🥓 Bacon and Barrel Festival

A festival all about bacon, a Chattanooga restaurant receives a major honor, and a new thrift store!

Author

David Hanson
September 11, 2025

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Local Snapshots

🥓 Bacon and Barrel Festival Set for September 26

Get ready to go hog-wild on Friday, September 26, at the annual Bacon & Barrel Festival, held from 6 to 9 PM at First Horizon Pavilion.

This indulgent evening features unlimited bacon-themed bites from local restaurants, twelve whiskey samples, live music, and fun photo ops. Beer, wine, and full-sized cocktails will also be available for purchase.

Guests can vote for their favorite dish to crown this year’s Golden Hog winner. Proceeds support the Chattanooga Market, making every sip and sample count for a good cause. Tickets and details are available here.

🎉 Calliope Named One Of America’s Top 50 Restaurants

Chattanooga’s own Calliope has earned a major national honor, landing a spot on The New York Times list of the top 50 restaurants in the U.S. for 2025.

It’s one of only two restaurants in Tennessee to receive the recognition. Opened in 2021 by Chef Khaled Albanna and Raven Humphrey, Calliope blends Levantine flavors with Southern ingredients in a modern setting on historic MLK Boulevard.

The award shines a spotlight on Chattanooga’s growing food scene and celebrates the city’s place among the country’s top culinary destinations. You can see the menu here.

🛍️ Room in the Inn Opens New Thrift Store

Chattanooga Room in the Inn has opened a new thrift store at 3807 Ringgold Road in East Ridge, with all proceeds going to support women and children experiencing homelessness.

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, the store offers clothing, accessories, books, games, household goods, and more. The shop serves as a new way for the community to connect with the nonprofit, which has provided transitional housing and support services since 1988.

Last year, 119 individuals found shelter through the program. Next time you’re nearby, be sure to stop in!

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Weekend Game Plan

Friday, September 12

Saturday, September 13

Sunday, September 14

  • Guns and Hoses Game at AT&T Field: Come out and cheer for your hometown heroes as local first responders take the field in a day of friendly rivalry!

  • Horror Circus at The Chattanooga Convention Center: Step right up for a spooky evening of circus-themed thrills, chills, and performances!

  • Nooga Hunger Walk at Chattanooga Green: Join the community for a walk or run to support the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and help fight hunger!

  • Cast Iron Cook-Off at The Chattanooga Market: Five local chefs will be competing in a cooking competition with Lodge Cast Iron products!

  • Dukes Up Fundraising Concert at Barking Legs Theatre: Enjoy live music and support a great cause at this fundraising concert featuring local talent!

  • John Caparulo at The Comedy Catch: Laugh out loud with John Caparulo’s bold and hilarious stand-up comedy!

  • The Fab Four: Tribute to The Beatles at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium: Sing along to Beatles classics with The Fab Four’s authentic tribute!

Don’t Miss This

🪕 IBMA World of Bluegrass

September 16-20 | Downtown Chattanooga | $30+ | More Info

Don’t miss the premier event that brings together the global bluegrass community! Whether you’re a professional, a fan, or somewhere in between, this isn’t an event you’ll want to miss!

🎙️ Billy Strings Live

September 17 | 7:30 PM | The Signal | Price | More Info

Billy Strings is bringing his Summer Tour to Chattanooga! Tickets are mostly sold out, but there are a few still floating around on secondary marketplaces!

🎶 Tennessee River Throwdown

September 18-19 | 8 AM-1:30 AM | Tennessee River Room (Marriot Downtown) | Free | More Info

Get ready for 18 hours of the best bluegrass music as part of the IBMA World of Bluegrass. There will be selections spanning traditional, progressive, jamgrass, and more!

⚾️ Chattanooga Lookouts Home Games

September 18-19 | 7:15 PM | AT&T Field | $13 | More Info

Cheer on the Lookouts as they take on the Birmingham Barons in the final two games of the regular season!

🦦 OttertoberFest

September 19 | 6-9 PM | Tennessee Aquarium | $45 | More Info

This unique event combines the customs of traditional Oktoberfest with a celebration of one of the Aquarium’s most beloved animals… the River Otters!

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