The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will host the inaugural Karel Hujer Memorial Lecture April 10 at 7 p.m. in Grote Hall Room 129 on the UTC campus. Co-hosted by the Clarence T. Jones Observatory and the Barnard Astronomical Society, the free, public event will feature Chattanooga native Dr. Harold McAlister, Regents Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Georgia State University and a 1971 UTC physics alumnus, presenting “Karel Hujer: Chattanooga’s Astronomer and Citizen of the World.” Free parking is available beginning at 5 p.m. in the Lupton Hall garage at 700 Vine Street.
APRIL 11
Sip TN
Chattanooga’s wine festival will transform the First Horizon Pavilion into a showcase of wines, hard ciders and meads from more than 15 Tennessee wineries. The festival runs 1-5 p.m. with more than 100 wines available for tasting and purchase and opportunities to meet winery owners and winemakers. The event also includes live music, food trucks and local artisan vendors alongside the region’s producer-only arts and crafts farmers market. General admission tickets are $40 and include a Tennessee Wines souvenir glass and a six-bottle tote bag. A limited number of $50 VIP Early Access tickets provide noon entry and include general admission benefits. Designated driver tickets are $10. Proceeds benefit Tennessee agriculture and small businesses. For tickets and information: rockytopwinetrail.ticketspice.com/sip-tn-chattanooga-wine-festival.
River City Ribbon Run
Registration is open for the fourth annual run hosted by the CommonSpirit Memorial Foundation, which will be held on the Chattanooga State campus. The family-friendly event includes a timed 5K run, an untimed 5K walk and a one-mile timed children’s run. Registration, check-in and warmup activities begin at 8 a.m., followed by the timed race at 9 a.m. and the untimed events at 9:15 a.m. Food trucks, a children’s zone and a health expo will be available on-site until 11 a.m. Proceeds from the River City Ribbon Run stay local and support patients of CommonSpirit – Memorial Hospital’s Joe & Virginia Schmissrauter Center for Cancer Support, part of the Rees Skillern Cancer Institute. Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for children and cheerleaders, plus fees. Participants receive a 2026 River City Ribbon Run T-shirt, swag bag and finisher medal. Register: unite.chiphilanthropy.org/race2026.
Chattanooga Outdoor Festival
A full day of outdoor recreation, live music, local vendors and hands-on activities beginning at 11 a.m. at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Gardens and Station Street. Now in its third year, the family-friendly event celebrates the region’s thriving outdoor culture while raising funds for SORBA Chattanooga, which builds and maintains multi-use trail systems across the area. Building on last year’s turnout of more than 5,000 attendees and 75 vendors, the 2026 festival will feature interactive demonstrations, a large children’s zone, performances by local musicians and food and beverages from Station Street businesses, along with opportunities to connect with outdoor brands and conservation groups. Highlights include a silent auction and bike sweepstakes, with proceeds supporting SORBA Chattanooga’s trail stewardship and advocacy efforts. The event is free and open to the public. For more information and a full festival guide, visit chattanoogaoutdoorfest.com.
APRIL 13-19
Arts Week
ArtsBuild and its Community Arts Partners offer a week of performances, exhibits, workshops and networking events highlighting the impact of arts and culture across Chattanooga and Hamilton County. The celebration includes more than 35 events from organizations such as the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Chattanooga Theatre Centre and the Hunter Museum of American Art, along with advocacy events and community engagement opportunities throughout the week. A full schedule is available at artsbuild.com/events.
APRIL 18-19
4 Bridges Arts Festival
The Association for Visual Arts will host its annual event at the First Horizon Pavilion on Chattanooga’s Southside. Hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults ($6 with credit card) and free for children younger than 18. The juried festival will feature 140 artists from 30 states, including several from the Chattanooga area, offering work in a wide range of media including painting, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, wood, glass and photography. Food trucks will be on-site with coffee, meals and desserts. New this year, the Chattanooga Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will host its Chattanooga Design Awards during a lunchtime ceremony Saturday. A ticketed preview party will be held April 17 for sponsors, patrons and guests. For more information, visit 4bridgesartsfestival.org or call 423 265-4282.
