MainX24 = 120 events, in 24 hours, creating countless good times
Chattanooga's Southside is throwing a party...and you’re invited! Now in its 10th year, the 24-hours of fun that is MAINx24 begins this Saturday, so mark your calendar and start making your plans now.
This eagerly anticipated annual event has continued to spread further throughout the Southside and grown from 30-40 events back in 2007 to now over 120. “We have seen massive organic growth over the past ten years both in terms of businesses, organizations and individuals participating, and patrons attending” says Cat Collier Martinez, Event Schedule Coordinator.
This organic growth may well be contributed to the distinct set of values the Southside has developed where generosity and a true collaborative nature stand out. No other event showcases these better than MAINx24. Southside friends, neighbors and merchants come together to put MAINx24 together each year as a way to draw awareness to the revitalization and total transformation of this once rundown part of Chattanooga.
The event was born out of a desire to make Chattanooga a “24-hour city” to be enjoyed both day and night, and this years’ MAINx24 organizers (Adam and Monica Kinsey, Fernando Martinez, Cat Collier Martinez, Kelly Allen, Amy Andrews, Michael Walker, Katie Smith, Philip and Lindsey Meyer) uphold these same goals. If you’ve never been to this blowout block party, you’ve been missing out.
The variety of events is as diverse as the businesses and people of Southside. Most events are free or benefit local non-profit organizations, so grab your friends, round up the family, bundle up the kids, and leash up the fur babies because no one will want to miss out on the merriment. The only question you should have is where to start. And that’s easy: the MAINx24 Pancake Breakfast hosted by Buddy Shirk, of course! This fund raiser supports The Forgotten Child Fund so head down to Fire Hall #1 at 218 E. Main St. beginning at 8 a.m. for the official event kick-off and $5 will get you all-you-can eat pancakes and a drink.
If pancakes aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other tasty ways to start your day. Niedlov’s will be serving their famous lard fried doughnuts (their spelling, not mine) from 8-10 a.m., Conga Latin Food will open early (9 a.m.) serving up breakfast burritos and Latin-style breakfast dishes, or head to The Terminal Brewhouse at 9 a.m. and grab a balanced breakfast before starting your marathon day of events.
Once you’re fueled, be ready to hit the ground running. “I feel like now, if you don’t make a plan, you end up missing something!” said Katie Smith, Kids Events Organizer for MAINx24. With two kids of her own (ages 7 and 4), she says they make a plan for the day ahead of time to be sure to hit the kids’ events. First stop: the annual Holiday Parade.
A staple of MAINx24 since its inception, Katie says the parade is the best one in Chattanooga. It starts promptly at 10:30 a.m. and features a “Mutt Strut” as well. Local shelters will be bringing their adoptable mutts to strut their stuff and volunteers even pitch in to make holiday costumes for the pups, ensuring they are absolutely irresistible. If one tugs at your heartstrings, you can visit “Muttville” in the Battle Academy parking lot after the parade to give one a home in time for the holidays. Or take your own fur babies over for pet photos with Santa.
If you’re thinking “been there, seen that”, think again. This years’ parade includes a little surprise. A wedding. Yes, that’s right, a real live, in real time, wedding. Jennifer Rudd and fiancé Brandon Tidwell love MAINx24 so much they decided to get married in the parade.
According to Jennifer, they are considering either building a float to get married on, using one of the carriages for their nuptials, or even partnering with the art bikes for something funky. Show up and find out what this unconventional couple comes up with because you won’t be able to catch this action next year!
Following the parade, you can keep that smile on your children’s faces by heading over to H*Art Gallery and/or Inspire Chiropractic for face painting. Then be sure to stop by Main Line Ink where the Chattanooga Roller Girls will have a booth set up to help kids build their own snowman ornament.
For the shoppers, there will be holiday sales and open houses galore at many unique Southside boutiques like Merchants on Main, Cotton and Twine, Uncommon Deux and Chattanooga Woodworking Academy. Plus, pop-up shops you won’t want to miss!
