Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga will host the 27th annual Autumn Children’s Festival this weekend. It will be held Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. at the Tennessee Riverpark, 4301 Amnicola Hwy.
Ronald McDonald House Charities is a nonprofit organization providing a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill or injured children and support programs that improve the health, education and well-being of children.
Admission and parking is free.
There will be a Ronald McDonald meet and greet on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
The festival attracts over 3,000 attendees over two days for food, activities, crafts and games for all ages, including: Star Wars characters, princesses, superheroes, inflatables, a petting zoo, Ronald McDonald Meet and Greet, face painting, horse rides, carnival games with prizes, arts and crafts, as well as health, wellness, and educational programs. New this year will be a 33-foot Titanic and Elmo inflatable, hayrides, kiddie train and bungee run. Activities range from 50 cents to $3.
The Autumn Children’s Festival is the longest and largest running children’s festival in the area, and is made possible by their partnership with the Tennessee Society of CPAs and several local sponsors. The event generates around $65,000 for the Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House Charities each year.
The purpose of the festival is to raise money to help keep families close at the Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room located on the third floor of Erlanger Hospital.