Two officials of the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership told members of the Civitan Club on Friday of big events planned to the official opening of the $120 million 21st Century Waterfront Plan.
Ann Ball and Carla Pritchard updated the club on the events that include openings for the greatly enhanced Hunter Museum (April 23) and the new Ocean Journey wing of the Tennessee Aquarium (April 29).
The speakers also said the new Renaissance Park will be thrown open to the public, though it will still have some unfinished features.
It is adjacent to Coolidge Park and will be three times larger than that popular ciy park on the North Shore.
There are events to mark the opening of the new First Street Steps, Chattanooga Pier, pedestrian bridge to the Hunter Museum, and the Passage.
The speakers said $1.2 million in public art is being added on the South Shore.
They said over 1,000 new parking spaces have been made available, including along Riverfront Parkway and at the new River Pier.
For some of the special events, there will be extra CARTA shuttle buses put on line.
21st Century Waterfront Grand Opening Schedule
Saturday, April 23: First Street, Pedestrian Bridge and the Hunter American Museum of Art Opening, Renaissance Park Opening
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
First Street comes to life with public art, the incline and pedestrian bridge open. All areas will feature music, dance and working artists. The Hunter Museum of American Art opens their $20 million expansion with a special exhibition of Georgia O’Keefe. Renaissance Park will open with a dedication by local officials and outdoor enthusiasts.
Friday, April 29: Tennessee Aquarium’s Ocean Journey Opening, Lunch at the Landing
8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Tennessee Aquarium opens its new 60,000 square foot building, Ocean Journey, featuring an amazing coral reef exhibit. A morning parade, Caribbean bands, Samba musicians and puppets will animate the entire Aquarium complex. Lunch at the Landing will encourage casual dining on the Chattanooga Green and will feature music and food vendors.
Saturday, April 30: The Chattanooga Pier Opening
6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
The Chattanooga Pier, dominated by seven, 40-foot tall masterpieces of light by artist Jamie Carpenter, will be inaugurated in the evening with an all-star swing band, dance, antique wooden boats and a movie shown under the Olgiati Bridge.
May 2005
Sunday, May 1: Tour of Downtown Living and Public Art
1 to 6 p.m.
The Tour of Downtown Living and Public Art will allow citizens to enjoy organized tours of waterfront and other downtown living quarters and all the magnificent public art in downtown Chattanooga.
Saturday, May 7: Three State/Three Mountain Race
Saturday and Sunday, May 7 and 8: Four Bridges Art Festival
Art lovers will flock to the Four Bridges Art Festival at the First Tennessee Pavilion and then ride shuttles to the river to stroll through the parks and enjoy the public art.
Friday May 13: Passage Commemoration
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
This celebration of art, culture and the history of Native Americans in our area will introduce team Gadugi. This group of five Cherokee artists has come together to design and create art to symbolically recreate centuries of Native American influence.
During this day, children and families will enjoy Native American art, sports and culture. Artists, craftspeople and performers will provide demonstrations. As the sun sets, Challenger, an American bald eagle, will fly over Ross’s Landing from the Market Street Bridge to his handler on the Chattanooga Pier; a 25-voice Cherokee choir from Oklahoma will perform and then be joined by a 500-voice choir of Chattanoogans. Musicians, storytellers and dancers will perform on stage. Cherokee Chiefs Smith and Hicks will bring fire from a giant signal fire at Renaissance Park to large torches on the south side, symbolically returning to the East. Gail Ross, great-great-great granddaughter of Chief John Ross will narrate the tale of the Little Water Spider as fires burn late into the night.
Friday & Saturday May 13 & 14: Lookouts home Game (7:15pm, 7:15pm, 2:15pm)
Saturday, May 14: Grand Finale
10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
This final celebration will begin with the art and beauty of Tai Chi performed by hundreds of people at Ross’s Landing. Scavenger hunts, hot air balloons, kite club demonstrations and performances by Allied Arts groups will entertain participants. At 2 p.m. Project Bandaloop, an internationally acclaimed team will dance on the outside of the steel of the Market Street Bridge accompanied by local hammered dulcimer artist Dan Landrum. As sunset approaches, the river comes alive with a performance orchestrated by Steven Koplowitz. A CSO performance of water and river music—led by guest conductor Lucas Richman, Music Director of the Knoxville Symphony—highlights the evening. Project Bandaloop will join the CSO – the group will once again dance on the dramatically lit Market Street Bridge. The evening ends with a laser and fireworks show.