24 events for the weekend of Nov 13–15, with 12 free and 15 indoors.
Updated
Big outings first: festivals, farms, shows and attractions, mixing free and paid, for a range of ages.
Rock City Gardens — Lookout Mountain, GA · Walker Co. · North Georgia
Walk the rock trails, swinging bridge, Lover's Leap and Fairyland Caverns, with views over seven states on clear days.
Check the hours calendar; from Nov 13 the evenings switch to the separately ticketed Enchanted Garden of Lights.
Details at Rock City ↗Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (Grand Junction Depot) — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · East
A 75-minute ride on a decorated, heated vintage train with hot chocolate, cookies, a story and a visit from Santa.
Season opens Fri Nov 13 (runs to Dec 23); select dates, reserve on the site.
Details at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum ↗Mountain Arts Community Center (MACC) — Signal Mountain · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains
European-style holiday market with artisan gifts, festive food and cozy mountain holiday atmosphere.
Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm.
Details at Shop the Market At ↗Coolidge Park & Renaissance Park — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore
Knights, three stages of performers, combat arenas and blacksmith and potter demonstrations across two riverfront parks.
Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm.
Details at Chattanooga Renaissance Faire ↗Want your family-friendly business here? Sponsor this guide
Chattanooga Zoo — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore
A compact, walkable zoo with red pandas, a jaguar, chimpanzees, giraffe feeding and a reptile house.
Check the site for daily hours. Boo in the Zoo evenings are listed separately.
Details at Chattanooga Zoo ↗Creative Discovery Museum — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore
Hands-on children's museum with a rooftop fun factory, water play, a climbing tower and art and science studios.
Sat 9am-5pm, Sun and Fri 10am-5pm (closed Wednesdays).
Details at Creative Discovery Museum ↗Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (Grand Junction Depot) — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · East
About an hour on vintage passenger cars through the Civil War-era Missionary Ridge tunnel, with a turntable demonstration and restoration-shop visit.
Several departures most days (no trains on Mondays); reserve on the site.
Details at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum ↗Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains
Trails, creeks and fall color at the foot of Lookout Mountain, plus a wildlife sanctuary with native animals.
Grounds open sunrise to sunset; Welcome Center 9am-4pm Tue-Sat.
Details at Reflection Riding ↗Ruby Falls — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains
A guided walk deep inside Lookout Mountain to a 145-foot underground waterfall, plus scenic overlooks above ground.
Open daily; check the site for hours and timed tickets. The Dread Hollow haunted house is a separate, scarier ticket.
Details at Ruby Falls ↗Incline Railway (St. Elmo Station) — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains
Ride one of the steepest passenger railways in the world up Lookout Mountain, with big views from the top station.
Sat-Sun 9am-7pm through Oct 31; check the site for November hours. Last car leaves 40 minutes before close.
Details at Incline Railway ↗Hunter Museum of American Art — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore
American art in a building on a bluff over the river; the outdoor sculpture plaza and Bluff View walk are free.
Open 10am-5pm; check the site for the day.
Details at Hunter Museum ↗Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center — Fort Oglethorpe, GA · Catoosa Co. · North Georgia
A park ranger leads a 90-minute car-caravan tour of the battlefield; the visitor center is open daily 8:30am-5pm.
Sat and Sun at 10am and 2pm. Needs at least four adults to run; subject to staffing.
Details at National Park Service ↗Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga · Hamilton Co. · Downtown & North Shore
Two buildings of river and ocean life: otters, penguins, sharks, a stingray touch pool and daily animal programs.
Usual hours 10am-7pm, last entry 5pm; check the site for the day.
Details at Tennessee Aquarium ↗Point Park, Lookout Mountain Battlefield — Lookout Mountain, TN · Hamilton Co. · North & Mountains
A 30-45 minute ranger walk on the paved path around Point Park, with views of the city and the river bend.
Sat and Sun at 11am, 2pm and 4pm.
Details at National Park Service ↗Rock City Gardens — Lookout Mountain, GA · Walker Co. · North Georgia
Rock City's nighttime holiday walk with millions of lights through the gardens on Lookout Mountain.
Nightly Nov 13-Dec 31 (closed Dec 24). Timed entry.
Details at Rock City ↗From Chattanooga Public Library branches and Cherokee Regional Library (North Georgia). Some need registration; check the library page.
Nothing matches those filters — try widening them.