The return of Riverbend is accompanied by other festivals celebrating bees, cows, Black artists and nature. Here's a chronology.
THEATER
- "Hairspray," a touring production of the Tony Award-winning musical based on John Waters' 1988 film, will play the last of three shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday as part of the Broadway series at Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. Tickets are $38-$83. tivolichattanooga.com
- "Misery," a stage adaptation of Stephen King's best-selling 1987 novel and a 1990 film version, will be presented in five performances this weekend at The Ringgold Playhouse, 155 Depot St., Ringgold, Ga. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8-$10. Facebook.com/TheRinggoldPlayhouse
- "Gruesome Playground Injuries," an Obvious Dad production, ends its run this weekend. Start time for Rajiv Joseph's atypical love story is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15. obviousdad.com
SPECTATOR SPORTS
- Chattanooga Lookouts, the Class AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, are playing against the Rocket City Trash Pandas at AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley. Promotions include Thirsty Thursday drink specials, Friday fireworks, a used car giveaway Saturday and a food drive for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank on Sunday (trade a canned good for a general-admission ticket). Games start at 7:15 p.m., except for Sunday's at 2:15 p.m. Tickets are $6-$11. lookouts.com
- Atlanta Braves World Champions Trophy Tour, a chance to see and have photos made with the Commissioner's Trophy celebrating the Braves' 2021 World Series win, arrives in the Chattanooga area this week. The schedule: 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga.; 6-9 p.m. Friday (during Nightfall) at Miller Park, 910 Market St., Chattanooga; 2-6 p.m. Saturday (during the Riverbend Festival) at Ross's Landing, 101 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga; 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Cambridge Square, 9453 Bradmore Lane, Ooltewah. A second round of stops is next weekend in Calhoun, Ga., Cleveland, Tenn., and Ellijay, Ga. mlb.com/braves/fans/trophy-tour
- Chattanooga Football Club will field its women's amateur team in its home season opener against North Alabama FC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Finley Stadium, 1826 Carter St. The team plays in the Women's Premier Soccer League. Tickets are $5-$12. chattanoogafc.com
- Chattanooga Red Wolves, a USL League One men's professional soccer team, plays Union Omaha at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way. Tickets are $15-$52. chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com
- Chattanooga Roller Derby matches start June 11, but fans can meet the squad, founded in 2008 as the Chattanooga Roller Girls, during a preview party at 7 p.m. Saturday at Gate 11 Distillery, 1400 Market St. The evening includes live music, derby-themed drinks and ticket giveaways. Facebook.com/ChattanoogaRollerDerby
MUSIC
- The Agee Family, a gospel group, will sing at 6 p.m. Thursday at Burks United Methodist Church, 6433 Hixson Pike, and at 10 a.m. CDT Sunday for homecoming at Ewtonville Baptist Church, 2420 Old Union Road, Dunlap, Tenn. theageefamily.com
- Nightfall, a free summer concert series, continues Friday with English folk/rock musician Teddy Thompson headlining at 8 p.m. at Miller Plaza, 850 Market St. Local artist Ryan Oyer opens at 7 p.m. Artists, games and food vendors will be set up at Miller Park across M.L. King Boulevard. nightfallchattanooga.com
- Songbirds, 35 Station St., hosts End of the Line: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $20. songbirdsfoundation.org
- Friday Festivals, a monthlong series of concerts, kicks off Friday with local cover band Bad Tattoo at 7 p.m. Friday at First Street Square, 240 First St. NE, Cleveland, Tenn. Facebook.com/marketcleveland
- Nokian Tyres Summer Nights series starts Friday on the Rhea County Courthouse lawn, 1475 Market St., Dayton, Tenn. The Marshall Reeves Band (formerly the Michael Seabolt Band) will perform hits of the '60s and '70s at 7 p.m. Food vendors will be available. Bring your own seating. Admission is free. rheaheritage.com
- The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., welcomes heavy-metal band Gwar at 7:30 p.m. Friday, with Goatwhore, Nekrogoblikon and The Native Howl supporting. Tickets are $30-$60.thesignaltn.com
