There's plenty of opportunities to do some holiday shopping with the Chattanooga Holiday Market, Downhome Christmas in Ringgold and Mistletoe Market in Dalton, all taking place this weekend. MainX24 will be an all-day celebration Saturday featuring a variety of activities to celebrate Chattanooga's Main Street and surrounding Southside neighborhood. There's also the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl at Finley Stadium for the high school football enthusiasts. For even more seasonal events, check out this year's Chattanooga Times Free Press fall festival guide. Otherwise, here's this weekend's chronology.
ARTS
— Photographic Society of Chattanooga concludes its fall show this week at the Gallery at Blackwell, 71 Eastgate Loop. Society members will have their work displayed, and prints will be available for purchase. Gallery hours are 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The show will run through Friday. Learn more at chattanoogaphoto.org.
— Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace, will conclude its exhibition "Vocabulary," featuring the work of 27 local and national artists. The works featured in the exhibition use different vocabularies and dialogues in different artistic mediums to engage with viewers and other artists. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The exhibition will run through Thursday. Learn more at jewishchattanooga.com.
— In-Town Gallery, 26A Frazier Ave., will conclude its all-member exhibition Thursday. The gallery's December exhibition, "Wizardry with Wood," opens Friday and features the woodworking artistry of Roger Harvey. An opening reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 6. The gallery will also participate in the Northshore Merchants Collective's ninth annual Holiday Treasure Hunt through Jan. 3. Gallery hours are 11-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at intowngallery.com.
— Association for Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave., continues its annual all-member salon show. It is the gallery's final exhibition of the year and also the largest, featuring works from 110 local and regional artists. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Monday and Tuesday. The exhibition will run through Dec. 23. Learn more at avarts.org.
— Hunter Museum of American Art, in partnership with Reflection Riding, will host a basket weaving class from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Reflection Riding, 400 Garden Road. Inspired by the woven works of Sarah Sense in the museum's permanent collection, the workshop will offer participants tips on finding invasive plants used for weaving and an opportunity to create woven baskets with pre-collected materials. Registration costs $20 for museum and Reflection Riding members or $25 for nonmembers; registration includes admission to the museum. Learn more at huntermuseum.org or reflectionriding.org.
DANCE
— CHA Ballet will host a new holiday tradition called "Land of Sweets" from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at The Read House, 107 W. M.L. King Blvd. The ballet company will transport attendees to the magical Land of Sweets, featuring interactive activities, photo opportunities with characters, a live reading of "The Nutcracker" and plenty of sweet treats. Tickets cost $50 for adults and $25 for children 17 and under. Tickets to the event do not include admission to the company's production of "The Nutcracker" taking place Dec. 8-10 at Memorial Auditorium. Learn more on chaballet.org or eventbrite.com.
MUSIC
— Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St., will have multiple shows through the weekend. At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the performance will be "An Evening with Kevin Kinney;" tickets cost $20 in advance or $25 the day of show. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Brother Cane with Stone Horses will perform; tickets cost $28 in advance or $33 the day of show. At 9 p.m. Friday, Papadosio with Opposite Box will perform; tickets cost $30-$35. At 9 p.m. Saturday, Over Easy with Tyler Martelli & Friends will perform as part of the "MAINx24" festivities; tickets cost $12-$15. Learn more at barrelhouseballroom.com.
— Songbirds, 35 Station St., will have two shows this weekend. At 7 p.m. Friday, Richard Lloyd of the band Television will perform; tickets cost $25 in advance or $28 the day of show. From 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Songbirds' new location, 212 W. Main St., the foundation will host Krummy Karaoke, a competition to find the best performer in Chattanooga — no talent necessary; registration in advance is required; the event is part of the MAINx24 festivities. Learn more at songbirdsfoundation.org.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Main Street was packed for the 16th annual MAINx24 parade and street festival Dec. 3, 2022.— St. Paul's Artist Series will host a concert by the Boston-based Tapestry vocal ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St. The performance, entitled "Starry Night: A Candlelight Holiday Celebration," will feature music from the past and present for a journey through the cosmos and the cycles of life. Tickets cost $10-$40 and can be purchased in advance or at the door the night of the concert. Learn more at stpaulschatt.org/artist-series-concerts.
