The City of Chattanooga will host the 15th annual Go Fest at the Chattanooga Zoo Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Go Fest is a free event that celebrates people of all abilities. The zoo will be transformed into an adaptive space with sports, animal attractions, interactive exhibits and musical performances. Parking at the zoo will be limited, but a number of spaces will be reserved for people who use wheelchairs. The public is urged to use the free shuttle, which will run from Engel Stadium to the zoo.
I-75/I-24 public information meetings
In anticipation of heavy construction beginning this fall on the I-75/I-24 interchange modification project, TDOT will hold a series of meetings to inform the public about what to expect as the project progresses. The meetings will be held during the last full week in September. The same presentation will be given at each meeting. Representatives from TDOT and the contractor will be present to provide information and answer questions. Each meeting will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. The dates and locations are:
• Monday, Sept. 23: East Brainerd meeting, Concord Baptist Church, 7025 East Brainerd Road
• Tuesday, Sept. 24: East Ridge meeting, East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Ave.
• Thursday, Sept. 26: Brainerd meeting, Brainerd Crossroads, 4011 Austin St.
Racial justice workshop
Local education nonprofit The Chattery will host author Austin Channing Brown for an open-to-the-public racial justice workshop Friday, Sept. 27, at The Camp House. The workshop will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets can be reserved at www.thechattery.org/austin. Brown is the author of “I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.”
Banana Ball to bring Jack Hanna back to Chattanooga Zoo
The Chattanooga Zoo will host its annual Banana Ball Saturday, Sept. 28, 6-11 p.m. The evening will begin with an open bar. Lee Towery Catering will serve dinner at 6:30 p.m. Celebrity guest Jack Hanna will make a presentation from 7-8 p.m. Guests will then be welcome to spend the rest of the evening enjoying up-close animal encounters, live music and a themed photo booth. All proceeds will go toward the zoo’s capital campaign, “Reaching Great Heights,” which will bring giraffes to the city. Tickets
Mental wellness and addiction recovery event
Helen Ross McNabb Center will host a community awareness event recognizing National Recovery Month and Mental Illness Awareness Week on Monday, Sept. 30, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Miller Park Pavilion. The event will provide information on local mental health and addiction resources and feature a short program highlighting an individual’s journey to recovery.
Children’s Festival
The Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House will host its annual Autumn Children’s Festival Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 6, 1-5 p.m., at the Tennessee Riverpark, 4301 Amnicola Highway. The festival will feature food, games and activities. Admission and parking will be free.
Tivoli Theatre Foundation’s inaugural gala
The Tivoli Theatre Foundation will host a fundraising gala featuring bluegrass singer Alison Krauss Friday, Oct. 18, at Tivoli Theatre. The event will support the foundation’s work to restore and promote the historic Tivoli Theatre, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium and Walker Theatre. Tickets with access to a pre-show VIP reception are available now. The reception will include heavy hors d’oeuvres by Lee Towery Catering, specialty cocktails, a complimentary open bar and a live auction. Search ticketmaster.com for “Tivoli Theater Foundation” to purchase tickets.
Charity bingo
The Alpha Beta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha will host its second annual charity bingo event to benefit the Walter E. Boehm Birth Defects Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 7111 Lee Highway. The doors will open at 6 p.m.
Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast
Ben Hasan, chief of diversity and inclusion for Walmart, will share principles for creating an inclusive company culture at Urban League of Greater Chattanooga’s annual Equal Opportunity Day Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 1, 7:30 a.m., at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Tickets
Crime prevention training for businesses
The Chattanooga Police Department will host free crime prevention training designed for business stakeholders interested in making their facility and employees as safe as possible Wednesday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 2111 W. Shepherd Road.
A crime prevention specialist from the University of Tennessee’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center will lead the course and a translator will be present for Hispanic and Latino business owners and employees. Topics will include security assessments, locking mechanisms, alarm systems, access control and more. To register, send your name, email address and company name.