A Guide to Celebrating Christmas in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga, Tennessee sits in a bend of the Tennessee River between Signal Mountain and Lookout Mountain and the more than 150,000 people who call it home are drawn to the breathtaking natural beauty of the area as well its business advantages. Chattanooga at Christmas time exemplifies the friendly atmosphere and graciousness of this mid-sized East Tennessee city. We usually go to Chattanooga for the holidays because the grandparents are there; but along the way we've sampled some of the holiday delights that Chattanooga, Tennessee has to offer. Winter in East Tennessee is usually mild and doesn't feature a lot of snow, but the nights on the river can be windy and cold.

Winter Days and Lights
Downtown Chattanooga has been awarded a place as a Top 20 event in the Southeast for for this event season that features over 120 downtown buildings lit up for the holiday season. A three week stretch of family-oriented holiday activities begin on November 24th and end December 8th, all in the downtown area of Chattanooga.

The first event is the Grand Illumination on the River at beautiful Ross' Landing on November 24th. Lighted boats decorated for the holiday season are paraded on the Tennessee River. Entertainment is provided on the river bank by The Metropolitan Bells and a live nativity scene by First Baptist Church. Warm drinks and food concessions are available, and you can even do a little shopping at some of the craft booths. A song and dance session follows, including the ever popular singing Santa, guaranteed to bring out the kid in everyone. Santa then leads the community in a candlelighting ceremony where everyone is urged to share the joy of the season one candle at a time. After this touching display of Christmas spirit, downtown lights up as Santa gives the signal for the grand illumination to begin. And the evening isn't over…a fireworks finale kicks off the Christmas season to a roaring start. And the whole thing is free and open to the public!

The next morning on November 25th, children are invited to have breakfast with Santa in the beautifully renovated Grand Ballroom at the Chattanoogan. In addition to a full, substantial breakfast, this event has strolling entertainment, balloons, and another performance by the famous Singing Santa. Each child gets a goody bag as a kind of pre-Christmas gift from Santa, and Santa is available to have pictures taken with the kids, too.

The next weekend, on December 2nd, the Holiday Starlight Parade is another don't miss event. This parade is famous for its performing groups, glittering floats, and vehicles strung in lights, all featuring a Christmas theme. An outdoor holiday concert at the Tennessee Aquarium Plaza follows the parade. Both the parade and the concert are free of charge.

The Appalachian Christmas on December 8th is the last of the special events that make up Winter Days and Lights of downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee. Traditional Christmas and Yuletide songs are performed by Appalachian and bluegrass musicians. Fiddle-playin', toe-tappin', banjo-strummin' music will leave you filled with holiday warmth. This show only costs $3 for people over 10 years old. Children are welcome and encouraged to have a good time.

Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Light
Rock City is a true marvel of nature situated on top of Lookout Mountain overlooking Chattanooga. Filled with huge rock formations, gardens with all kinds of native plants, and a breathtaking "Seven States" viewing point, Rock City is fun to visit anytime. But there's something special and magical about Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Light. The rock formations are eerie at night, and the huge light displays are dazzling and unexpected. More than 25 light displays change Rock City into a place of holiday splendor. Concessions with warm drinks and snacks are available, and live music is played every night, from school choruses to handbell choirs to bluegrass bands. The Enchanted Garden of Light opens November 17th and lasts through January 6th.

Ruby Falls' Deck the Falls
Right down the road, located on top of Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls is an amazing, invigorating experience any time of the year. Ruby Falls is a marvelous waterfall located in Lookout Mountain Cave that was named after the discoverer's wife, Ruby. At Christmas time, Ruby Falls is transformed with magical lights and sound effects that dazzle the viewer. Dancing, colored lights envelop the falls and bathe it in color. There are restaurants and gift shops open at the end of a tour, and each tour takes about 90 minutes. Any time of the year, Ruby Falls is worth a stop, and with Christmas lights and music, it adds to the excitement of the season.

Chattanooga, Tennessee is a wonderful place to visit, and I hope that these few samplings of holiday events entice you to try it for yourself.