— Southern Adventist University, 4881 Taylor Circle, Collegedale, will have two concerts this weekend. At 8 p.m. Saturday in the Iles P.E. Center, the School of Music will host an evening of festive Christmas music presented by the school's wind symphony, jazz ensemble and steel band; the music will include carols, classics and "The Pursuit of Happiness," a composition by junior music major Matthew Kimbley. At 7:30 p.m. Monday in Mabel Wood Hall's Ackerman Auditorium, the school's horn ensemble will perform classical, jazz and Christmas music as well as a few beloved carols. Both concerts are free, open to the public and will be livestreamed. Learn more at southern.edu/musicevents.
— Scenic City Chorale will present a free Christmas concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 N. Moore Road. The community choral group consisting of 50 volunteer singers will be accompanied by instruments such as piano, flute, organ and celeste. Learn more on the group’s Facebook page or by contacting the group at sceniccitychorale123@gmail.com.
OUT & ABOUT
— Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga., continues its annual Enchanted Garden of Lights from 4:30-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 4:30-10 p.m. Fridays-Sundays. The winter wonderland is illuminated by six distinct holiday realms and features festive fun for all ages. Tickets are sold online only, and prices are subject to change based on the day; tickets for regular night admission cost $17.95-$27.95. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. The Enchanted Garden of Lights will run nightly through Jan. 6. Learn more at seerockcity.com/lights.
— Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., continues its Asian Lantern Festival from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. The festival features more than 30 lanterns and nine interactive displays. The lanterns feature zoo animals, traditional Asian lanterns and natural elements. The festival is ticketed separately and does not include daytime zoo admission; festival tickets cost $13.50-$18.50 for zoo members, $17-$23 for nonmembers. The festival will run nightly Wednesday-Sunday through Jan. 14. Learn more at chattzoo.org/events.
— Ice on the Landing continues for the season this weekend with adjusted hours due to the BlueCross Bowl. This weekend's operating hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd. Tickets cost $12-$14 for adults and $10-$12 for children; admission includes skates. Ice on the Landing will be open through Jan. 28. Learn more at iceonthelanding.com.
Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / The lit tree illuminates the grounds during the Christmas tree lighting event at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Dec. 2, 2022.— Hamilton County will host its second annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 4 p.m. Thursday on the lawn of the Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Ave. The free, family-friendly event will feature Santa Claus, the Chattanooga Elf, face painting, hot chocolate, food trucks and more. The formal ceremony will take place at sunset. Learn more on the county's Facebook page.
— City of Ringgold will have its Downhome Christmas celebration from Friday-Saturday. Friday's festivities include live music, a Christmas tree lighting, a Christmas parade, extended store hours at downtown businesses, pictures with Santa and hot cocoa. Saturday's festivities include holiday shopping, food vendors, pictures with Santa, face painting, carriage rides, wreath making, live music and more. Find a complete event schedule at nothinlikeringgold.com.
— Creative Arts Guild will host a Mistletoe Market from noon-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga. Local artists and makers will be selling handcrafted goods, and The Pour will be serving hot beverages all weekend. Millie's Street Tacos will be serving lunch Saturday. From 4-7 p.m., Brookwood Elementary School will host its Christkindlmarkt, featuring handmade crafts created by K-5 German Immersion students. Learn more at creativeartsguild.org.
— Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion will host Candle Light Tours from 6-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday at the mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga, Ga. The mansion has been decorated for the season with natural greenery and berries and will be lit by dozens of candles. After the tour, attendees can enjoy hot apple cider and ginger snap cookies in the original warming kitchen. Admission is $10 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. All proceeds benefit enhancement of the mansion. Learn more at friendsofthegordonleemansion.org.
— NoogaLights will be open from 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday at 12000 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy. In addition to its customized lighting exhibits and fan-favorite exhibits from years past, attendees will be able to tune in with any FM radio to enjoy music timed to the light show. Admission costs $15 per vehicle if purchased online or $20 per vehicle at the gate. NoogaLights will be open select nights through Dec. 31. Learn more at noogalights.com.
— MainX24, a 24-hour celebration of Chattanooga's Main Street and surrounding Southside neighborhood, will be an all-day event Saturday at various locations in the area. Some of the many events taking place include a parade, vendor markets, live music performances, chili cook-offs and a polar plunge. To learn more and view a complete list of events and participating locations, visit mainx24.com.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Playful Evolving Monsters again brought their large puppets to the MAINx24 parade Dec. 3, 2022.— LaFayette Woman's Club is sponsoring the 12th annual Reindeer Run at 9 a.m. Saturday at Joe Stock Memorial Park, 208 N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga. The event will feature a 5K run/walk and a 1-mile fun run. There will be awards for first-, second- and third-place race winners in each age group category. Registration is $35 for individuals and $140 for teams of five. Proceeds from the race will benefit scholarships for local LaFayette High School girls, the LaFayette Shop with a Cop program and the Woman's Club's community service programs. Learn more on the event's Facebook page.
