattanooga FC's last home match of the season. Tickets are $7-$16. chattanoogafc.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.