LEISURE

AUCTION -- Red Bank Community Pavilion near pool, 602 Morrison Springs Road. Red Bank Gators swim team fundraiser includes gift certificates for attractions, restaurants, party packages, summer camps, whitewater trips, teeth whitening, sports physicals and oil changes, 5:30 p.m. Saturday. 877-5959.

BUTTERFLY COUNT -- Intersection of Highways 136 and 193 in Chattanooga Valley. Tenth annual Lookout Mountain, Ga., count is part of national census by Tennessee Valley Chapter of North American Butterfly Association, 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Meet on South Broad Street in parking lot next to Krystal restaurant. Novices welcome. $3. 332-7394 or 842-1163.

CHATTANOOGA GHOST TOURS -- From Walnut Street Bridge (downtown end) to Sheraton Read House. Several stops along the way for ghost stories and place histories, 8:15 p.m. each Friday and Saturday (other times by arrangement). $13 adults, $8 children under 12. Reservations recommended: 821-7125. www.chattanoogaghosttours.com.

CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS -- AT&T Field, 201 Power Alley off Chestnut St. Next home series vs. Carolina Mudcats. $2-$8. 267-4849.

* Sunday: 5:15 p.m.

* Monday: 7:15 p.m. (Kids eat free; National Park Night)

* Tuesday: 7:15 p.m. (buy one, get one free admission with Bi-Lo Bonus Card or Kraft Singles wrapper)

* Wednesday: 11:15 a.m.

* Thursday: 7:15 p.m. ($1,000 Thursday)

* July 3: 6:15 p.m. (fireworks)

CHATTANOOGA MARKET -- First Tennessee Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. Showcase of home-grown produce and handmade arts and crafts, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each Sunday. This week: In-Town Gallery ArtFest. Monthly cooking classes, every third Sunday, are $15 and require reservations; www.cookinglive.net. Free children's activities. Free admission and parking. Free concerts on EPB Stage: 12:30 p.m. Centralia Massacre; 2 p.m. Sara Jean Kelley. 648-2496, www.ChattanoogaMarket.com.

DELTA QUEEN -- Coolidge Park. Historic, 1920s-era steamboat permanently docked as a floating hotel and lounge. Access is via Fat Cat Ferry/Chattanooga Water Taxi from Ross's Landing or by foot from Coolidge Park. $8 adults, $4 children 6-12 (includes optional ferry ride). 468-4500, www.DeltaQueenHotel.com.

* Evening music in Texas Lounge: Delta Queen Duo performs, today, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Terry Coggins, Sunday. Kathy Tugman and David Walters, Monday. $5 admission redeemable for $5 credit toward onboard purchase.

* Guided tours: 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday starting at Forward Cabin Lounge. $8 adults, $4 children 12 and younger.

* Learning program: River historian Bill Wiemuth leads "The Life and Times of the Delta Queen," 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Orleans Showroom. $5 admission redeemable for $5 credit toward onboard purchase.

* Magic: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday in Forward Cabin Lounge. Features Steamboat Bill, riverboat gambler magician. $5 admission redeemable for $5 credit toward onboard purchase.

* Mainstage show: "Delta Queen: A Musical Journey," 8 p.m. Saturday in the Orleans Showroom. Dinner (at 6:30 p.m.) and show, $35. Show only, $15. Reservations required.

* Poker tournaments: Texas Hold 'Em prize poker tournaments, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays; registration at 6 p.m. Limited to first 30 registrants 21 or older. Tournament is free, but steamboat admission is $5, redeemable for $5 credit toward onboard purchase.

DOWNTOWN ARROW -- Tennessee Valley Railroad's Grand Junction Station, 4119 Cromwell Road, and Chattanooga Choo-Choo, 1400 Market St. July 4 and other Saturdays through Sept. 5. $20 adults, $15 children.

* Depart Grand Junction, 11:10 a.m.; arrive at Choo-Choo, 12:10 p.m.; three-hour-and-15-minute layover; depart Choo-Choo, 3:35 p.m.; arrive at Grand Junction, 4:25 p.m.

* Depart Choo-Choo, 12:20 p.m.; arrive at Grand Junction, 1:10 p.m., one hour layover; depart Grand Junction, 2:20 p.m.; arrive at Choo-Choo, 3:20 p.m.

FAMILY DAY -- Clark Creek Church of Christ, 5612 Hixson Pike. Day of old-fashioned food and fun raises funds for Soddy-Daisy High School Band's 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade trip, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission; nominal charge for children's games, $5 armband for all-day play in wet and dry inflatables. 877-6232.

FIRST AMENDMENT DINNER -- Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace. Chattanooga Times Free Press Publisher and Executive Editor Tom Griscom talks about free speech, 6:30 p.m. July 7. Free for veterans and $10 for nonveterans who RSVP by July 3; all pay $12 after July 3. 493-0270.

