The League of Women Voters of Chattanooga is teaming with The Chattery to offer a monthly series designed to deepen public understanding of important civic issues. Free and open to the public, the sessions will take place the first Sunday of each month from August through November, 4-5:30 p.m. at The Chattery’s downtown location – 231 Broad Street. Each class will spotlight a current topic and feature a guest speaker. Kicking off the series in August, immigration attorney Blake Gilbert will examine how U.S. immigration laws are affecting communities at the local, state and national levels. Upcoming sessions will address subjects such as changes in public education, shifts in public media funding, and the growing impact of cryptocurrency. Registration opens a month before each class and can be completed at thechattery.org by selecting “Professional Development.” The League and The Chattery aim to foster civic engagement and informed dialogue through these educational events.
TUESDAY, AUG. 5
National Night Out
The Collegedale Police Department invites the community to its annual celebration from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Collegedale City Hall (4910 Swinyar Drive). The nationwide event aims to strengthen police-community partnerships and foster neighborhood connections. Highlights will include police, fire and EMS demonstrations, activities for children, displays from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and appearances by the Tennessee Truckers Association.
AUG. 15-17
Chattanooga River Games
This free three-day event will feature internationally sanctioned competitions along the Tennessee River. Highlights will include the U.S. debut of Red Bull Creepers, a deep-water solo rock climbing event under the Market Street Bridge; a USA Diving-sanctioned high diving competition; and ChattaWake, Chattanooga’s first sanctioned wakesurf event and a qualifier for the World Series of Wake Surfing. Organized in partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga, the event will also feature highlining over the river, trampoline diving and freestyle “death diving” events. Founded by professional cliff diver Travis Sims, the festival promotes environmental responsibility through cleanups and water quality data collection. Since its origins as a sustainability tour, the initiative has removed more than 40,000 pounds of debris from waterways worldwide, including 15,000 from Tennessee. Beyond the sports, Ross’s Landing will become an outdoor playground with BMX river launches, a skate rink, slacklines and live electronic music each night. Information
SATURDAY, AUG. 16
Community Circles Day
This new community event will take place noon-4 p.m. at the Downtown Chattanooga Public Library. It will be free to attend. The event, produced by Antionette Rollins of Alchemy by Ant, is designed to support individuals who face personal, financial, or physical barriers to mental health resources. Facilitated small group circles will guide participants through topics like recognizing emotional distress and building supportive connections. In addition to these sessions, the event will offer children’s wellness activities and refreshments. Local organizations will host resource tables, providing access to mental health tools and services.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20
Bladder Cancer Support Group
Erlanger Urology will begin offering monthly sessions for bladder cancer patients and their loved ones in August. Meetings will take place on the third Wednesday of each month 3-4 p.m. in the Erlanger Medical Mall POB Conference Room at 979 E. 3rd Street in Chattanooga. The support group is designed to provide a safe and informative space for individuals affected by bladder cancer. Participants will have access to educational resources led by Erlanger urology specialists and a nurse oncology navigator. Sessions will also include opportunities for attendees to share their experiences and connect with others navigating similar challenges. Bladder cancer remains one of the more persistent cancers in the United States, with tens of thousands of new cases and deaths expected annually. There is no cost to attend the sessions. Register
THURSDAY, AUG. 21
Girls Inc. anniversary kick off
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga will mark 65 years of operation with a yearlong celebration running from August 2025 through July 2026. Since its founding in 1961, the organization has served over 40,000 girls across Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the surrounding region. The anniversary festivities kick off with a free celebration at Mac Avenue Event Space featuring legacy recognitions and thoughts from past and present leaders. Register
SATURDAY, SEPT. 13
Kayak & Paddle Board 5K
Paddle for PanCAN will host its annual race from 10 a.m.-noon at the Suck Creek Boat Launch in Chattanooga. The 3.1-mile event welcomes paddlers of all skill levels to navigate upstream toward Williams Island and back, with proceeds benefiting the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). Over the past five years, the event has raised more than $36,000 to support pancreatic cancer research and awareness. Participants can race in adult male, adult female or tandem kayak divisions, with prizes for winners and raffles for all. A team fundraising challenge will spotlight top fundraisers on the official event T-shirt. Registration is $40, with an optional post-race lunch at River Drifters. Register