And if the idea of holiday shopping already has you stressed out, there will be plenty of alcohol to help you cope with that. Head over to Cycle Sport where local brewery Hutton & Smith will be pouring their delicious beer and you can play some old-school Nintendo games on the big screen while you wait. That starts at 11 a.m. (no judgments here, I did mention this was a party!) Or head to Feed Co. Table & Tavern and watch some college football if that’s more your style.
As for lunch plans, you won’t want to miss the World Heavyweight Chili Championship. Now in its 8th year, this mainstay event of MAINx24 has teams compete for the coveted World Heavyweight Chili Championship Belt. We patrons can participate in the best way possible: sampling! Teams will serve their chili from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with $2 beers and a $5 Bloody Mary bar as the perfect accompaniment.
This annual event is sponsored by green|spaces, one of the first businesses to open on the Southside back in 2007. “We’ve enjoyed watching the area grow!” says Dawn Hjelseth, Director of Development for the non-profit. “A lot of the success started with events like MAINx24 drawing people to the Southside” she added. The goal this year is 30 chili teams and they hope to raise $10,000 to support the work of green|spaces.
Newer businesses on the Southside such as Peace.Strength.Yoga are equally excited to host unique events to attract people. Swing by the studio around Noon for Barre + Brunch. That’s right, you’ll have to work for that pastry and fruit, but the event is free, and beginners are welcome, so no excuses. Owner Kaylee Frano says the goal of the event is on building the community and showing people what they have to offer.
If neither championship chili nor brunch is for you, the adventurous eaters can head over to Bluegrass Grill for the International Food Market. Community members will be sharing unique, and perhaps unfamiliar, foods so drop by and sample snacks from around the world (all priced under $2 per portion). This year will include dishes from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Philippines, South Africa and more.
Once that food coma wears off, get ready for some action. Whether you’re daring yourself, or just prefer to spectate, there will be something to put a smile on everyone’s face. Maybe you grab your frenemies and head over to Velo Coffee Roasters for Sumo Wrestling—complete with music, wigs and a squishy pit. Or join forces with friends to take part in the Clearstory Scavenger Hunt from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., then flex your muscles and get competitive with the bicycle frame toss at Cycle Sport.
But nothing draws in the big kids more than the Adult Big Wheel Race! If you aren’t on a team, it’s still worth walking over to cheer at this event held in the Choo Choo Gardens. Co-ed teams of four will navigate a course filled with twists, turns and obstacles, in what promises to be the most challenging and exciting race course yet. The proceeds support the Children’s Advocacy Center and the event is sponsored by ASA Engineering and Consulting, and Yazoo Brewery.
Keep the adult party going well into the wee hours of the morning by joining the dance party at The Granfalloon, or heading over to Mean Mug Coffeehouse for a Silent Disco. Another favorite is the MAINx24 Jingle Ball II which will be held at the Revelry Room from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a “Hillbilly” theme this year and plenty of live music. Blue Orleans hosts a Mardi Gras party, there’s a Prohibition Party at Regan’s place, or the Crash Pad invites you to get funky and put on your boogie shoes.
With so many options, 24 hours won’t seem like enough. If you’ve had enough music and dancing for the time being, head to the Comedy Catch and see Gary Conrad’s adult hypnotist show—just don’t volunteer or you may end up dancing all over again!
Suffice it to say, the Southside is the place to be on December 3. The full list of events can be found at mainx24.com and printed copies will be available at various Main St. businesses.
Organizer Katie Smith said her family looks forward to this day more than any other event in Chattanooga. “I have no doubt that if this is your first year to attend, you will make it a point to come back from here on out!” she said.
This community of neighbors and merchants knows how to throw a party and all they need is for you to show up and be ready to taste, see, play, listen, shop, relax and enjoy the Southside.