Community Calendar

Join Chef Meghan Lewis for our Breads of Middle Hearth class!
Get cozy and gather around as you bake old-world breads inspired by pastoral villages and wandering travelers. In this class, you'll create savory, sweet, and hearty breads designed for both comfort and adventure.

Scholarships are available for anyone for up to 100% fee coverage for this class, ensuring it is accessible to anyone. If you need a scholarship, please do not register through this site and email us instead.

Contact: Austin Winter at awinter@ymcachattanooga.org.

Thank you!

We want to welcome the community to The Literacy Garden, a place everyone is welcome, a place we can come together to share all things literacy: books, comics, manga, art, and curiosity!

Together, we can change lives—one page at a time!

Activities: Ribbon cutting ceremony, games, activities, and read-aloud story time!

Food and drinks provided by Scottie’s On The River

BAPS Charities will host its annual Walk-Run on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Coolidge Park, The Walker Pavilion, 120 River Street, Chattanooga, TN 37405. The Chattanooga event will bring together community members, families, local leaders, first responders, and supporters for a morning of service, unity, and charitable impact.

This year’s local beneficiary is the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, supporting specialized pediatric care for children across the region. The Chattanooga Walk-Run is part of a larger national BAPS Charities initiative, with more than 50,000 walkers expected across 109 locations in 2026. The event will also include a ceremonial opening with the National Anthem, American flags, and local public officials, connecting the walk to the spirit of community service and the America250 commemoration.

Participants of all ages are invited to walk, run, volunteer, or support the cause. Registration is available through BAPS Charities.
https://walk2026.na.bapscharities.org/event/baps-charities-walk-or-run-2026-chattanooga-ga/e743658

Paw Palooza is Chattanooga’s best and only pet walk and festival! This one-of-a-kind day is a blast for pet lovers and pet owners throughout our City and beyond.

The event consists of a team-centric fundraising walk with all proceeds benefiting the animals of McKamey Animal Center, dog games, contests, vendors to shop and support, food trucks, and much, much more!

Fresh and local, straight from the farm to your pan!

Join Chef Meghan Lewis in this cooking class where you will create delicious recipes that make the most of your CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

5:30 - 7:30 pm at the J.A. Henry YMCA

Nokian Tyres Summer Nights – TN 250 BASH
📍 Downtown Dayton, Tennessee
📅 June 26, 2026
🕖 Evening Event

Celebrate Tennessee’s 250th anniversary in the heart of Downtown Dayton with an unforgettable night of community, music, and summer fun! The Nokian Tyres Summer Nights – TN 250 BASH brings together locals and visitors alike for a high-energy evening that showcases the spirit of Rhea County.

Enjoy live music, local food vendors, shopping, and family-friendly activities as we kick off a weekend of TN 250 celebrations across all three Rhea County cities. Whether you're dancing in the street, grabbing dinner with friends, or exploring downtown, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

This event is part of the county-wide “Come for the History, Stay for the Fun!” TN 250 celebration—highlighting the unique history and charm of Dayton, Spring City, and Graysville.

✨ Live Entertainment
🍔 Food Trucks & Local Eats
🛍️ Downtown Shopping
🎉 Family-Friendly Fun

Bring your lawn chairs, invite your friends, and make plans to be part of this exciting celebration in Rhea County!

Free admission | All ages welcome

Shake the Lake – TN 250 BASH
📍 Spring City, Tennessee (Watts Bar Lake)
📅 June 27, 2026
🕖 Evening Event

Celebrate Tennessee’s 250th anniversary lakeside at Shake the Lake – TN 250 BASH in beautiful Spring City! This high-energy event brings the community together on the shores of Watts Bar Lake for an evening full of music, food, and summer fun.

Enjoy live entertainment, food vendors, and a vibrant waterfront atmosphere as part of a county-wide weekend celebration across all three Rhea County cities. Whether you're arriving by boat or by land, this is your chance to experience one of the most exciting summer nights on the water.

As the sun sets, get ready for an unforgettable celebration filled with energy, community spirit, and a stunning lakeside backdrop.

This event is part of the “Come for the History, Stay for the Fun!” TN 250 celebration—highlighting the history, culture, and charm of Dayton, Spring City, and Graysville.

🎶 Live Music by the Water
🍔 Food Vendors & Local Favorites
🚤 Boat-Friendly Atmosphere
🎆 Summer Night Celebration

Grab your crew, bring your chairs or hop on your boat, and come Shake the Lake with us!

Free admission | All ages welcome

Freedom Fest – TN 250 BASH
📍 Graysville, Tennessee
📅 July 4, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM Start

Celebrate Independence Day and Tennessee’s 250th anniversary at Freedom Fest – TN 250 BASH in Graysville! This patriotic community celebration is the perfect way to honor our nation’s history while enjoying a full day of small-town charm, family fun, and festive activities.

Kick off your Fourth of July with a lively parade, followed by local vendors, food, entertainment, and activities for all ages. From red, white, and blue decorations to community spirit on full display, Freedom Fest captures everything we love about celebrating in Rhea County.

As part of the county-wide “Come for the History, Stay for the Fun!” TN 250 celebration, this event highlights the unique history and pride of Graysville while bringing together all three Rhea County cities for one unforgettable weekend.

🇺🇸 Patriotic Parade
🍔 Food Vendors & Local Eats
🎶 Live Entertainment
🎉 Family-Friendly Activities

Bring your flags, gather your family, and celebrate the Fourth of July the Rhea County way!

Free admission | All ages welcome

Presented by Mark Warren, “The Forest’s Gifts of Food: Medicine and Craft As Practiced By the Native Americans” demonstrates the valuable lessons and skills regarding how the Indigenous inhabitants of the Southeast used native plants for food, medicine, insect repellent, craft, and fire.

Mark Warren is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Georgia. At Medicine Bow, his nationally renowned wilderness school in the mountains of Dahlonega, GA, he teaches nature classes and primitive survival skills. In 1980, The National Wildlife Federation named him Georgia’s Conservation Educator of the Year. In 1998 Mark became the U.S. National Champion in whitewater canoeing, and in 1999 he won the World Championship Longbow title.

Mark has written extensively about nature for local and national magazines and has researched Western frontier history for more than 50 years presenting at museums and cultural centers around the country. He has 18 traditionally published books. He has been honored by the Spur Awards, The Historical Novel Society, the Will Rogers Medallion Awards, The New Mexico – Arizona Book Awards, and in 2022 Mark was honored with a Georgia Author of the Year Award for his book Song of the Horseman (Literary Fiction Finalist.)

This event is free and open to the public.