What's happening
Events Calendar
Just events, no always-open places. Each circle is something happening that day; tap a day to see what it is.
- Event
- Free
- Kids
- Halloween
- Cancelled
Saturday, October 17
- KidsFree
Sat 10 AM–5 PM · Sun 10 AM–4 PM
Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge, TN
A two-day apple festival (Oct 17–18) with craft and commercial vendors, a petting zoo, pony rides, trackless train rides, stage entertainment, inflatables and food trucks. Free admission and parking; rain or shine.
- Kids
Fall Festival at Flat Top Mountain Farm (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10 AM–9 PM
Flat Top Mountain Farm, 638 Bowman Cemetery Rd, Soddy-Daisy, TN
Hayrides, a corn maze, Highland cows and mini donkeys, and mountain views through Nov 1. $12 admission includes a homegrown pumpkin; kids 3 and under free. Free parking, stroller-friendly. Worth the drive.
Weekly through Oct 31
Rails, Wizards & Spells (Saturdays)
Saturdays 2:30–10 PM
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Rd, Chattanooga, TN
A train ride to Wizards Way Village, an enchanted-forest walk, potion-making, oversized games and a hayride — weekends through Oct 25. $35 per person, ages 2+; plan on about 2.5 hours.
Weekly through Oct 24
Enchanted Pumpkin Patch at Rock City
Sat 10 AM–10:30 PM
Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, GA
Rock City's fall wonderland — pumpkins, twinkling lights, fall photo spots and seasonal treats among the gardens and rock formations. Runs daily through Oct 31; this file covers the Saturday nights.
Weekly through Oct 31
- Kids
Mayfield Farm Park Fall Festival (Saturdays)
Saturdays 11 AM–8 PM
Mayfield Farm Park, 257 Hwy 307 E, Athens, TN
Three corn mazes, a 50-variety pumpkin patch, hayrides, zip lines, a mountain slide, a silo light show, animals and more (40+ activities), running through Nov 8. This is paid admission, not free — pricing is higher on the Oct 10-11 and 17-18 Signature Weekends, and buying online saves a few dollars off the gate price; check the ticket page for current day-by-day prices. Kids 2 and under are always free.
Weekly through Nov 7
- KidsOutside
Saturdays noon–2 PM
Departs from the Southern Belle dock, 151 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN
A guided boat trip to Maclellan Island with a roughly one-mile walk over dirt paths, nature and history interpretation, and a visit with the island's resident goats. $44.99 ages 13+, $34.99 ages 3-12, $5.99 ages 0-2. Chattanooga Audubon lists Saturdays Oct 3, 10, 17 and 24 (the last two dates). Tickets are limited and the island isn't wheelchair accessible.
Weekly through Oct 24
All week, hours vary by shop
Participating coffee shops around Chattanooga
$5 featured fall coffees and $3 featured pastries at about 14 local coffee shops, Oct 12–18 (per Local3's Oct 9 report; one 2026 source). Each shop's featured items are on Nooga Nightlife's page.
Runs through Oct 18
- Free
Bell Buckle Webb Art & Craft Festival
Sat 8 AM–5 PM, Sun 9 AM–4 PM
Downtown Bell Buckle, TN — about 1 hr 40 min away
New! Free. 800+ booths of juried art and craft work — stained glass, woodworking, candle making, jewelry, metal work, textiles — filling the small-town square. Worth the drive.
- KidsHalloween
4–8 PM (timed entry: 4-5, 5-6, or 6-7 PM)
Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Chattanooga, TN
The zoo's after-hours Halloween event. Zoo members $11.95, non-member kids ages 3-12 $17.95, non-member adults $20.95, kids 2 and under free (reserve a ticket anyway). Tickets are online-only and this one sells out — the zoo closes early (3:30 PM) to reset for it.
- Free
Sat 10 AM–8 PM
First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN
Free German-style fall festival: oompah music, brats and pretzels, local artists, and contests for all ages (a brat toss at noon and an applause-judged Mr. & Ms. Oktoberfest contest at 3:45). It has a beer garden, which is for adults. Pay lot parking on site; no pets indoors, though the adjacent dog park is open. Also Sunday Oct 18.
- Kids
Sat 10 AM–6 PM
Bradley County Courthouse Square, 155 N Ocoee St, Cleveland, TN
An art and craft show, live music, food booths, apple competitions, the Apple Blossom pageant, a petting zoo and children's activities. $8 adults, $5 seniors/kids 3-12, under 3 free, $25 family pass (2 adults + 4 kids) — cash only at the gate. Free parking downtown; only trained service animals permitted. Also runs Sunday (1-6 PM).
- FreeKids
Downtown Library 50th Anniversary Block Party
9 AM–6 PM
Downtown Library, 1001 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN (Broad Street closed to traffic)
New! 100% free. A birthday block party with a Kids' Zone (inflatables, scavenger hunt, face painting, touch-a-truck, bubble machines), local bands, food trucks, free cake and cupcakes while supplies last, a book sale on every floor, a 4th-floor Maker Day and the Local Author Festival downstairs. Free parking in the EPB Garage; rain moves activities indoors. The 11th Street entrance may close at times because of construction.
- KidsOutside
Flying Raptor Event with Wings to Soar
3–5 PM
Bachman Community Center, 2815 Anderson Pike, Signal Mountain, TN
Live birds of prey up close — a family-friendly fundraiser for HappiNest Raptor Rescue. Suggested donation $10 per person or $25 per family; free parking. One listing places it at the MACC instead, so call 423-605-8917 to confirm the venue.
