Happy Thursday!
Independence Day is right around the corner, and Chattanooga is not waiting until July 4th to get the party started.
This weekend has something for just about everyone. Spooky summer fun, brewery anniversaries, free concerts, comedy, pride celebrations, food trucks, hiking, and even a watermelon carving contest. Yes, really.
Whether you're planning a family outing, a date night, or just looking for a reason to get outside with friends, you picked the right week to open this email.
Let's get into it!
Local Snapshots
Summerween Couple
Summerween Is Back for Its 4th Year — And It's Getting Weird
Patten Square is going full Halloween in June this Saturday, June 27, for Downtown Chattanooga's 4th annual Summerween celebration. Dust off your costume, because the street will be packed with fire dancers, magicians, vintage and eclectic vendors, trick or treating, a Watermelon Carving Contest, and kid and adult costume contests. It's one of the more original events Chattanooga throws each year and it never disappoints.
Pops on the River: America's 250th at Coolidge Park
The city is pulling out all the stops for Independence Day this year. Pops on the River returns to Coolidge Park on July 4th with live music starting at 6 p.m. featuring Chattanooga Soul, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera kicking in at 7:20 p.m. with patriotic music, and a fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Food vendors, a kids zone, arts and crafts, and free shuttle service from the Unum Parking lot round it all out. The event is completely free.
Chattanooga's New History Experience Is Almost Here
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County History Experience is currently under construction at Broad and Third Streets on the riverfront and is expected to open sometime in August. Funded by the county government and designed to celebrate America 250, this is not your average history museum. Think interactive cave recreations, a jail cell exhibit telling the story of Ed Johnson — who was lynched here in 1906 — and immersive exhibits you can actually touch and step inside. High school student Julius Alnen is even directing a short film as part of the experience. It's going to be worth the visit.
☀️ Weather Snapshot
Thursday 83° ⛅ low 60°
Friday 86° ⛅ low 63°
Saturday 86° 🌤️ low 68°
Sunday 87° ⛈️ low 72°
There is also an Excessive Heat warning in effect for the area, so plan accordingly this weekend.
Thursday and Friday are warm but manageable with some cloud cover. Saturday is your outdoor sweet spot. Partly sunny and relatively calm. Sunday heats up further with storms rolling in, so have a backup plan and keep the sunscreen and water close all weekend.
TOGETHER WITH CLOSETS BY DESIGN
🌞 Summer Is Exposing Every Closet You've Been Avoiding
Custom Closet for Hubby
Swimsuits piled on the shelf.
Sandals you can't find.
A summer wardrobe that somehow multiplied overnight and still has nowhere to go.
Chattanooga summers move fast, and a disorganized space just slows you down.
Closets By Design designs custom closets, pantries, home offices, and garages built for the way your family actually lives — and right now, they'll come to you with a free in-home design consultation.
Friday Wrap
Nightfall: Zach Person: Chattanooga's free Friday night concert series is back downtown. The 42 opens at 7 p.m., followed by Zach Person at 8 p.m. Known for explosive guitar work and a raw indie rock sound, Person is drawing crowds across the country right now. Come early and grab a good spot.
Night Market: Cosmic Abyss: A cosmic-themed evening filled with local artists, makers, tarot readers, food, drinks, flash tattoos from 4 tattoo artists, live Dungeons & Dragons, wandering performers, and featured performances at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Come curious and stay for a while.
Struggle Jennings at The Signal: The grandson of Waylon Jennings brings his message of strength, determination, and courage to The Parlour at The Signal. Tickets available online.
Teen Artist Showcase: The exhibit opens June 26 and runs through July 30 in the Denise Heinly Art Center at Chattanooga State. Free and open to the public, in partnership with ArtsBuild and Hunter Museum of American Art. A great stop if you're near campus.
Saturday Insight
Tanasi Brewing 6 Year Anniversary Party: Free event, free parking, two special tropical tap releases, Casa de Mama Mexican Food Truck, a Best Dressed Dog contest, and giveaways. Kids and dogs welcome inside and out. Break out your tackiest summer gear.
Food Truck Saturday in Red Bank: Live music from Luke Simmons, a lineup of local food trucks — Chubby Vegan, Cheese My Everything, Windy City Eats, Desserts on the Roll, Clever Ale House, and Frozen Frenzy — plus a great community vibe. Bring lawn chairs.
Pride Night at Reagan's Retro Bar: girlCHAT and Reagan's Retro Bar team up for a Pride Month celebration benefiting Chattanooga Pride. Exclusive social hour for women from 4–5 p.m., then open to all at 5 p.m. Local vendors and a live DJ throughout the night.
Hike with Pride at Stringer's Ridge: A self-paced community hike celebrating nature, identity, and togetherness. The Chattanooga Public Library's outreach van Poppy will be on site, with cold beverages provided by Plant Bar. Come on your own schedule.
Make & Play Saturdays at Eastgate (Ages 6–11): This week's activity is Build Your Own Binoculars. Every Saturday from 3:30–4:30 p.m. at Eastgate Library. Free, fun, and a great way to spend an afternoon with the kids.
Justin Whitehead & Mario Tory Live: An evening of comedy with internet sensation Justin Whitehead and Mario Tory, hosted by Mark Ghee. Grab your tickets online.
