FREE Festival Fun
Hamilton County Fair – September 24 & 25 - 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The fair features music, games, country crafts, livestock, rides and more.
River Rocks - Oct. 1-15, Daily, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
RiverRocks is a multi-day event that brings world-class and amateur athletes to the Scenic City to compete and celebrate Chattanooga’s outdoor lifestyle and enjoy live music. Athletic events include rock climbing, trail running, kayaking, open water swimming, rowing, cycling, off-road biking, paddling and much more.
Three Sisters Music Festival - September 30-October 1, 2016
The 10th annual celebration of Bluegrass on the River in Chattanooga. Two big days, Three Great Sisters. Held at Ross' Landing.
Autumn Children's Festival - October 1 - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. - Free
The Festival attracts over 3,000 attendees over two days who enjoy delicious food, activities, crafts, and games for all ages, including: Star Wars characters, princesses, superheroes, inflatables, a petting zoo, face painting, kiddie train, carnival games with prizes, arts and crafts, as well as health and wellness and educational programs. Admission and parking are FREE!Activities range from only 50 cents to $3.
CultureFest at the Chattanooga Market - October 2nd - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
17th Annual CultureFest – Come experience the rich cultural diversity of Chattanooga through arts, food, dance, and live music. Enjoy a multicultural fashion show, dance contest and an exhibition of culturally-themed art. Local, ethnic organizations will be on hand displaying cultural artwork, offering food samples & cooking demos along with other global customs.
Georgia Apple Festival – Arts and Crafts Show
October 8th - 9th, October 15th - 16th
There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The antique car show is held at the Civic Center on October 8th. The parade is on October 15th and begins at 10 AM in historic downtown Ellijay.
Prater’s Mill Country Fair
October 8 (9 a.m. - 6 p.m.) and October 9 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
surrounding buildings, has grown into a full celebration of Appalachian traditions featuring live music, Southern food and handmade crafts and original art created by nearly 200 talented artists and artisans. Demonstrations include blacksmithing, quilting, weaving, woodcarving, rug hooking, and hand tufting, the precursor to the famous machine tufted carpet industry of Dalton, Ga.
Ketner’s Mill Country Arts Fair
October 15 & 16 - Sat 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. & Sun 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Highway 28 at Ketner Mill Road Whitwell, TN 37397
Ketner's Mill Country Arts Fair is two days packed with shopping, great southern-style foods, entertainment and activities for the whole family.
Inexpensive Family Fun
ChattaBOOga ($)
Looking for a good scare? ChattaBOOga! offers thrilling, chilling adventures that can’t be experienced anywhere else.
Tennessee Valley Railroad’s Eerie Express ($)
Oct. 8, 14-15, 21-22 & 28-29, 5:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m. & (Sat. only) 3:30 p.m.
Jump aboard the Halloween Eerie Express vintage train for a spooky, family-friendly round trip ride from Grand Junction Station to the Funhouse Station and back. The fun-filled journey includes storytelling, hot cider, black-light mini golf, games, costume contest, petting zoo, pony rides, bag of treats for the children, and a tour through the “gentle thrills” Eerie Fun House, a 20-room, 2,000 square foot “old time” fun experience.
Chattanooga Zoo’s Boo in the Zoo ($)
Oct. 21-23 & 28-30, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy this annual family-oriented Halloween celebration with some of the Zoo’s most lovable animals. Children get to hang out with roaming cartoon characters, stop by trick-or-treat stations, enter costume contests, get crazy in bounce houses, take a pony ride, play games, get their face painted, go on a hay ride, and much more.
Enchanted Maize ($)
Adventure for the whole family begins by getting lost in Rock City's annual corn maize. Make sure to fuel up with our homemade funnel cakes, and more! Don't forget to swing by the Critter Corral and meet the lovable furry animals. A family outing is not complete with a little competition, so drive around in our pedal carts for a friendly family race. End the night with a relaxing hayride made for the entire family. Fall, fun, laughter and enchantment await...only at the Enchanted Maize at Blowing Springs Farm.
Rocktoberfest 2016 ($) - October 1 - 8:30 a.m - 5 p.m.
Celebrate at Rock City's German Festival Get in touch with Rock City’s German Heritage during the 10th annual Rocktoberfest. Rock City Square will be transformed for a celebration of harvests and fall foliage.
Old McDonald’s Farm ($)
Saturdays 10-7 and Sunday’s 12 -7 | Sept 10 – October 30
A day at the McDonald Farm is full of activities! From navigating a corn maze to visiting a pumpkin patch to petting a goat to taking a hayride, you and your family will leave with plenty of wonderful memories. With so much to do, most visitors spend at least two or three hours at the Farm, so we recommend arriving early! Admission is $12.50 per person, and children two years old and under are admitted free. Group pricing of $11 per person is available for groups of 25 people or more.
Guthrie Farms (Athens, TN - worth the drive!) ($)
September 24th - Sun. October 30th, 2016
Fri & Sat 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
PUMPKIN FARM AND CORN MAZE! Hay Rides, Calf roping, Tire Mountain, Petting zoo, Country Store - Great time!
We hope you enjoy a wonderful fall with your families!
-- Cheryl