APRIL 19
Godsey Ridge grand opening
The city of Red Bank will celebrate the grand opening of the new trail system with a ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Center and trailhead at 3653 Tom Weathers Drive. The event will start with a community networking opportunity inside the center, where attendees can meet project partners, learn more about the new trail system and enjoy refreshments, followed by a formal ceremony at the trailhead recognizing elected officials, project leaders and community partners. After the ribbon cutting, the trails will officially open to the public for hiking and exploration. Parking will be available at the Community Center, with overflow parking at the Red Bank Pool. The event is free and open to the public.
APRIL 24
Terrace at Twilight
The Hunter Museum of American Art will invite guests to step into an Alice in Wonderland-themed evening of entertainment on the museum’s River Terrace. Presented by Tremont Tavern and co-chaired by Amber and Dan Norton, the open-air event will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres, specialty cocktails and mocktails, themed activities and performances and a costume contest inspired by Wonderland. General admission includes food, drinks and dancing, while VIP tickets offer access to a private lounge, enhanced food and beverage options and valet service. Proceeds support the museum’s mission to provide arts education and community engagement.
APRIL 25
Bookstore crawl
And Then Books of Rossville, Georgia, will lead a Chattanooga-area celebration of Independent Bookstore Day, anchored by a multi-stop bookstore crawl across the region. Participating locations include The Book & Cover, Mystique Bookshop, The Reading Room, Rêve Coffee & Books, Winder Binder, Book and Barrel and Pennington’s Books. Participants can pick up punch cards beginning April 1 and visit each store to receive special deals, take part in activities and become eligible for prizes upon completing the crawl. At And Then Books, the public can enjoy free art and craft activities led by local workshop artists, a handmade vendors market, an open mic and coffee from Flower Boy Coffee. Pennington’s Books will offer a free drink with any new book purchase, while Rêve Coffee & Books will feature a crawl-exclusive cold brew, with a $1 discount for participants presenting a stamped postcard.
APRIL 25-26
Chattanooga Market Opening Weekend
Chattanooga Market will kick off its spring season with a two-day event featuring hundreds of vendors, including new and returning makers, bakers, crafters and entertainers. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Boulevard, Chattanooga. Information: www.chattanoogamarket.com/market/chattanooga
APRIL 30
Perspectives
Preserve Chattanooga will host a community event from 5–7 p.m. at the Waterhouse Pavilion downtown, featuring national preservation leader Bonnie McDonald, president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois. McDonald will share insights from her Relevancy Guidebook and discuss how historic preservation can address modern challenges such as climate change, housing and community equity. The event will also mark the launch of Chattanooga’s first community Preservation Plan since 1977, with organizers inviting public input to help shape the city’s future. Guests will be served hors d’oeuvres and sustainable wines while connecting with community leaders and preservation advocates.
May 1
Women Build Brunch
Join Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Chattanoogan Hotel. This annual spring fundraising event brings together women and allies from across the community in support of affordable homeownership for local families. Guests will enjoy a keynote from Natosha Reid Rice, vice president of housing opportunities and mission engagement at Habitat for Humanity International, along with homeowner stories and a celebratory brunch. Tickets, tables and sponsorships are available now at www.habichatt.org/womenbuild.
May 23
Chattanooga Beer Fest
The sixth annual festival returns from noon–3 p.m. at the First Horizon Pavilion, bringing together dozens of local and regional breweries for an afternoon celebration of craft beer. The event offers attendees unlimited samples from participating brewers with a single ticket, along with the chance to meet and talk with the people behind the pours. Breweries already announced include favorites from Chattanooga and beyond. Each guest will receive a commemorative tasting glass, and no tokens or extra purchases are required beyond admission. Tickets are on sale tomorrow at ChattanoogaBeerFest.com. In addition to beer, the event will feature local food vendors, artisan shopping from Chattanooga Market vendors and live music. Proceeds from the event benefit the nonprofit Chattanooga Market. This is a 21-and-over event, and a valid ID is required for entry.