MAINx24, Chattanooga’s biggest and only 24-hour block party, will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, along the Main Street corridor of Chattanooga’s Southside. In its sixth year, MAINx24 has grown from 34 events centered around the intersection of Main Street and Rossville Avenue in its first year to now including more than 115 and now spans from the Sculpture Fields behind the Mill down to the soon to be completed Main Terrain park.
The festivities will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast at the Main Street Fire Hall. Saturday’s lineup will include many popular favorites such as the EPB Southside Parade, the Mutt Strutt, the DeMoss Capital Chili Cook-Off, Fashion Show, Busking Competition, and the Main Event at Track29 featuring the Dirty Guv’nahs. Several new events such as the Stroller Strut and Adult Big Wheel Race, prove that there really is something for everyone at MAINx24.
Most of the events are free and many are benefiting over 10 local non-profit organizations making MAINx24 a great way for many more great causes within Chattanooga receive the support and funding they need to be successful.
“No one could have imagined how the community has embraced this and turned it into a truly iconic event that actually reaches out and makes an impact in Chattanooga far beyond the Southside. The only way to understand that is to attend,” said David Hudson, who along with Ken Hays and Amanda Carmichael, co-chair MAINx24.
Many Southside businesses are planning special interactive events ranging from fun contests and art-making to holiday open houses and a pie tasting. Music and food will be offered throughout the festival site as well.
“There’s actually a music festival building during MAINX24,” said Ms. Carmichael. “There are many local and regional musicians who will be playing during various events and at locations such as the Camphouse, Chattanooga Folk School, the CraftWorks building, outdoor venues, and of course at Track29.”
The 24-hour event goes through the night with an after party at the Folk School lasting until 6 a.m. and concludes with a finale breakfast and yoga class on Sunday morning.
MAINx24 was founded by CreateHere in 2006 to showcase what a 24-hour city Chattanooga could be and to bring their Southside neighbors together with a celebration of the area’s residents, stores, and businesses.
Mr. Hays credits the all-volunteer team with the festival’s successful growth. “Mainx24 is a neighborhood festival where hundreds of folks all come together, proving once again that working together works.”
The event is also made possible by many generous sponsors including: Chattanooga Times Free Press, Talk Radio 102.3, CraftWorks, Miller Martin, Thompson Engineering, Ragan Smith, Koch Foods, Artech, Kinsey Probasco Hays, and Mace Carmichael.
MAINx24 will be held on Dec. 1, with the first event starting at 8:30 am. The event will last a full 24 hours with the final event ending Dec. 2, at 9 a.m. To see the full lineup and get a schedule of events with locations visit mainx24.com.
For more information, on Twitter: @mainx24, #mainx24, and Facebook: fb.com/mainx24.