July 10–12in & around the Chattanooga metro area

The world's best-known all-female Iron Maiden tribute brings the full theatrical metal show to the Signal, with a School of Rock opener to warm the room up. Loud, fun, and a little tongue-in-cheek -- exactly the kind of Thursday night that starts a weekend early.

Nightfall is the free downtown summer concert that Chattanooga plans its Fridays around, and this week the main stage goes to the winner of the Road to Nightfall showcase -- a local act getting its biggest crowd yet. Bring a chair, grab something from the food vendors, and settle in on the plaza.

A whole field of food trucks on the riverfront, running flavors from all over the map. Come hungry, come with a group, and make an afternoon of grazing your way down the line with the river right there.

Live music on the water out at Chester Frost, the kind of easy lakeside evening that's built for a blanket and a cooler. A little farther out of town, and worth the short drive for the setting.

The Chattanooga Market's peach weekend is one of the sweetest on its calendar -- local growers, peach everything, live music, and the usual deep bench of makers and food vendors under the pavilion. The signature summer market to close the weekend on.