The 16th annual MAINx24 parade and street festival took place on the Southside on Saturday - despite rain and a bomb scare. The Forgotten Child Fund was back with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. at Firehall #1 where they collected donations of new coats and toys.
Look for donut holes at Niedlov’s Bakery, breakfast burritos at Conga, and bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits from Main Street Meats (opens at 9 a.m.). Swing by Smile Studio Orthodontics to take advantage of the waffle bar.
The 24-hour-long festival continued with the MAINx24 EPB Southside Parade on Main Street. The parade is Chattanooga’s biggest parade, sponsored by EPB for 16 years.
All day long you’ll find crafts, sales, shopping, music in the air, and the wonderful aromas of Chattanooga food. Events include local shops offering discounts and door prizes, restaurants offering special menus, artisans in action, poetry, caroling, music, dancing, food and fun for all ages - all in celebration of Main Street and the surrounding Southside.
Thanks to a sponsorship and volunteers from Volkswagen Chattanooga, crossing guards will be located on Main Street at several intersections to increase safety and slow traffic following the parade. Volkswagen employees will assist pedestrians at the crosswalks. Festival-goers are encouraged to obey traffic laws and look for volunteers wearing yellow safety vests and cross Main Street at designated crosswalks.
Favorite events that are back again this year:
MAINx24 EPB Southside Parade, Main Street, 10:30 a.m. is the highlight of MAINx24. View the parade on Main Street starting at the Corner of Main and Jefferson Street and traveling west on Main Street to Broad Street.
The World Heavyweight Chili Championship hosted by green|spaces is at 326 E Main St. at 11:30 a.m.
The Adult Big Wheel Race takes place at 12 p.m. benefiting SoundCorps in a new location - the parking lot of Architectural Surfaces, and the SoundCorps stage will have live music from 12-6 p.m.
Hi-Fi Clyde’s will host an all-day block party from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. with drink specials, family-friendly live music until 7 p.m., a live viewing of the SEC Championship and a headlining band starting at 9 p.m.
The Chattery will return with their $5 Champagne Pop-up at 1800 Rossville Ave.
New this year, Chattanooga Printing & Design will host a 60-minute community yoga class to benefit the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. Play Wash Pint will offer all-day passes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to let your dog run and play while you enjoy the other events. A pass allows people to come and go as they please throughout the day. New customers should check the vet and paperwork requirements in advance.
Wanderlinger Brewing Company will bring Scottish Highlands-inspired beer games to Mainx24. From 2-5 p.m., attendees can participate in a keg toss, beer stein hold, sack race, and a one-mile beer run with a $100 prize for the winner.
Fountainhead Taproom will have live music from the Tim Hughes Jazz Quartet from 5-7 p.m. An all-ages comedy show with MUTZIE will happen from 5-6:30 p.m. at The Comedy Catch.
Connect with MainX24 on Facebook to keep up with all the events happening throughout the day, including dozens of kid-friendly activities like face painting and decorating letters to Santa, as well as discounts and door prizes at shops up and down Main Street. Visit Mainx24.com for the full schedule.