Dance, acrobatics, music and martial arts will take center stage at “What Is Capoeira?” 4-8 p.m. at Renaissance Park on Chattanooga’s North Shore. Hosted by Art To Empower, Capoeira Chattanooga and Monica Alicia Ellison, the free public event offers an introduction to the Afro-Brazilian martial art form, beginning with an entry-level class. Capoeira Chattanooga will then present a performance demonstration before inviting attendees into the “roda,” a two-hour community circle featuring live music, call-and-response singing and martial movements. Organizers encourage participants to wear athletic or comfortable clothing, with either tennis shoes or bare feet. The event is open to all ages, though children under 5 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
THURSDAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Noontunes Concert Series
Performances will take place Thursdays noon-1 p.m. in Miller Park on Sept. 4, 11 and 25. Hosted by the City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors and the Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Noontunes offers attendees an outdoor midday break complete with music, games, food trucks and community activities. The 2025 season is sponsored by City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors, Tennessee Arts Commission, EPB, First Horizon Bank and Tennessee American Water.
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
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26
Bacon & Barrel Festival
Taking place at the First Horizon Pavilion, this event will feature an evening of bacon-inspired dishes and a wide selection of barrel-aged spirits. Local restaurants will compete for top honors with their best savory and sweet bacon-infused creations. Attendees can sample dishes from more than 20 participating eateries, sip a curated selection of bourbons and whiskeys and cast their vote for the best bite of the night. Live bluegrass music and meet-and-greets with distillers will complement the tasting experience. Participating restaurants include 423 Taco, Bad Daddy’s, Big Bad Breakfast, Burger Republic, Civil Provisions, Clever Alehouse, Common Table, Drake’s, Harry’s, Hoppy’s North River Corner Market, Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint, Kai Bistro, Kinley Chattanooga, Mike’s Hole in the Wall, Nic & Norman’s, Puckett’s, Ruby Sunshine, Southside Social, The Bitter Alibi, The Daily Ration, The Edwin Hotel, The Grove at DoubleTree and Whiskey Cowgirl. Tickets include unlimited samples of bacon-themed dishes and 12 whiskey tastings. Additional beer, wine and full-sized cocktails will be available for purchase. The event is open to guests ages 21 and over; a valid ID and ticket are required for entry. Tickets
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
Scenic Stitches Spectacle
Coolidge Park will transform into a giant fiber arts playground as the community explores oversized weaving, arm knitting and other large-scale textile crafts from 1-5 p.m. Free and family-friendly, the festival will feature hands-on stations where visitors can experiment with unconventional fiber art tools such as cross-stitching with cording instead of thread. Local fiber artists will offer live demonstrations, an artist market and food vendors. The event will also debut a colorful yarn bombing installation where crocheted creations are temporarily stitched to park fixtures like trees, benches and bike racks.
THURSDAY, OCT. 2
Blueprints for the Future
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga will debut a reimagined version of its signature fundraiser from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the First Horizon Pavilion. The evening will feature remarks from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball head coach Dan Earl and a keynote address from former Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry. Berry is a two-time Hall of Fame inductee and Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. Proceeds will support Habitat Chattanooga’s mission of expanding affordable homeownership. Sponsorships are available. Information