HarvestFest at Harvest Grocery
Harvest Grocery in Hixson will host its first HarvestFest on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Over 25 local vendors and artisans will set up booths around the Harvest Grocery parking lot at 5414 Hixson Pike. Free to attend, HarvestFest will include: a beer garden, a petting zoo, face painting, yard games, and live music. Certified Piedmontese will be providing $1 Piedmontese beef sliders, while Harvest Grocery will be providing $1 brats. For more information about HarvestFest, visit HarvestGrocery.com or follow Harvest Grocery on social media.
Walking tour of the Walnut Street Bridge
The Chattanooga History Center will present a walking tour of the Walnut Street Bridge, on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m. Registered participants will meet outside the Walker Pavilion in Coolidge Park. The fee is $10 per person. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required by Monday, Oct. 19. For more information, or to register, call (423) 265-3247 or email caroline.sunderland@chattanoogahistory.org. Completed in 1890, the Walnut Street Bridge provided a convenient connection between a growing neighborhood, Hill City, and the commercial district downtown. Today, it serves as a pedestrian bridge and unifies the parks along the Tennessee Riverfront.
Free metabolic seminar
On Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at North River Civic Center, Jack F. Rutledge, M.D., and CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care will host a free seminar on surgical weight loss options. The seminar is designed to help people better understand metabolic surgery and how it may benefit their health. Topics include who is a good candidate for the procedure, what to expect during the recovery period, and lifestyle changes needed to foster a successful outcome. Call (423) 495-2501 to register or for more information. Walk-ins are also welcome.
Pumpkin Smash Festival
The Pumpkin Smash, Crabtree Farms’ third annual festival fundraiser, will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 from 4-7 p.m. Trebuchets built by teams from Roper Engineering and Shaw Industries of Lafayette, Ga., will compete to launch pumpkins the farthest. Guests are invited to bring their own pumpkins to smash following the contest. New this year, guests will be able to enjoy a chili dinner made with Crabtree Farms vegetables; both vegan and meat chili options will be available. Visitors will also be able to sip hot chocolate by a bonfire as they enjoy live bluegrass music. Proceeds from the festival support Crabtree Farms’ educational programs. For more information, call (423) 493-9155, extension 13, or email info@crabtreefarms.org.
Spooktacular Home Improvement Fair
Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) will host a Spooktacular Home Improvement Fair Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its offices. The fair will consist of workshops centered on energy efficiency, gardening, painting, and tiling. Chic-fil-A will provide a free lunch, and children will be able to enjoy face painting, balloon animals, and the Home Depot Kids’ Zone. There will also be a special trick or treat event after lunch. CNE’s office is located at 1500 Chestnut St. No registration is required. For more information, log on to www.cneinc.org or call (423) 756-6201.
Celebrate the spoken word
Christian Collier returns to Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse (105 McBrien Road) on Saturday, Oct. 24 for a celebration of poetry. Sharing the stage will be Emily Joy, a nationally-known poet and performer. Collier is a writer and musician who has performed with several members of HBO’s “Def Poetry,” Minton Sparks, and poet Ishmael Reed. He is a 2015 recipient of The Loft Literary Center’s Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship. In 2013, he released his debut EP, “Between Beauty & Bedlam,” and since 2009, he has sold close to 1,000 copies of his chapbook, “Ghosts & Echoes” at his live performances. His work has also been featured on The Guardian website and the IndieFeed Performance Poetry Channel. Joy is a spoken word poet and Midwest native currently residing in Nashville, Tenn. She cut her teeth on the Chicago slam poetry scene while getting a degree in theology. She now makes her living as a freelance writer. The performance will begin at 8 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $10 for the night.
Fireside at Greenway Farm
Outdoor Chattanooga is hosting a free, family friendly music series known as Fireside at Greenway Farm Thursdays in October from 7-9 p.m. Take your blankets, camp chairs, marshmallow roasting sticks, and a picnic supper, and then sit back and enjoy an autumn evening with live music from local artists in a rustic setting behind the gardens at the Sniteman Log Cabin. Greenway Farm is located in Hixson, Tenn.
Rock climbing class
A free class teaching the basics of rock climbing will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Coolidge Park. The class will take place on The Walnut Wall, which overlooks the Tennessee River from a 50-foot high limestone pier of the Walnut Street Bridge. Topics will include how to wear a harness, tie knots, handle the rope, move, use a belay device, and communicate effectively.
Local makers showcase
On Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Hunter Museum will host a local makers showcase featuring handcrafted items by 423 Soaps, Bear Paw Jewelry, Dreamweaver Creations, EE Ironworks, and Jewelry by Christina.