The second annual festival will take place from 11 a.m-7 p.m. at the Historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens. Hosted by Outshine Adventures and Nomad Be Happy, the festival will showcase local businesses, nonprofits and conservation organizations during a day of workshops, vendor sales, demos, live music and food. The event is free and open to the public.
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
Pickleball Tournament
Bethel Bible Village will host the Bethel Pickleball Tournament, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., on the Bethel Bible Village campus at 3001 Hamill Road in Hixson. Round robin pool play will begin at 9 a.m. Pool play will guarantee each team a minimum of four games. Awards will be presented upon the completion of the tournament. Lunch, snacks and water will be provided. Spectators are encouraged to attend. Proceeds will support Bethel programs that serve children ages 11-18. Information
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
First Amendment Dinner
Former American Civil Liberties Union president Nadine Strossen will speak at 5:30 p.m. at the Jewish Cultural Center at 5461 North Terrace Road. Register at www.jewishchattanooga.com. There is no cost for U.S. veterans. Strossen is an American legal scholar and civil liberties activist who served as the president of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1991 to 2008. She was the first woman to lead the ACLU. Strossen is a professor at New York Law School and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Suspended during the pandemic, the First Amendment Dinner explores the importance of the amendment and its contemporary significance. The non-partisan event is educational and not political. Past speakers have included Republicans, Democrats and legal scholars. Michael Dzik, Jewish Federation president and CEO, says, “Education is a significant value in Judaism. We feel that it is our responsibility to bring this discussion to the community.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
River City Ribbon Run
This event on the Chattanooga State campus can be done as a timed 5K run, an untimed 5K walk or a one-mile fun run. Registration, check-in and warmup activities will begin at 8 a.m. The timed race will start at 9 a.m., followed by the untimed races at 9:15 a.m. Food trucks, a children’s zone and a health expo will be on-site until 11 a.m. Proceeds will benefit Tennessee and North Georgia patients of CHI Memorial’s Rees Skillern Cancer Institute. Register
APRIL 12-13
4 Bridges Arts Festival
The festival will take place at the First Horizon Pavilion 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The Association for Visual Arts will host 140 artists from 30 states, including about 20 from the Chattanooga area. The artists will bring work in a variety of media, including painting, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, wood, glass, photography and more. The event will also include live music, activities for children, face painting and food trucks. Tickets
THROUGH APRIL 20
Sea Light Festival
A display of traditional Chinese lanterns will illuminate The Sculpture Fields at Montague Park during the Sea Light Festival, Thursdays through Sundays, 5-9 p.m. at 1900 Polk St. The exhibition will consist of hundreds of Chinese lanterns with modern LED lights and traditional lantern frames made from Chinese silk cloth and steel wire. The award-winning Zigong Acrobatic Troupe will perform juggling, balancing and face-changing acts. Food vendors, shops and games will also be on hand. Tickets
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
Terrace at Twilight
The Hunter Museum of American Art will host this new fundraiser 6-10 p.m. The event will take place under a tent on the River Terrace, which the museum will transform into a garden overlooking the Tennessee River. Guests will enjoy a silent auction, cocktails and dancing. Tickets
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
Women Build Brunch
This year’s brunch will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Habitat Chattanooga will celebrate the construction of its 30th Women Build home during the event. Tickets
APRIL 25-27
Spring Plant Sale and Festival
This event at Crabtree Farms will feature more than 18,000 non-invasive annuals, perennials, food-bearing plants and medicinal plants. Local vendors, live music, children’s activities, food trucks and Crabtree swag will be featured Friday and Saturday. The plant sale will continue Sunday. Proceeds will support Crabtree Farms’ educational programs for youth and adults. Crabtree Farms is located at 1000 East 30th St. in Chattanooga.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
Hello, St. Elmo
This annual street festival will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the St. Elmo business district. The event will include a makers’ market, live music and the St. Elmo Corgi Parade, which attracts thousands of visitors to St. Elmo. The procession will begin at 1 p.m.
APRIL 26-27
Chattanooga Market opens
Opening weekend begins at 11 a.m. at the First Horizon Pavilion. Fresh finds will include herbs, bouquets, baked breads, sweet treats and artisan-made foods. Fans of local art can expect jewelry, woodworks, photography and more as new artists join the market for the first time. New food trucks will be featured, as well. Market fans can look forward to frozen yogurt and crepes along with burgers, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, Asian food and barbecue. Live music on the Lodge Cast Iron Sizzle Stage will include Sweet Georgia Sound Saturday and New Grass Express Sunday. After opening weekend, Chattanooga Market hours will be Sundays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Information
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Chattaderby
Chattanooga Room in the Inn’s annual Kentucky Derby-themed fundraiser is scheduled for 5-8:30 p.m. at The Signal. Expect cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets: givebutter.com/c/2025ChattaDerby. Sponsorship information: akoon@chattanoogaroomintheinn.com; 423 713-7059. Room in the Inn provides a six-month residential program for women and children experiencing homelessness.
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Girls Inc. Sneaker Gala
Girls Inc.’s Sole Awards recognize individuals who have impacted advocacy, medicine, education and sports. This year’s recipients will be honored at the 2025 Sneaker Gala and Silent Auction at the Chattanooga Convention Center at 6 p.m. The honorees are attorney Melody Shekari for advocacy, Dr. Yvette Stewart for education, Coach Venus Lacy for sports and Dr. Angela Smith Slack for medicine. Shekari is the executive director of The Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga. Stewart is the assistant professor and literacy director at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Lacy is an Olympic gold medalist and the head coach of the Brainerd High School girls’ basketball team. Slack is board-certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics at Children’s Diagnostic Center. Sponsorship information