Snuggled in the glorious valley of Tennessee, along the rolling Tennessee River, sits the beautiful city of Chattanooga. Hugging the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and swathed with lush trees, Scenic City is a gift from heaven. And because it’s wrapped with mild winters and hazy summers, Chattanooga offers twelve months of opportunities. With a full calendar of experiences to piggyback off of, our city is great for groups in every season.
Scenic City Springtime Season
Springtime in Chattanooga is one of our favorite times a year! The lush tree coverage that blankets our city is rich with hues of emerald. Blooming wildflowers are scattered across the canvas of green. The air smells sweet here; just ask the buzzing bees and flitting butterflies. This season is great for groups to take advantage of.
- Wildflower Walks: Chattanooga knows how to embrace the free floral artistry. Many state parks and gardens offer guided flower walks that showcase the natural beauty surrounding us.
- Rock the Riverfront: This month-long event celebrates music, art, food, and culture. Held on the Chattanooga Green, the festival features an annual interactive art installation. The instillation is the centerpiece encourages engagement and gathering.
- 4 Bridges Arts Festival: The 4 Bridges Arts Festival (4BAF) draws more than 145 visual artists to this beloved art show. It has been ranked in the top 30 fine art festivals in the country.
- Chattanooga Beer Fest: Craft beer takes center stage for this beloved festival. Local breweries and distillers present their finest ferments to the thirsty crowds.
Southern Summer Loving
We love summertime season for groups in Chattanooga! Guests flock to our city to experience our warm summer climate, cool rivers, and refreshing lakes. It’s no coincidence that most of the celebrations make a splash around the water. And the summer night air is also perfect for grooving. Chattanooga puts a soundtrack to evenings with a myriad of free concerts and music festivals.
- Riverfront Nights: This is a special summer series that runs from July to August. Every Saturday over that time period, a free concert series unfolds under the summer night sky. Musicians, locals, and visitors gather along the riverfront parkway.
- Riverbend Festival: For more than 40 years, the Riverbend is known as Chattanooga’s original music festival. With three stages, food, and fun, this event brings the community and visitors together for three days.
- River Time: What better time to immerse yourself in the beautiful Tennessee River or one of our many lakes? Kayak under the majestic Walnut Street Bridge. Find peace – and fish – on Chickamauga Lake. For the more adventurous, raft the white waters of the Ocoee River just 40-minutes from the city.
Groups Fall in Love with Chattanooga
As the weather changes, so do the leaves. Fall paints the leaves of Chattanooga in the most brilliant of colors! The shift as summer releases its embrace to fall is breathtaking and beautiful. Step into a palette of autumn hues, with the promise of the holidays on the horizon. Groups can’t help but love fall season in Chattanooga.
- Tennessee Whiskey Festival: It’s not Tennessee without our whiskey! Our amber elixir is celebrated in this well-loved festival in downtown Chattanooga.
- Moon River Festival : As summer says goodbye, the Moon River Festival says hello! Artists and music gather for two days of entertainment in Coolidge Park.
- Fall Foliage Sightseeing Cruises: Experience the majesty of the changing of the seasons from a riverboat! A three-hour cruise takes you along a narrated tour of historical sites and golden leaves.
- Fall Hiking: Get up close and personal with the Fall season in one of the numerous hiking locations in Chattanooga. Chase waterfalls and falling leaves in Lula Lake. Take a trail in the 92-acre Stringer’s Ridge. Or hike Savage Gulf’s more than 50 miles of trails.
- Chattanooga Oktoberfest: It may be Tennessee, but we still know how to celebrate Oktoberfest. Oompah music, German food, and more than 100 seasonal and local beers transform the Chattanooga Market into Germany.
Tennessee Whiskey Winter
Though we’ve said it about almost every season in the year, winter is one of our favorite times for groups Chattanooga. Temps are in the 50s and the air is crisp. As the year end, snow can dust our surrounding elevations but tends to stay from the city streets. Not to mention, our magical city was made for holiday lights.
As the new year starts, guests take advantage of the new year motivation in a city full of outdoor opportunities.
- Head of the Hooch ® Regatta : Catch all of the rowing action of one of the largest regattas in the United States. Catch views of more than 5,100 competitors as they row under the Walnut Street Bridge and past Coolidge Park.
- The Holiday Market: December is primetime shopping time. What better way to shop than to shop local? During the month of December, local artisans and vendors set up their curated crafts at the Convention Center.
- Holiday Lights: Chattanooga’s prime attractions deck their halls for a twinkling display worthy of many photos. Follow the Holiday Trail of Lights to see magnificent displays on the Walnut Street Bridge, Tennessee Aquarium, and Chattanooga Zoo.
- Fun Runs: Expect to see (and experience) the city’s resolution to heath with a myriad of outdoor running options. Freeze Your Half Off is a half marathon along the iconic Tennessee River. The Trial of Tears is a seven-mile course to the Georgia state line. But it wouldn’t be Chattanooga without a twist! The Whiskey Run pairs a 10k with a post-run whiskey tasting.
- Ruby Falls by Lantern: View the tallest and deepest underground cave waterfall by lantern. Specialty guided tours allow you to see this natural wonder by glassy glow.
Chattanooga has year-round potential. It’s easy to see that any season is great for groups to visit our fine city. Contact us today! Let us help you put your next Chattanooga visit on the calendar.
