Fall is coming, Chattanooga. With the first official day of the season less than a week away, we’ve rounded up the top festivals, events, and activities to help you make the most of it.

Festivals + fairs

Bacon & Barrel Festival | Sept. 26 | First Horizon Pavilion
Guests 21+ can enjoy bacon-themed dishes and 12 whiskey samples from local restaurants.

3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival | Oct. 3-4 | Ross’s Landing
This free downtown music festival features both traditional and modern bluegrass acts.

Apple Festival | Oct. 5 | First Horizon Pavilion
As the name suggests, it’s all about apples — from sweet treats to candles, lotions, and more.

Porchfest | Oct. 11 | Highland Park
This is a neighborhood‑based festival where front porches become stages for live music.

Chattanooga Oktoberfest | Oct. 11-12 | First Horizon Pavilion
Enjoy German‑inspired food, music, and brews at this free event — bonus points if you wear a costume.

Little Debbie Hamilton County Fair | Nov. 7-9 | McDonald Farm
This fair is fun for the whole family with delicious food, rides, lumberjack shows, live music, agricultural exhibits, and more.

Ride amusement park rides like the Ferris wheel at the fair. | Screenshot via Waterhouse Public Relations

Halloween events

Enchanted Pumpkin Patch | Sept. 26-Oct. 31 | Rock City
The beloved Chattanooga attraction will transform into a glowing autumn wonderland with towering pumpkins, spooky décor, and festive fun for the family.

Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition | Select nights through Oct. 31 | Ruby Falls
With nothing but lanterns to light your way, walk through the eerie underground passageways while listening to ghost stories and Chattanooga legends.

Boo in the Zoo | Select weekends in October | Chattanooga Zoo
Families can enjoy trick-or-treat stations, costume contests, bounce houses, character meet-and-greets, and plenty of Halloween fun with animals.

ODDtober | Oct. 1-31 | Tennessee Aquarium
Celebrate the strange and fascinating side of nature with eerie animal programs, underwater pumpkin carving, and fun surprises all month long.

Monster Bash | Oct. 10-11 | Creative Discovery Museum
Get ready for kid-friendly Halloween fun with costumes, critters, a pumpkin toss, s’mores, and a spooky scavenger hunt.

Haunted Market | Oct. 26 | First Horizon Pavilion
Families can trick-or-treat and participate in a costume parade at the Chattanooga Market.

The Scenic City really shows off for the fall. | Photo by @zippydj

Fall foliage views

Scenic drive or hike | Oct. 27-Nov. 3 (peak leaf color window)
Check out our lists of Chattanooga’s best scenic drives and hiking trails to get the best views of fall foliage.

Fall foliage river cruise | Sept. 2-Nov. 16 | Southern Belle
This classic Chattanooga riverboat offers three-hour fall foliage cruises of the Tennessee River Gorge.

Fall train rides | Now through Nov. 28 | Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Glide through Tennessee’s fall colors on a cozy train ride. Pro tip: The Hiwassee Loop, which leaves from Delano, TN (about a one-hour drive from Chattanooga), is considered one of the best routes for peak fall foliage.