National Treasures 2014
Thursday, Aug. 28
The Friends of Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park will host the sixth annual National Treasures event on Thursday, Aug. 28 at Point Park. This year’s party celebrates the 125th anniversary of the 1889 picnic that brought Union and Confederate veterans back to the Chickamauga and Chattanooga battlefields to commemorate the establishment of the country’s first federally protected Civil War battlefield. This year, guests will gather atop Lookout Mountain to enjoy an evening of bluegrass music from The Dismembered Tennesseans, slow cooked barbecue, and drinks. Tickets are $75 each or $130 per couple, and are available via PayPal, credit card purchases at www.friendsofchch.org, or by check, made payable and mailed to Friends of the Park, P.O. Box 748, Chattanooga, TN 37401. The reservation deadline is Aug. 22. Reservations include food, beverages, activities, and a tax deductible donation to the Friends. For more, call (423) 648-5623.
Kayak Polo begins
Thursday, Sept. 2
Outdoor Chattanooga will host kayak polo at the Warner Park outdoor pool every Thursday in September from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The non-contact pickup matches will be free and open to any kayaker age 12 and older who wishes to participate. Every player must be able to demonstrate a solid wet exit before they will be allowed to play. All equipment will be provided. To learn more, email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call (423) 643-6888.
Citizens’ Police Academy
Starting Thursday, Sept. 4
Have you ever wanted to learn more about how the Chattanooga Police Department works? To learn more about what the men and women who patrol and protect our city do on a daily basis? If so, now’s your chance. The Chattanooga Police Department’s Office of Community Outreach is once again holding its Citizens’ Police Academy beginning Sept. 4. This is an eight-week course that gives citizens a glimpse into how our Police Department does its job. Instructors from the Police Department teach each class one night a week, covering a variety of topics including narcotics, homicide investigation, patrol, and the SWAT team. To sign up, contact Officer Wayne Jefferson at 643-5090. Applications must be returned to the office of community outreach no later than Aug. 25.
Camp Jordan Jams series starts Aug. 30
The East Ridge Parks and Recreation and the City of East Ridge will present free concerts at Camp Jordan Park on Aug. 30, Sept. 20, and Oct. 18. The performances will take place on Saturday nights, with the headline act performing from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Nashville’s Travis Dukes will perform Aug. 30. The singer and songwriter has opened for acts like Charlie Worsham and Billy Dean. The Beaters will take the stage Sept. 20. The band is in the Chattanooga Music Hall of Fame. An offer has been made to a group for the Oct. 18 concert.
Fall gardening workshop
Saturday, Aug. 30
On Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to noon, Crabtree Farms’ Fall Gardening Workshop will prepare gardeners for fall planting. Farm Manager and Education Coordinator Sara McIntyre will be offering tips and tricks for growing fall crops, including beets, carrots, kohlrabi, lettuce, greens, and berry bushes for spring. McIntyre will also offer a list of some of her favorite varieties to grow in our region. Pre-registration is required. Register by calling (423) 493-9155, extension 10, or emailing achill@crabtreefarms.org.
Crabtree’s fall plant sale
Saturday, Sept. 6
Crabtree Farms’ 12th Annual Fall Plant Sale will take place Saturday, Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 100 varieties of fruits, veggies, herbs and more will be on hand for fall gardeners. (All plant starts are being cultivated in the greenhouse at Crabtree Farms using sustainable methods.) This year’s festival will feature three free workshops. From 10 to 11 a.m., Crabtree’s Sara McIntyre will offer tips on fall gardening. At noon, CeCe McDermott of 423 Balm will demonstrate how to make five-minute cheese. One other workshop, topic to be determined, is planned. Local vendors with goods for sale will include 423 Balm, Down to Earth, Fireside Botanicals, King of Pops, Marshall and Rose, Rusty’s Nutz, and Shuptrine’s Twisted. Crabtree accepts cash, Visa or MasterCard, check, and SNAP. (SNAP is accepted for seeds and edible plants only.)
Street Smarts cycling class
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Learn the rules of the road and some helpful tips for riding your bicycle on the road at Street Smarts, happening the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Outdoor Chattanooga, located at 200 River Street in Coolidge Park. The instructors will teach Tennessee and Chattanooga bicycle laws and proper techniques for driving a bicycle. Adults and kids ages 12 and older are welcome. The class will be followed by an optional practice ride. To learn more, email info@outdoorchattanooga.com or call (423) 643-6888.