Enjoy Autumn in Chattanooga with the following events happening through Monday, Oct. 30:
“Connecting the Dots: The Working Sessions” will meet for two days: Tuesday, Oct. 24, and Thursday, Oct. 26, at the United Way offices at 630 Market Street. These sessions are a follow-up to last April’s “Connecting The Dots” arts summit which brought together artists, arts administrators, educators, business and religious leaders to brainstorm on new ways to use the arts to promote education and literacy in the community. The public is invited to participate. Attendance is free, but registration is required. To register, please call the United Way at 752-0300.
Join the dancers from Chattanooga Dance Sport and swing to the music of Sweet Georgia Sound at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Band Gala on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Hunter Museum of American Art. Come out from 7:30-10:30 p.m. and enjoy an evening of dancing, hor d’oeuvres, and the classical sounds of harpist Laura Elder. For more information please visit www.BigBandGala.com.
Celebrate Halloween at the Tennessee Aquarium’s Phantom of the Aqua Halloween Party this Friday, Oct. 27, from 7-10 p.m. Come in costume and experience Halloween in two steamy, watery buildings full of the denizens of the deep, like bizarre seahorses, squirming octopus and menacing toothy sharks. Watch for costumed divers, trick or treat for goodies, win treasures as you play games and listen to eerie tales in the Delta swamp. Encounter scales and tails at the animal encounter and dare to touch the unknown. Catch a glimpse of a ghostly galleon but beware of Caribbean pirates who may make you walk the plank. Take the Wendy’s Challenge and support their adopt-a-child charity with a donation. For a special treat, enjoy a slice of Lupi’s pizza and a soft drink, compliments of Coca-Cola. All children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Ticket prices for Aquarium members are $6 for children and $8 for adults. Ticket prices for non-members are $12 for children and $16 for adults. To register for this event, please call 267-3474 or visit www.tnaqua.org.
Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga presents Artini Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 7-11 p.m. at John Henry Studios, located at 1100 E. 16th St. Local art from the SEED Artist Collective will be featured throughout the evening. A live performance by Zombie Army begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $11 each. Valet parking will be available. Tickets are limited; please R.S.V.P. online at www.artinichatt.org .
Tickets are now on sale for the Regional History Museum’s Chattanooga History Makers Luncheon, which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Silver Ballroom of the Sheraton Read House. The 2006 Chattanooga History Makers awards will honor three individuals who have, in their own ways, helped make history here in Chattanooga. These three people are Ruth Holmberg for her work in arts, business & education, Dalton Roberts for his hard work in public service and the Reverend Paul McDaniels for his work in civil rights. Tickets are on sale for $500 for a corporate/group table for eight, and $45 for individual seats. All proceeds will benefit the exhibits and educational programming of the Regional History Museum. For more detail, call the Museum at 265-3247.
You can cast about for some fishy fun for all ages when the Tennessee Aquarium’s Plaza comes alive with fly tying and fly casting lessons on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through the combined efforts of Tennessee’s Trout Unlimited, The Reel Divas, and The Tennessee Brookies, this fly fishing event will be held to raise funds for Casting for Recovery, an organization that hosts fly fishing retreats specifically designed for women who have, or have had breast cancer. For more information on this event, please visit www.castingforrecovery.org.
Don’t miss Normal-Palooza, presented by Hunt Nissan, this Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. at Normal Park Museum Magnet. Normal-Palooza is a family-friendly art and music festival that offers an eclectic line-up of live music and dance, as well as an art market offering more than 50 booths with specialty items and handcrafted wares. General admission is free, though there is a $5 charge per child for admission to the Kids Corner activity area. All proceeds from Normal-Palooza will benefit Normal Park Museum Magnet. For more information, please visit www.NormalParkMuseumMagnet.com.
A benefit concert will be held at Midtown Music Hall on Sunday, Oct. 29. The evening will open with a performance by the Sterchi Brothers from 4-5 p.m. followed by the Forrester Sisters from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Overland Express will close out the day from 7-8 p.m. A gift certificate auction will take place between 5- 5:30 p.m. and the cover charge at the door will be $10. For more information, visit www.midtownmusichall.com .