⚔️ Things To Do In Chattanooga This Weekend July 23-30

Two new chimpanzees just moved into the Chattanooga Zoo, and the introduction was months in the making.

Willie and Sally arrived June 12 and were carefully introduced to Scott, Shirley, Brandy, and Katrina over the following weeks, starting with Scott and Brandy. "We started physical introductions with Scott and Brandy because they remained calm and showed signs of interest during visual intros," said Bri Towers, lead primate keeper. Sally and Shirley reportedly opened their first meeting with a hug.

The slow pace was the point. Chimpanzees are territorial and can turn on unfamiliar arrivals in the wild. "Willie and Sally were specifically selected to join our troop due primarily to their personalities, behaviors, and ages," said Lacey Hickle, director of animal care and conservation, adding that Willie helps ensure a male presence in the troop for years to come.

So far there have been no physical altercations, just some screaming and posturing, which keepers say is expected. All six chimps are on view in the Gomba Forest habitat while the alpha transition from Scott to Willie plays out.

Young patients at Erlanger have somewhere to go be kids again. The Children's Hospital Land of Enchantment, or CHLOE, officially opened Tuesday, July 21 on the third floor of the Children's Hospital.

It's built to be usable by every patient, including those with limited mobility or medical equipment, and it's filled with flowers, colorful play structures, and murals of Chattanooga landmarks painted by local artist Olivia Reckert, who started work back in December 2025.

"CHLOE happened because people believed in it and gave to make it real," said Jim Coleman, President and CEO of Erlanger. "When a family is going through the hardest days of their lives, this place gives them a few minutes to just be a family again."

The whole thing was funded through donations and community investment.

The heat is doing one useful thing, and that's bringing the sunflowers back.

Aubie Smith Farms, the strawberry people, are open on Ooltewah Georgetown Road from 11 a.m. to sunset all week. Twenty dollars gets you a bucket and all the sunflowers you can fit in it. There's also gem mining and Clumpies strawberry ice cream on site.

Two things worth planning around: a butterfly release this weekend and a sunflower junk market on July 25.

Thursday 81° 🌧️ 💧 75%

Friday 83° 🌧️ 💧 75%

Saturday 83° 🌦️ 💧 70%

Sunday 92° ☀️ 💧 40%

This is a wet one. Thursday and Friday both sit at a 75% rain chance, and Saturday isn't far behind at 70% — so if your weekend involves the Dock Party, Autism Field Day, or a bucket of sunflowers, check the radar before you load the car. The good news is these are summer storms, not all-day washouts: they roll through, dump, and move on. Then Sunday flips the script entirely and jumps to 92° and mostly sunny, which is its own kind of problem. Rain jacket Thursday through Saturday, water bottle and shade on Sunday.

Somebody says dinner. Somebody says that one bar. Somebody says "I'm down for whatever" and means it, which is the worst answer of all.

Then it's Sunday and nobody did anything.

Late summer is when the group hangout goes stale. Everyone's already been everywhere, and the standing options stopped being fun back in June.

The Sweet and Savory Classroom is the fix, and it's hands on. You and your people cook real Spanish tapas together or desserts, learn something actually useful, and eat what you made. It fills a whole evening, it works for four people or ten, and nobody's staring at their phone.

Use code Explorer for $20 off.

Three days of rain. Low 80s. Humidity on everything.

Your lawn loved it. You will not.

Miss one week in this weather and you're not mowing anymore, you're bushwhacking.

C&C Nursery and Landscape mows on a schedule so it never gets away from you again, and handles the rest when you're ready. Beds, pruning, plant installation, full redesign. One crew, one call.

Schedule a plant installation now and summer pruning is free.

🎨 FREE Art Classes for 55+
Monday, July 27 | Red Bank Community Center | Free | More Info

An ongoing charcoal drawing class for the Active Older Adults program, led by local artist Lissa Goeltz — shading, blending, contrast, and depth over a two-hour session. Funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission. You don't have to be a Red Bank resident to join.

🧶 Happy Hookers Yarn Club
Tuesday, July 28 | Collegedale | Free | More Info

Crafting and fellowship every week, all ages and skill levels. Bring your own materials if you can — loaner yarn and hooks are available if you can't.

🎸 Ukulele Music Class
Wednesday, July 29 | Cleveland Public Library | Free | More Info

Learn ukulele free with Wesley Cepin, owner of Cepin's on Central. You don't have to read music. Bring your own instrument if you have one — a limited number are available to borrow. First class is 11 a.m. to noon, and you're welcome to just listen.

🏃 RUN Dalton Brewing Company
Thursday, July 30 | Dalton Brewing Company | Free | More Info

A no-cost running group that meets Thursday evenings, with a short (2 mi) and long (4–6 mi) option each week so nobody gets left behind. Starts and ends at the brewery, which is arguably the whole idea.

Closets By Design: If you're constantly rearranging your closet and it still never feels right, it's not you, it's the space. Upgrade your closet.

C&C Nursery and Landscape: Overgrown yard? Schedule a plant installation and get free summer pruning. Get a free quote.

Restoration 1 of Chattanooga: Summer humidity can bring out mold in places you're not checking. Get a hassle-free estimate.

The Sweet and Savory Classroom: If your date nights are starting to feel repetitive, this is a solid way to change it up. Use code Explorer for $20 off.

Nikki’s Lounge: A chill spot for the 40-and-up crowd with a wonderful staff and world-class owners. Hands down the best chicken in the city, seasoned all the way down to the bone. Get the wing plate with okra (fried hard) and any other side. Fair warning, the drinks hit hard, so if you're expecting weak pours, this is not the spot. 😂

📍 4011 Brainerd Rd, Suite 101, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411

Little Coyote: Chef Erik Niel's ode to his Texas years, tucked into St. Elmo at the foot of Lookout Mountain and a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand. The menu is genuinely imaginative: brisket that's tender and smoky, mini brisket enchiladas worth ordering twice, crispy-skin fish, and beans that somehow taste like apple pie and absolutely work. Watch for the smoked beef rib special. Finish with the Mexican hot chocolate ice cream with ancho chili. No reservations, so walk in and be patient.

📍 3950 Tennessee Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37409

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