- Music & Movies in Miller, a free summer series, continues Saturday with music by funk-rock band Over Easy and the 2017 Disney/Pixar film "Coco" (changed from "Westside Story") at Miller Park, 928 Market St. Music by SoundCorps buskers, oversize games, artist vendors and food trucks get going by 6:30 p.m., and the movie starts around 8:30 p.m. Bring your own seating. rivercitycompany.com
- Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., has two upcoming concerts. The Rahsaan Barber Quintet, fronted by an acclaimed saxophonist, will celebrate the release of the CD "Mosaic" at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Wednesday's Jazz in the Lounge performer is acoustic guitarist Alan Shikoh at 7 p.m. Cover is $5. barkinglegs.org
FESTIVALS
- Riverbend marks its 39th year this weekend at Ross's Landing, 101 Riverfront Parkway, with 23 acts on three stages. Headlining are country duo Brothers Osborne on Friday (gates open at 4 p.m.), rock band Cage the Elephant on Saturday (gates open at 2 p.m.) and alt-country band Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit on Sunday (gates open at 2 p.m.). A three-day wristband is $115; one-day passes are $75 (Saturday is sold out). riverbendfestival.com
- Honeybee Festival, a street fair with arts, crafts and food vendors, a barbecue competition and music headlined by country star Randy Houser is set for 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday in downtown LaFayette, Ga. Activities are centered at 100 LaFayette Square. Park at LaFayette Recreation Department, 638 S. Main St. Admission is free. mycityoflafayettega.org
- Little Owl Festival is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road. The day includes a hawk release, vendors, storytelling, dance demonstrations, local music and a 5K. Activities are included with regular admission $3-$6. chattanoogaaudubon.org
- MooFest, a celebration of McMinn County's dairy industry, is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday in downtown Athens, Tenn. The schedule includes entertainment on the courthouse steps, 6 E. Madison Ave., and Market Park Pavilion, 106 S. Jackson St., along with 200 food and craft vendors and Mayfield Dairy contests. Music culminates with the kickoff of Sounds of Summer at the pavilion, featuring Tim Decker and Tennessee River at 7 p.m. opening for country/folk artist EmiSunshine at 8 p.m. friendlycityfestivals.com
- Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas, a monthlong Juneteenth celebration, kicks off with two events this weekend at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St. The RBG Ball, a black-tie formal named for the colors of the African flag (red, black, green), is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The $50 tickets includes cocktails, dinner, dance and awards. An art exhibition, "The Fire Next Time," inspired by the literary works of James Baldwin, will open at 5 p.m. Sunday. The evening includes a lecture by local artist Jody Harris. Admission is free. BlackArtsAndIdeasFest.com
OUT & ABOUT
- Pet supply drive: Through Friday, Millennium Bank is accepting donations of pet food, cleaning supplies, toys and cash to aid the animals served by the Humane Educational Society. Branches are at 7201 Shallowford Road, 823 Chestnut St., 4712 Hixson Pike, 8045 East Brainerd Road and 6329 Artesian Circle in Ooltewah. 423-238-1111
- Dixie Highway Yard Sale is Thursday through Sunday along 90 miles of U.S. 41 from Ringgold to Marietta in North Georgia. Among the stops is the High Cotton Market at Ringgold Feed & Seed Antiques, 403 High St. (Friday and Saturday only). ringgoldfeedandseed.com
- National Doughnut Day is Friday. Dunkin', which has several locations around Chattanooga, will offer a free classic doughnut with a beverage purchase. Krispy Kreme, 5609 Brainerd Road, will give customers a free glazed doughnut, or a dozen original glazed for $1, with an in-store purchase of a dozen doughnuts. Tasty Donuts, 1414 Jenkins Road and 9448 Bradmore Lane at Cambridge Square in Ooltewah, will give away a free doughnut to the first 500 customers. The Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie Jazz Band will play 6-8 p.m. as the eateries in Cambridge Square offer doughnuts as part of their dessert specials.
