Hello friends and neighbors, Chattanooga is open and we're celebrating! From concerts to art demos, shopping to Juneteenth celebrations, here are the top events coming to our great city over the next couple weeks. See you out there.
June 12
John Whipple Art Demonstration
When: Jun12, 2021 @ 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Where: River Gallery 400 East Second Street, City of Chattanooga, Tennessee 37405
Cost: FREE
John Whipple creates beautiful works of art in a wide range of mediums, including: Paintings, sculptures and mixed media projects. An experienced art director, graphic designer, illustrator, and muralist, Whipple is considered a master of asymmetrical balance. Come check out his artistic process this Saturday at the River Gallery during his live painting demonstration. Event guests are invited to question and answer session with the artist and encouraged to engage in conversation to explore their artistic curiosities.
Riverfront Nights
When: Saturdays Jun 12 - Aug 28 @ 7:00pm
Where: Ross's Landing, 201 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Cost: FREE
One of our favorite Chattanooga events, Riverfront Nights, began last weekend and continues each Saturday through August 28. The concert series, along the river at beautiful Ross's Landing, offers amazing musical acts along with local art and food vendors for FREE! And this weekend the event features LVNDR opening for Grammy Award Nominee SOUTHERN AVENUE. The ground-breaking Memphis-based band was recently nominated for the 2021 Blues Music Award and just announced that their new album - BE THE LOVE YOU WANT - is coming out worldwide on August 27th! Known for their "group chemistry and electrifying live performances," come see them for yourself. Check out their Facebook page here.
Nathan Bell with Annie Mosher in the Garden
When: Jun12, 2021 @ 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Where: Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Avenue, City of Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404
Cost: $15 - advance, $20 - at the door
Over Easter break during my senior year of college at Appalachian State University, I put in an offer on my first home. I decided to move to Chattanooga because of the quality rock climbing in the area and wanted to live close to the cool town I barely knew anything about. Luckily landing in Ridgedale, near McCallie School and UTC, my new neighborhood offered everything I could have asked for. Little did I know, one of the coolest little music and arts venues in town was right down the street.
If you haven't been to Barking Legs Theater, you are definitely missing out and the concert tomorrow night may provide the perfect excuse to check it out. The show will be held in the garden and features Chattanooga-based singer/songwriter Nathan Bell and Annie Mosher from Nashville. From Barking Legs Theater webpage:
Nathan Bell is one of those performers who I refuse to designate as “local”, because it seems to carry with it a lowering of standards and expectations. His songwriting and performing skills are unquestionably on a par with better known artists based Nashvile, NYC or LA. Let’s celebrate his being based in Chatt-town, and enjoy this very special evening in the Garden at the Legs. He has chosen Annie Mosher of Nashville to share the show, and that should tell you something memorable is in the offing.
June 13
Chattanooga Market
When: Sundays through December 19 @ 11:00am - 4:00pm
Where: Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter Street, Chattanooga TN 37408
Cost: FREE
The Chattanooga Market is back and this year, to make up for lost time, they added events every week until mid-December. The market has become one of Chattanooga's most successful events. Every Saturday during the season, you can visit the River Market at the Tennessee aquarium Plaza. Sundays, they host the larger market at Horizon Pavilion, where they also host special events, such as Oktoberfest, The Chattanooga Marathon, various holiday celebrations, etc. Don't miss the fun with local farmers, artists, vendors, food trucks, drinks, music... really, everything you could ever ask for.
June 18
WanderlingerFest
When: Jun 18-20 @ 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Where: Wanderlinger Brewing Co 1208 King St, City of Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
Cost: Jun 18, 19 - $40, Jun 20 - $30, 3-Day Pass - $100
Chattanooga, like many cities these days, welcome a bevy of local beer brewers. They all provide quality product and inviting environments. Non however, outclass Wanderlinger Brewing Company. With an excellent beer selection and awesome venue to host music and arts, they have established themselves among the best of the best in the Chatta-brew-ga scene.
And now, you can buy your tickets for their three-day music festival featuring some of my favorite local bands, including: Opposite Box, Strung Like A Horse, Milele Roots and 30 other local acts, artists and vendors. "The full lineup has been released with all local acts who have played at the Wanderlinger stage over the last 2 1/2 years!"
June 19
Juneteenth Independence Day All Schools Block Party & Music Festival
When: Jun19, 2021 @ 3:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: Community Haven, 815 North Hickory Street in East Chattanooga
Cost: FREE
The all day festival celebrates Juneteenth Independence Day, the commemorative anniversary of the emancipation of those enslaved in the United States. Hosted by The Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas, "festival-goers are invited to bring tents, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to stay all day and enjoy all that our local artists, performers, and vendors have to offer. We will provide field games and activities, food trucks and a line-up of extraordinary Black performing artists."
Festival founder and CEO Ricardo “Ric” Morris said of the festival, “The first and most important outcome I want the festival to achieve is to awaken the greater Chattanooga community to the broad spectrum of exemplary work by Black artists in our own back yard. This celebration will allow other ethnicities to better understand and embrace the concept that while these works of art may be created by Black people and reflective of the Black condition, they more importantly speak to the human condition in ways that only the arts can do.”