MAINx24 -- Live Music & Local Flavors, Community Events, Art & Openings
The Southside's movement of revival, civic passion, and creativity continues to gain momentum among residents, business owners, artists, and community leaders. Join us on December 8th for MAINx24 and celebrate your neighborhood spirit with a full day of live music, local flavors, community events, arts and openings! From 8 am to 12 midnight, from Fort Negley to Cowart Place: we are part of and proud of the Southside!
Live Music and Local Flavors
Get a taste of what Main Street has to offer! Along with fresh coffee, breads and pastries, Niedlov’s Breadworks will feature live acoustic music from 10 am to 4 pm. Main and Mocha will host experimental, blues, and folk musicians from 11 am to 9 pm. Blue Orleans will serve classic Creole cuisine and live music by Gypsy Muse (5 to 7:30 pm) and "A Jazzy Christmas" by Wanda Chubbs (8 and 10 pm). Throughout the day enjoy vibrant tastes and diverse sounds from the Lofts on Main, OCI Office Furniture, and the Jefferson Heights and Fort Negley neighborhood parks. Come back for a fantastic evening of live music and cocktail parties at the CreateHere Studios with DJ k:7 (7:30 to 9:30 pm) and the Coptix Christmas Party 2K7 at the Loose Cannon Gallery with the MaleMen Band featuring Constance (10 pm to 3 am, 18+). See the complete MAINx24 music schedule for more details!
Southside Holiday Parade
The highlight event of MAINx24 will be the neighborhood’s annual Southside Holiday Parade. Follow the parade from its kickoff at 11:00 am in front of Battle Academy through the Southside's colorful neighborhoods. The Howard High School Marching Band will lead the procession, which features the Howard Middle School cheerleaders, Santa and Mrs. Claus, motorcades, a fire truck, antique cars, friends, businesses, scooters and more. The parade’s last stop will be at the Jefferson Heights Park for a neighborhood party with live music by Chattanooga’s Ogya Band, hot chili, games and a $250 “Holiday Spirit” prize awarded to the parade’s most creative float/bike/go-cart/costume!
Community Events
MAINx24’s schedule includes a host of activities for the whole family throughout the day! Before the Holiday Parade begins, enjoy free horse and carriage rides with holiday music and storytelling in Historic Southside from 8 to 10 am, starting at Main and Market Street. At 10 am visit the corner of Williams and 18th Street for the Southside Community Tree Blessing, celebrating the newly planted Yoshino Cherry trees. Be sure to stop by between 10 and 11 am to see the unveiling of Main Street’s newest mural by artist Shaun LaRose and hear storyteller Jim Pfitzer narrate the mural’s expression of Southside, plus a few commemorative words from Councilman Leamon Pierce. Beginning at noon, bring the kids to drink hot cocoa and have photos taken with Santa at the Clark Center near Main and Market ($10 for photos). Fort Negley Park is sponsoring a neighborhood party with live music and hot dogs between 3 and 6 pm. The Chattanooga Holiday Market will take place all weekend at the First Tennessee Pavilion, featuring art and holiday vendors, live music, and coffee.
MAINx24 highlights the Southside’s bike-friendly environment. At noon Jim Pfitzer will lead a historic bike ride sponsored by Outdoor Chattanooga. Green|spaces and Outdoor Chattanooga will host a GreenSpokes Scavenger Hunt beginning at 2 pm from the red John Henry sculpture on Main Street (BYOBike). Outdoor Chattanooga Inc. will also guide a Holiday Lights ride beginning at 6 pm from Fort Negley Park.
Art and Openings
MAINx24’s events also include art installations and openings throughout the day. Tanner Hill Gallery on Broad Street is hosting the 8th annual Art & Authors Sale and Signing from 12 to 9:30 pm. Visit CreateHere’s Studio on East Main Street between 11 am and 7 pm to see 50+ original installations by students from UTC’s Art Department. At noon the Thomas Mann Gallery on Rossville Avenue is opening “Raw Space,” an exhibit of sculpture, jewelry, and unique gifts, with a reception from 6 to 10 pm. Between 1 and 3 pm the Hollis Gallery will exhibit Katie Ward Knutson’s “Metro Series,” with an After-Parade and Art Opening party. CreateHere is celebrating the opening of their office/gallery/meeting space at 55 East Main with a cocktail party and an eclectic mix of chilled instrumental electro-soul, downtempo, and nu-jazz by DJ k:7 between 7:30 and 9:30 pm. Cap off a great evening with the Coptix Christmas Party 2K7 from 10 pm to 3 am at the Loose Cannon Gallery, co-sponsored by St. Johns Restaurant & Big River Grille & Brew Works. With dancing, drinks (gratis), and live rhythm & blues, reggae, and Motown by The MaleMen Band featuring Constance, this will be a night to remember! (atmosphere: groove::moxie, 18+)
Momentum for MAINx24 is building, and your enthusiasm is contagious. Please forward this email to your neighbors, colleagues, and friends and invite them to experience the spirit of the Southside on December 8th!
Parking is available all day at 401 East Main Street thanks to Architectural Surfaces. A big thanks goes out to the local artists and J and J Productions for lining up such a great day of music! A current schedule with event details and more information is available on www.mainx24.com. Questions? Check out www.createhere.org, email us at info@createhere.org, or call us at 423.304.7603.
Sarah Lester
CreateHere
sarah@createhere.org