— Lula Lake Land Trust will have its bi-monthly Open Gate Days from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at its core preserve, 5000 Lula Lake Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga. Visitors can view Lula Lake, the 110-foot Lula Falls and a bluff overlook. Admission is $16. A guided hike is also available for $40, which includes entry to the preserve. Registration is required. Learn more at lulalake.org.
— Reflection Riding, 400 Garden Road, will host "Floating through the Forest" sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. Participants will join a qualified naturalist on a guided canoe trip on Lookout Creek to enjoy the outdoors and learn about the native plants and animals found along the creek. All necessary equipment will be provided, and no experience is required. The sessions are open to ages 7 and older. Reservations should be made in advance; payment will be taken upon arrival. Participation costs $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Learn more at reflectionriding.org.
— Chattanooga Market will host its annual Chattanooga Holiday Market from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Chattanooga Convention Center, 2 Carter Plaza. The market will feature more than 200 local food vendors, artists and crafters offering unique gifts and festive preparations. The market will be open the first three weekends of December. Learn more at chattanoogamarket.com.
— Martin Davis House Foundation will host a free Christmas open house from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Martin Davis House, 58 Hog Jowl Road, Chickamauga, Ga. The open house will include tours showcasing the history, furnishings and collections that make the house a unique historic resource. The house will be decorated for Christmas. Martin and Julia Tate Davis built the home in 1850 and lived there until the 1890s. Learn more by contacting Site Manager Jim Staub at 423-774-6784 or istaub1014@aol.com.
— Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services will offer a "Holiday Tour of Homes" from 3-7 p.m. Saturday in the Black Creek neighborhood, starting at the neighborhood's clubhouse, 4700 Cummings Cove Drive. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour homes in the community that have been creatively decorated for the holidays. Catering companies will provide samples from their menus in each home on the tour; there will also be opportunities to win raffle items. Tour admission costs $25. Proceeds benefit recovery services offered at the council. Learn more at cadas.org or eventbrite.com.
— White Oak United Methodist Church will host a free community Christmas celebration from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday at the church, 2232 Lyndon Ave., Red Bank. The celebration will feature hayrides, a petting zoo, a bounce house, cookie and ornament decorating, food, games and more. There will be a Christmas tree lighting at 5:45 p.m., and White Oak Bicycle Co-op will host a bike rodeo and bike and helmet giveaway. Learn more on the church's Facebook page.
— St. Elmo United Methodist Church and PawPaw's Homeless Ministry will host a Christmas parade for the homeless at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the corner of 11th and Peeples Streets. The parade will be supported by PawPaw Santa and his helpers. Learn more by contacting the church at 423-490-7040 or by visiting the ministry's Facebook page.
SPORTS
— TSSAA BlueCross Bowl will take place from Thursday-Saturday at Finley Stadium, 1826 Reggie White Blvd. The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association high school football championships will see 18 teams face off for nine state championships; local teams competing include Baylor, Boyd Buchanan, McCallie and South Pittsburgh schools. Tickets cost $12-$15. Learn more at bluecrossbowl.com.
THEATER
— Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., will host an Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga production of "Crawlspace: A True Crime Musical" with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The show follows forensic psychologist Judy Matthewson who looks back on her interviews with serial killer John Wayne Gacy seeking answers about the case; the show is appropriate for mature audiences. Tickets cost $25-$30. The production will run through Dec. 9. Learn more at barkinglegs.org.
— Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., will present a youth theatre production of "Strega Nona" with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The play follows Italian sorceress Strega Nona as she teaches the local baker's daughter magic and her helper tries to use the magic himself leading to hilarious, disastrous results; the play is appropriate for all audiences. Tickets cost $10-12.50. The production will run through Dec. 17. Learn more at theatrecentre.com.
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Sam Still at sstill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6579.
Staff Photo by Matt Hamilton / Friendship Christian Schools players and cheerleaders celebrate at Finley Stadium after the Division II-A prep football state championship game on Dec. 1, 2022.