From the depths of the Tennessee River to the heights of Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee transforms into ChattaBOOga this October for some family-friendly, spooky fun. The city is beautifully metamorphosed by the change in seasons, and the fall foliage is accompanied by a number of fall festivities.
Rock City’s Enchanted MAiZE, Blowing Springs Farm – Thursdays thru Sundays, now thru November 1
This year’s maze design features the sunny days of fall, with sunflowers and pumpkins. Visitors can enjoy 10 acres of family fun including the challenging maze, a sandbox filled with dried corn, and photo ops at the Critter Corral with its miniature cows, pigs, alpacas and other furry friends. The pumpkin patch maze, cow train, and hayrides, along with fall foods and unique games help bring the magic of fall to the farm.
The Haunted Cavern, Ruby Falls – now thru October 31
For 12 years, Ruby Falls has brought nightmares to the mountain with the annual Haunted Cavern, ranked #4 on Buzzfeed’s national haunt list. The caverns are filled with deadly creatures and spooky sounds, enough to give it the reputation as one of the area’s best haunted attractions.
ODDtober, Tennessee Aquarium – October 1 – 31
The Tennessee Aquarium celebrates some of its most unique creatures this October with a focus on those that possess super senses and those that are super strong, super mobile, and super smart. Each Saturday in October, volunteer SCUBA divers will entertain guests with underwater pumpkin carving. They’ll manage this amazing feat while dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes. For a full list of ODDtober activities, log on to tnaqua.org/oddtober.
Lake WinnepeSPOOKah, Lake Winnepesaukah – October 2 – 31
Fridays and Saturdays in October, Lake Winnie becomes Lake WinnepeSPOOKah. Haunted rides and screaming thrills await visitors who dare to take on the Haunted Depot, Thriller Parade, pumpkin drop, magic shows, and a Dazzling Light Show. Eerie edibles and terrifying treats will also be available for those who are brave enough to try them.
Blowing Screams Farm, Rock City’s Enchanted MAiZE – Friday and Saturday Nights from October 3 – 31
Rock City’s corn maze is transformed a few nights a week into a maze of terror. This year’s theme takes guests on a venture to an alternate dimension, where four 30-foot culvert slides plummet maze-goers into the void. Red spectrum lights provide an eerie glow for visitors as they do their best to stay out of the path of the scary creatures that lurk amidst the cursed woods and dark passages of the maze.
Rocktoberfest, Rock City – Saturdays and Sundays from October 3 – 25
October isn’t all about fall colors and haunted attractions. Rock City brings home its German heritage during the 10th annual Rocktoberfest, a celebration filled with German music, polka lessons, German food, and some German folklore.
RiverRocks Adventure Sports Games, various sites in Chattanooga – weekends in October
Sports lovers unite in Chattanooga for one of the most anticipated events of the year featuring everything from trail runs to bouldering to rowing. A dozen events make up RiverRocks, which culminates in a grand finale on October 24 with live music, family-fun activities, and delicious food and drinks.
Prater’s Mill Country Fair, Dalton, GA – October 11 – 12
An annual fall favorite, Prater’s Mill features classic mountain music, arts and crafts, southern foods, and so much more. Known especially for showcasing handmade crafts and original art, nearly 200 artists display their works at the fair. Crafters demonstrate to visitors the ancient arts of blacksmithing, spinning, woodcarving, quilting and more. Fairgoers can enjoy tours of the gristmill, shop at the country store, and visit the barn animals as well as enjoy festival foods, pony rides, and educational exhibits.
Ketner’s Mill Country Arts Fair, near Whitwell, TN – October 17 – 18
Country arts and crafts, great shopping, southern-style foods, unique entertainment, and artisan demonstrations await at Ketner’s Mill, located along the Sequatchie River. The mill still churns out freshly ground cornmeal, and visitors are encouraged to tour the picturesque farm with its grazing animals and covered wagons.
AquaScarium VIII, Tennessee Aquarium – October 30
From 4 – 8:30pm, visitors are encouraged to come dressed up in their favorite Halloween costume for a fun-filled night of trick-or-treating with the critters at the Aquarium. Candy stations will be set up throughout the Aquarium, mascots will be getting down on the Monster Mash dance floor, and special characters will be making guest appearances to entertain the crowd. Pre-registration is required for this event before October 28.