- Free
10 AM–6 PM
Historic Downtown Chickamauga, GA (Gordon St)
New! Free. A folklore festival honoring the legend of Ole Green Eyes, a ghostly figure tied to the Chickamauga battlefield — trolley rides around the battlefield, local lore and history, and oddities on display at Southern Shadows. About 20 minutes from Chattanooga.
- FreeKids
Highland Park Porchfest (Saturday)
Starts with Rise & Strum, a family event at Tatum Park
Highland Park neighborhood, Chattanooga, TN
Day two of the 5th annual Porchfest — free music on porches across the neighborhood all day, plus a new Songwriter Showcase competition on the Anderson & Greenwood main stage.
- Outside
History by Kayak: Chief Dragging Canoe
8:30 AM–1 PM
Tennessee River Gorge, Chattanooga area (launch point not posted)
A guided four-mile paddle with historical stories of Chief Dragging Canoe; equipment and the shuttle back are included. Ages 16+; registration required; fee isn't posted.
12–4 PM
Lookout Valley Recreation Association, 370 Warren Place, Chattanooga, TN
New! A community car show and vendor market sponsored by O'Reilly Auto Parts — trophies and awards, food, and family fun. $20 to enter a car, $40 for a vendor table; spectators aren't charged a fee on the organizer's listing.
- KidsOutside
Noon–2 PM
Southern Belle Riverboat, 151 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga, TN
A guided boat trip with the Chattanooga Audubon Society to Maclellan Island, with a roughly one-mile nature walk and a visit with the resident goats. Ages 13+ $44.99, ages 3–12 $34.99, ages 0–2 $5.99. Tickets are limited; the island isn't wheelchair accessible.
Weekly through Oct 24
- Kids
Nashville Fall Festival (Saturdays)
Saturdays 9 AM–dark
Nashville Fall Festival, 8687 Old Harding Pike, Nashville, TN
Worth the drive (about 2 hours) — a corn maze set in a scenic valley, free hayrides, and tethered hot-air balloon rides ($25/person on select days near golden hour, weather permitting), running through Nov 1. Online admission is $23 adult / $11 kids 7-13, kids 6 and under free; a few dollars more at the gate.
Weekly through Oct 31
Live Music: Rhythm Riders at Cambridge Square
6–9 PM
Cambridge Square, Ooltewah, TN
Live music from Rhythm Riders at Cambridge Square, per the venue's event calendar. Cost isn't listed.
- Outside
Run For Their Freedom 5K & 1-Mile Walk
Evening
Greenway Pavilion, 775 Raider Dr NW, Cleveland, TN
A night 5K and 1-mile walk hosted by WillowBend Farms to raise awareness of human trafficking and support survivors. Register on RunSignUp; start time and price aren't posted on the race site.
Tales Among the Oaks Storytelling Festival
Rhea County Courthouse lawn, 1475 Market St, Dayton, TN
New! Two days of storytelling on the historic courthouse lawn with Donald Davis, Josh Goforth and Bill Lepp. Rhea County Tourism sells tickets online but doesn't list show times or prices, so check the event page before you go. Runs Oct 16-17.
- Kids
The Great Inflate (moved from Oct 10)Cancelled
10 AM–5 PM
Tennessee Riverpark, 4301 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga, TN
Cancelled. The organizer's Eventbrite page says the Oct 17 date, itself a postponement of Oct 10, is cancelled due to extreme weather, with no new date listed. It says purchased Unlimited Jump tickets can be reimbursed through Eventbrite, though the page also says no refunds, so call Vonzara Inc. at 404-437-6320 to confirm.
- FreeOutside
The Tempest (Scenic City Shakespeare)
7:30 PM
Greenway Farms Park, 4960 Gann Store Rd, Hixson, TN
New! Free outdoor Shakespeare. Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets; seating is not provided. RSVPs aren't required but help the company send weather delay or cancellation updates. Also runs Oct 16, 17 and 23.
- KidsHalloween
2 PM
Tennessee Aquarium (River Journey), 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN
New! SCUBA divers carve jack-o'-lanterns underwater while fish swim past, part of the Aquarium's ODDtober. This Saturday's show is in the Tennessee River gallery. Runs every Saturday in October.
- FreeKids
11 AM–8 PM
Miller Park, 928 Market St, Chattanooga, TN
New! Free, all ages, no dance experience needed. A day of performances and audience participation from Art 120 marking America's 250th — intergenerational dance at 11, a Bill of Rights performance at 1, and a 'Dance Clock' journey through musical eras at 3.
Weedeater & Zeke (with Royal Thunder, Yes Ma'am)
6:00 PM
The Boneyard, 26 Station St, Chattanooga, TN
Tickets from $36.98.
- KidsOutside
Wild Wonders: Native Animal Encounters
Saturdays 11 AM–noon and 1–2 PM
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd, Chattanooga, TN
A guided visit to the Native Animal Area to meet bobcats, raptors and red wolves, with two sessions each Saturday. Sign up through Eventbrite; price isn't listed on the park's page, so call 423-821-1160. Outdoors, weather can cancel it.
Weekly through Oct 31
- KidsOutside
Wild Wonders: Native Animal Encounters
11 AM–noon and 1–2 PM
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd, Chattanooga, TN
A tour of the Native Animal Area to meet Reflection Riding's animal ambassadors. Fee and ages aren't posted — call 423-821-1160; outdoors, weather-dependent.
- Outside
Woodland Walk at Reflection Riding
2–3:30 PM
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd, Chattanooga, TN
A guided tree-identification walk with Lead Naturalist Paul Earle: learn common and less common species and what the trees say about the land's history. Tickets through Eventbrite (price isn't listed); every adult signs a waiver first, and a parent or guardian signs one for each child. Outdoors, so severe weather can cancel it.