- Open-air market, with vendors selling locally grown produce, flowers, original artwork and food, will kick off 4-8 p.m. Friday at 207 Chickamauga Ave. in Rossville. The first Friday markets are also scheduled in July and August. rossvillega.gov/rossville-blvd-market
- The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., will welcome Chance Willie for single shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $17-$19. thecomedycatch.com
- Free Fishing Day in Georgia, the first of three, is Saturday, the kickoff to National Fishing and Boating Week. Another is June 11, which is also when Tennessee and Alabama offer similar opportunities to fish without a license. gadnr.org
- Garden expo: Bradley County Master Gardeners will present a mini expo featuring gardening experts to answer questions, a children's area for ages 4-7 and gift items 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at the Peerless Road Farmers Market, 3120 Peerless Road NW, Cleveland, Tenn. Facebook.com/marketcleveland
- National Trails Day is Saturday. The sponsor's website, americanhiking.org, includes the 3-mile hike at 10 a.m. at Cloudland Canyon State Park, 1078 Ascalon Road in Rising Fawn, Ga. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (nps.gov/chch) plans an outing at 9 a.m. on the Scenic Bluff Trail on Lookout Mountain. Tennessee state parks (tnstateparks.com) also are participating, including Cumberland Trail near Crossville and Hiwassee/Ocoee in Delano.
- Rabbit Valley Farmers Market plans Farm, Food & Fitness events 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at 96 Depot St., Ringgold, Ga. Music is by Kyle Phelan. rabbitvalleyfarmersmarket.com
- Chattanooga Market, open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St., has a Sunday Funday theme this weekend for its selection of locally produced food, arts and crafts. Music is by Ryan Oyer at 12:30 p.m. and We Are Us at 2 p.m. Admission is free. chattanoogamarket.com
- Afternoon tea, to mark the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, is scheduled Sunday at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts, 201 High St. Seatings are available at 1 and 3 p.m. The four courses will be prepared by Sharon Gilley, former owner of The English Rose tea room. Cost is $35-$55. Reservations are required. 423-267-7176
- Chattanooga POP: Area residents are invited to give input on the city's new Parks and Outdoors Plan at a community workshop 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, 200 E. M.L. King Blvd. Registration is appreciated but not required to attend; chattanoogaparksandoutdoorsplan.com. You can also share your thoughts in a survey there.
- Best of Preps banquet, a Chattanooga Times Free Press event honoring the region's top high school athletes, is 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. Special guest is Georgia Bulldogs quarterback and Football Bowl Subdivision national championship MVP Stetson Bennett. Tickets are $50. bestofprepschatt.com
ART
- In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave., will host an opening reception for "Food for the Body or Soul" 5-8 p.m. Friday. Artists were asked to submit pieces that reflect what feeds them physically or emotionally. intowngallery.com
- Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga., will present a gallery opening and reception for artists Susie Greer and Lois Songster 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. creativeartsguild.org
- Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View, offers Throwback Thursday admission 4-8 p.m. Thursday. Admission is free to the permanent collection, $5 to see the new exhibit, "Enchanted: A History of Fantasy Illustration." huntermuseum.org
- AVA Gallery, 30 Frazier Ave., will host a reception for the Tennessee Watercolor Society's juried biennial exhibition 6-8 p.m. Friday. On view through June 24, the exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the group's first exhibition in 1972 in Chattanooga. It includes 60 watermedia original paintings selected from among 200 entries. 423-265-4282
- Stove Works, 1250 E. 13th St., will host the unveiling of Heather Hart's "The Oracle of Connection" 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Hart describes the work as having the appearance of an independent rooftop, removed from its house and dropped from the sky. The day will include a dance performance, readings, vendor market, DJ music and food. stoveworks.org
- ArtCrafters, 1356 Market St., Dayton, Tenn., will feature "The Way I See It" paintings by Suzanne Huffman starting Saturday through June 25. 423-775-1401
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.