In the blink of an eye, it is almost the end of the year. And the time remaining is for celebrating. When these special weeks roll up, we can think of only one thing. Holidays in Chattanooga! Festive lights, small-town events, and railway adventures await in the Scenic City. With so much to do, we’ve made a short list of events to help with your holiday plans.
Walk on the Twinkling Walnut Street Bridge
Our Walnut Street Bridge is one of our city’s most iconic walkways. At more than 2,300 feet, it is one of the longest pedestrian-only bridges in America. During the holidays in Chattanooga, it is strewn with glittering snowflakes, making your seasonal strolls brighter.
Enjoy Choo-Choo Cheer
It would only be the holidays in Chattanooga with a train. The calendar is chockful of seasonal cheer on the tracks.
Christmas Tea at the Depot
Immerse yourself in a holiday train station fantasy with a Christmas Tea. The upstairs viewing space in the Grand Junction Depot transforms into a charming tearoom. Scones, quiche, and croissants pair with your choice of tea for a dignified and darling afternoon. Upgrade your event with the purchase of one of their holiday train rides. Tickets are not included in tea pricing.
Santa’s Hiwassee Train Ride
Capture the spirit of Chattanooga with a ride along the Hiwassee River Gorge. Picturesque forests, the meandering Hiwassee River, and breathtaking landscapes unfold in front of you as if you were inside a painted canvas.
The event includes letter-writing to Santa, a gingerbread cookie, chocolate milk, and a visit from Santa.
Nightcap with St. Nick
This experience is adults-only! Enjoy Nightcaps with St. Nick on a magnificent dome coach. Your one-hour train ride becomes a holiday pop-up bar on wheels. Your adventure includes two drinks, a snack box, and a keepsake memento. And because you’re never too old for St. Nick, your ride will also have a visit from Santa.
Holiday Christmas Lights Train
Can you imagine a more iconic Chattanooga holiday experience than to see the seasonal lights from a rocking choo-choo-train? Travel through glittering snowflakes and glowing light displays along the pre-Civil War track.
Tennessee Aquarium’s Holidays Under the Peaks
As one of the Top 10 USA Today’s Best Reader’s Choice awards, our aquarium is a natural draw. It makes sense that it is a favorite visit during the festive season. Experience Holidays Under the Peaks and enjoy an underwater winter wonderland. Music, The Polar Express 3D in IMAX, and sightings of Scuba Claus will become some of your favorite new traditions.
Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights
Experience the award-winning magic of Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights. Skip through the North Pole Village, feel the icy gimmer in the Arctic Kingdom, and immerse yourself in the Magic Forest. This holiday light display is a beloved tradition of more than 29 years.
Holidays at Ruby Falls
Create the feeling of visiting Santa’s workshop in the North Pole. Holidays at Ruby Falls bring the season’s magic into their historic castle. Holiday decorations and glowing lights set the ideal backdrop for your professional photos with Santa. Sip craft beer by the fireplace in the Castle Café. And do some holiday shopping in the Village Gift Shop.
Chattanooga Holiday Small-Town Shopping
When you spend your holidays in Chattanooga, seasonal shopping is a breeze. Hundreds of our small-town businesses are brimming over with local art and gifts. Markets and bazaars happen weekly, and holiday pop-up events sprinkle the calendar.
Chattanooga Holiday Market
This free event is fun for the whole family! Live music, caroling, and more than 200 vendors will await you. Shop for local gifts, handmade items, and artisan trinkets.
Ho Ho Ho Christmas Market in Cambridge Square
This one-day-only event will be brimming over with festive family fun. Enjoy breakfast or cookies with Santa. Take a carriage ride around the square. And shop for gifts from local artisans and makers. Family-friendly activities add to your holiday experience.
Live Holiday Performances
You’re in for a real treat when you spend the holidays in Chattanooga. Our local stages, auditoriums, and theatres are alive with the season’s magic. Familiar programs, exceptional talent, and new traditions combine for seasonal memory-making. Check performance times and grab your tickets to these local holiday events.
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Christmas
We’re thrilled to welcome Ricky Skaggs to the Walker Theatre. A 15-time GRAMMY® award winner, Ricky is also a member of Country Music Hall of Fame. He and his band will perform Christmas favorites in their good time, acoustic way!
Cha Ballet’s The Nutcracker in the Soldiers and Sailors Auditorium
Dance with the Sugar Plum Fairies at the production of The Nutcracker. Baked by the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, dancers will retell the beloved story of a little girl, her treasured nutcracker, and their battle against the Mouse King.
Scrooge! The Musical at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre
Enjoy the holiday tale of Scrooge! with a musical flair. Ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future will return to remind Scrooge of the true meaning of Christmas on the infamous stage of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.
A Magical Cirque Christmas
Experience the holidays with a variety show unlike any you’ve ever known. Equal parts nostalgic and awe-inspiring, A Magical Cirque Christmas at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium will dazzle you.
There are few things more magical than holidays in Chattanooga. For more city tips, visit our website.
