Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Chattanooga this week: we found 22 free outings, including Hamilton YMCA Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat, River Market and Chattanooga Market: Bluegrass Sunday, plus 19 library programs. Five free days and events are coming up, including two museum or zoo free days, each with its date. And two places never charge admission, like Downtown Library and Coolidge Park.
This week
Every free outing on this week’s Chattanooga list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.
Eastgate Library · 5705 Marlin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Jump, wiggle, dance and jiggle: a Monday morning music class for ages 0 to 5 and their grown-ups.
Downtown Library · 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Bouncy rhymes, songs and a story for babies up to 18 months.
Downtown Library · 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Songs, stories and movement for toddlers 18 to 36 months.
Downtown Library · 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
A Tuesday morning toddler storytime downtown.
Eastgate Library · 5705 Marlin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Rhymes, bounces and a short story for babies up to 18 months.
Northgate Library · 278 Northgate Mall Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Stories, songs and activities for ages 3 to 5. Also at 11am.
Downtown Library · 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
A noon baby bounce for babies up to 18 months.
Northgate Library · 278 Northgate Mall Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Songs, stories and movement for toddlers 18 to 36 months. Also at 11am.
Downtown Library · 1001 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
A Wednesday storytime for ages 3 to 5.
Eastgate Library · 5705 Marlin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
A toddler storytime for 18 to 36 months.
South Chattanooga Library · 925 West 39th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37410
Storytime outside for kids 0 to 5. Dress for the weather.
Eastgate Library · 5705 Marlin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Stories and songs for kids 0 to 5 and their caregivers.
Northgate Library · 278 Northgate Mall Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Rhymes and bounces for babies up to 18 months. Also at 11am.
South Chattanooga Library · 925 West 39th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37410
A Thursday family storytime for ages 0 to 5.
South Chattanooga Library · 925 West 39th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37410
Open play for kids 0 to 5 while grown-ups get to know each other.
Eastgate Library · 5705 Marlin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Friday stories with simple yoga poses for ages 2 to 7.
Hamilton Family YMCA · 7430 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421
A free family fall festival with trunk or treat, food trucks, inflatables, face painting and a fall market. Open to members and non-members.
Eastgate Library · 5705 Marlin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Sing, move and listen to stories on Saturday morning, for ages 0 to 6.
Northgate Library · 278 Northgate Mall Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Northgate’s monthly Saturday family program with a mix of activities for all ages.
Tennessee Aquarium Plaza · 1 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN 37402
The Saturday riverfront market by the aquarium: local makers, a food truck (Smash Boyz) and live music from Hiwassee Bend. Free to browse.
South Chattanooga Library · 925 West 39th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37410
A Saturday storytime with stories and songs for kids 0 to 5.
First Horizon Pavilion · 1801 Reggie White Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37408
The big Sunday market with produce, local eats and makers, plus two free sets from the Redbud Bluegrass Band on the Sunday Funday Stage. Free admission; pay lot parking.
Nothing free on this day yet. Try an always-free place.
Mark the calendar
Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.
Coolidge Park · Chattanooga, TN
4–8 p.m. (parade 7, fireworks 8)
Coolidge Park (new location for 2026) · Chattanooga, TN
4–8 p.m.; Santa photos 4:30–7:30; reindeer 4–6:30; boat parade 7; fireworks 8. Free Santa pictures, live reindeer, lighted boat parade.
Campbell's Christmas Tree Farm · 7503 Walnut Hills Dr, Harrison, TN 37341
Fri 2–6pm; Sat 10am–6pm. A small family choose-and-cut farm with free hot chocolate, a fire and a big Santa's sleigh for photos. It's open Fridays and Saturdays through Dec 12 or until the trees sell out.
Tennessee Aquarium · Riverfront, downtown
Bring the EBT card and a matching photo ID to the ticketing center on the Aquarium plaza.
Chattanooga Zoo · Warner Park
Show the EBT card at the ticket booth. Not valid for special events.
Any day
Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.
Every week
Baby, toddler and preschool storytimes at the Downtown Library and branches around the city.
Weekly at 4 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings
Keep planning
Indoor play in ChattanoogaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with prices
Thanksgiving weekend in ChattanoogaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in ChattanoogaKid-friendly countdowns, home by napThis week in ChattanoogaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
This week we found 22 free outings for ages 0–6, including Hamilton YMCA Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat, River Market, Chattanooga Market: Bluegrass Sunday and Music & Movement (Eastgate). See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.
Museums for All at the Tennessee Aquarium: Any open day ($5 per ticket for the SNAP EBT cardholder and up to three guests; kids 3 and under free). Museums for All at the Chattanooga Zoo: Any open day ($5 adults and $2 kids 3–12 with a SNAP EBT card (up to four tickets per card); 2 and under free). Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.
Reindeer on the Riverfront & Lighted Boat Parade, Reindeer on the Riverfront and Santa at Campbell's Christmas Tree Farm are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.
Downtown Library and Coolidge Park don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.
Yes: Downtown Library. See all of them on indoor play places in Chattanooga.
Yes. Chattanooga Public Library runs free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.
Littles Weekly
One short email every Friday morning with the best things to do with little ones in Chattanooga that weekend, free ones flagged.