Amy Grant at the Tivoli: A legend in contemporary Christian music, pop, and Christmas classics, Amy Grant performs at the Tivoli Theatre behind her newest album. A night of artistry and introspection from one of the most respected singer-songwriters in the business.
Riverfront Nights: Free live music under the stars at Ross's Landing. Concessions open at 6 p.m., music from 7–10 p.m. Chairs, blankets, and leashed pets are welcome. A perfect Saturday night out.
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Sunday Reset
Democracy Speaks: Rhyme N Chatt and the City's Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy present this community celebration of freedom, justice, democracy, and community through poetry, spoken word, live music, and food trucks at Renaissance Park. Part of the Tennessee America 250 program. Free and open to the public.
Foraging 101: A gentle introduction into foraging — learn how to safely and sustainably identify, harvest, and consume wild food. A fun, hands-on way to spend a Sunday morning getting connected to the outdoors.
The Matthews Family Gospel Night: An evening of gospel singing featuring Scott and Becky Matthews and their family group. The group has been traveling in ministry for years and recently released a new solo album. A meaningful night of music and community.
🔮 Look Ahead
🎵 South Chattanooga Library: Make. Play. Read. Learn. (K–3)
Monday, June 29 | South Chattanooga Library | Free | More Info
Hands-on activities, play, and stories for kids K–3 to build creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. A great weekday afternoon stop.
🌿 Vision Night: Bringing a Botanical Garden to Chattanooga
Tuesday, June 30 | Chattanooga Botanical Garden | Free | More Info
Help shape the future of the Chattanooga Botanical Garden at this free community vision night. A chance to have your voice heard on a project that could transform the city's green spaces for generations.
🎷 Wednesday Jazz: Alan Wyatt Quartet
Wednesday, July 1 | Barking Legs Theater | $10–$12 | More Info
An evening with Alan Wyatt on saxophone, Shawn Perkinson on guitar, David Schwab on bass, and Stephen Humphries on drums. Doors at 7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. NYC-level musicianship right here on Dodds Avenue.
🏓 FCA Thursday Events: Pickle & Purpose + Teen Pickleball Ladder
Thursday, July 2 | Revolve Pickleball, Cleveland, TN | Free | More Info
Pickle & Purpose is open to the first 10 kids (ages 8–12) and includes a short worship, coaching from a PPA-certified coach, and an hour of play. The Teen FCA Pickleball Ladder is for players 12+ who know the game and want competitive match play. Both are free and run 4–6 p.m.
Together with The Blade Partners
Closets By Design: If you’re constantly rearranging your closet and it still never feels right, it’s not you, it’s the space. Get a free design and see what it looks like when everything actually fits your life. Upgrade your closet.
C&C Nursery and Landscape: If your yard is one of those “we’ll get to it eventually” projects, you’re already behind for the season. Get a free quote and score free pruning with installation while you’re at it. Get a free quote.
Restoration 1 of Chattanooga: Spring humidity and rain can bring out mold in places you’re not checking. If your home smells off or feels damp, get it inspected before it spreads. 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. Learn to make real Spanish tapas together and actually leave with something better than just another dinner, use code Explorer for $20 off.
Where To Eat
Pizzeria Cortile: If you haven't made it to Red Bank for this one yet, this is your sign. Pizzeria Cortile is a neighborhood wood-fired pizza spot on Dayton Blvd that has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in the area — and for good reason. The crust comes out of a Neapolitan oven with that perfect char and chew you can't fake, and the menu has combinations you won't find anywhere else in Chattanooga. Start with the arancini, then go for something unexpected like the Brussels and Bacon or the Fancy Pants. They also do a Friday night pasta special made completely from scratch — one night only, and it's worth planning around. Cozy, casual, dog-friendly, and the kind of place where the owners actually live nearby. That says everything.
📍 4400 Dayton Blvd, Red Bank, TN 37415
Wood-fired pizza at Pizzeria Cortile, Red Bank
Hello Monty: Hello Monty is tucked into the Southside on West Main and it earns every bit of the buzz it gets. Everything on the menu touches fire — they cook out of a wood-burning oven imported from Spain, and you can taste it in every dish. The crispy Brussels sprouts alone are worth the trip, but don't sleep on the flatbreads, the salmon skewers, or whatever the burger is that week. The beer is brewed in-house through Dynamo Brewing, which means what's on draft was made right there. The covered outdoor patio is one of the better spots in the city to spend a summer evening, and the vibe inside — open kitchen, warm lighting, good energy — makes it the kind of place you end up staying longer than you planned. Reservations are recommended but they keep a few tables open for walk-ins.
📍 306 W Main St, Chattanooga, TN 37408
Hello Monty on West Main, Southside Chattanooga
Chattanooga keeps getting better, and it's even better when you experience it with people you love.
If this edition helped you make a plan, share it with a friend, a family member, or that group chat that's always looking for something to do. Hit the heart if you liked it, and help us grow by passing The Blade along — the more the merrier.
Have a great weekend, Chattanooga. Make some memories out there. 💛
More From The Blade
Previous Issue: Things To Do In Chattanooga This Weekend June 25 – July 2
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