Fall Festivals

It is fall! Hooray! And it is time to enjoy all of the great festivals our city offers.

Check out these festivals over the next few weeks and months!

Lookout Mountain Elementary School Festival 
Today! Tuesday September 23
3-7pm
Rain Date September 25
Located at the Lookout Mountain Commons
Games, bounce houses, pony rides, hay ride, bake sale and more!
Cost of activities ranges from $.50-$2
(My kids favorites: getting their hair colored, bounce house--slide, and riding the ponies!)
All proceeds benefit Lookout Mountain Elementary School

Map for Lookout Mountain Commons

Go!Fest Chattanooga
Saturday, September 27th
10am-3pm
Located at the Chattanooga Zoo
FREE entry to the Chattanooga Zoo as well as activities and information about disabilities awareness

Map for Chattanooga Zoo

Autumn Festival
Saturday, October 4
1-6pm
Tennessee Riverpark
Games, bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo, snacks, prizes
Cost of activities ranges from $.50-$3
All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House

Map for Tennessee Riverpark

Old McDonald Farm

Saturdays and Sundays, September 20 &21-November 1&2

10am-7pm

Pumpkin patch, Hay rides, Hay maze, Corn maze, Critter Barn, Combine Barn, Wagon Ride, and more!

Admission is $12 per person, 2 and under are free

(Farmer's Golf and Pumpkin Slingshot are a little extra.)

Located at 16705 Coulterville Road, Sale Creek, TN 37373

Map for Old McDonald's Farm

Know of other festivals in the area? Please let me know!

Chickamauga Lake

After seeing the lower side of the Chickamauga Dam, we were all curious to see the other side, so we took the short drive to the Chickamauga Lake Park. This is the place to be if you want to put in a boat (we got to see a house boat being pulled out of the water) or if you want to feed the ducks.

There's also a step-down, partitioned off swimming area.

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? yes

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? four and a half out of five stars

HOURS? dawn to dusk

We loved going out on the floating docks and seeing the geese and herons land in the water.

On a hill just beside the dock area, there is a large covered pavilion with picnic tables. On the other side of that hill is a swimming area.

As far as I could tell, the area partitioned off included water up to about 4 feet.

In a group of trees behind the swimming area are picnic tables in the shade.

{MAP FOR CHICKAMAUGA LAKE}

The Chickamauga Dam

When you are biking or walking the Tennessee Riverwalk, the Chickamauga Dam is your northernmost point. Along with saving the city from flooding, this dam provides hydroelectric power to Chattanooga. 

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? no

AUTHOR'S RATING? four out of five stars!

HOURS? dawn to dusk

There is a picnic pavilion tucked beneath those trees.

Right up near the dam there is an excellent dock for fishing, and the birds know it as well. Watching for fish and herons were my favorite parts of visiting the dam. Though, if we were studying power sources, I could see where visiting the dam would be a great educational tool as well.

{MAP FOR CHICKAMAUGA DAM}

The Tennessee Riverpark

Like a strand of valuable pearls, the Tennessee Riverpark stretches along the river near Chattanooga. Many Chattanoogans have to a part of this park without ever realizing the extent of it.

image

From the Chickamauga Dam to Ross's Landing downtown, there is a single connected wide pathway suitable for walking, jogging or biking. Though it passes totally unique play grounds (Riverpoint), amazing views of the river, and many pavilions, the largest play area located in the Riverpark is here at the Fishing Park.

PICNIC? yes

SWIMSUIT? no

COST? none

PLAYGROUND? yes

AUTHOR'S RATING? five out of five stars!

HOURS? dawn to dusk

Along with having a large older kid play structure and a smaller toddler play structure on rock/pebble base, the Fishing Park part of Riverpark is a great place for biking and picnicking.

The large pavilion houses bathrooms.

There are four pavilions available for rent in the Riverpark. Find availability and price HERE.

The picnic tables are on a first come first serve basis and are scattered throughout the park. Some even have grills alongside!

Though the park is a gem in itself, the views of the river dominate with their beauty and serenity. We had fun throwing pebbles off one of the fishing docks, watching the boats pass by and navigating the slippery rocks down below the dock.

{MAP FOR TENNESSEE RIVERPARK}