KAYAK EXCURSIONS -- Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. at Coolidge Park. Guided paddling trips to see downtown sites, 9:30 a.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Aug. 15 (no trip July 4). $35 adults/$25 kids ages 8-13. Reservations required. 643-6889. ruth@outdoorchattanooga.com.

KITTEN AND PUPPY SHOWER -- McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center, 4500 N. Access Road. Event collects donations such as wet cat and dog food, toys, beds and paper towels to care for new arrivals, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Light refreshments. Donations also accepted 11 a.m.-7 p.m. today and Saturday, 1-7 p.m. Sunday. Complete wish list at www.mckameyanimalcenter.org. 305-6500.

MAINSTREET CRUISE-IN -- Inman Street at Bradley County Courthouse, Cleveland, Tenn. MainStreet Cruisers Car Club showcases classic cars and special-interest vehicles, 3-9 p.m. Saturday. Features dance routine by Walker Valley High School Mustang dance team, 3 p.m.; music by The Denham Brothers, 5 p.m.; swap meet, with free spaces first-come, first-served. Club contact: Joe Sharp, 423-559-0836. MainStreet information: 423-479-1000, www.mainstreetcleveland.com.

NATIONAL PRESERVE ACTIVITIES -- Little River Canyon, 2141 Gault Ave. N., Fort Payne, Ala. 256-845-9605. Hike focusing on life around Little River Falls and Edna Hill community, 10 a.m. CDT Saturday. Meet at backcountry parking lot on DeKalb County Road 295, just past old Edna Hill Church. Bring water, good hiking shoes, field guidebooks and snack. Free. 256-845-9605.

NATURE OUTINGS, PROGRAMS -- South Cumberland State Park, three miles from I-24 Exit 134 (Monteagle) on Highway 41. 931-924-2980. All times Central. www.friendsofscsra.org.

Saturday

* Meet at Greeter Falls parking area for difficult, 1.5-mile hike to see waterfalls, 2 p.m.

Sunday

* Meet at Savage Gulf Ranger Station for slide show on Savage Gulf/Stone Door area, 3 p.m.

July 3

* Meet at Stone Door Ranger Station for easy, 2-mile hike to learn about the Cumberland Plateau, 8 a.m.

n Meet at Grundy Lakes beach for guided canoe tour of lake, 6 p.m. Safety jackets supplied. No experience necessary. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS

* Dunlap, Tenn. Parade at 10 a.m. CDT July 4 includes U.S. Air Force flyover; float theme is "From Every Mountainside, Let Freedom Ring."

* LaFayette, Ga. Freedom Festival, 5-11 p.m. July 3 at municipal park, 638 S. Main St. (South U.S. 27). Includes music by Bel-Aires, 6:15 p.m., and The Rockerz, 7:30 p.m.; registration for 3-on-3 basketball tournament, 5:30 p.m.; old-timer's baseball game, 7 p.m.; free swim at pool, 7-9 p.m.; fireworks, 9:30 p.m. 706-639-1590.

* Signal Mountain: Community parade at 9:30 a.m. July 4 from Alexian Village to Althaus Park, followed by barbecue by Signal Mountain Lions Club, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and fireworks display at 9:40 p.m. at Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club. Parade contact: Jo Kellum, jokellum@bellsouth.net. Lions contact: Brian Eades, 517-0328.

* Spring City, Tenn. Shake the Lake features entertainment, food and craft vendors, Mr. and Miss Firecracker pageants and fireworks at dark July 3 at Veterans Park.

* Soddy-Daisy. Celebration at Soddy Lake ballparks includes cake in honor of city's 40th anniversary, fireworks at dark July 4.

RAFFLE -- LaFayette, Ga. LaFayette Historic Preservation Commission selling tickets to win oil painting of Chattooga Academy by Deloris Avans Turner to raise funds for preservation efforts. Painting on display through today at Cohutta Banking Co., 201 W. Patton St.; Monday-Thursday and July 6-10 at City Hall, 207 S. Duke St.; July 13-18 at Bank of LaFayette, 101 W. Patton St. Drawing July 20. $1 tickets. 706-639-1519.

TOURS, DEMONSTRATIONS -- Stone Fort State Park, 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester, Tenn. Meet at park museum for tours and demonstrations at this archaeologically significant site. All times Central.

* Atlatl: Try your hand at preferred method of bringing down large game before arrival of bow and arrow, 3:45 p.m. Saturday, 10:45 a.m. Sunday.

* Cordage: Demonstration of how plant fiber can be used to make cords and ropes, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* Entrance Complex tour: Hike to head of main trail to explore symbolism of this series of earthworks, 2 p.m. Sunday.

* Fingerweaving: Demonstration of ancient art form, 3 p.m. Saturday.

* Introduction to the Prehistoric Southeast: Hear how first Tennessee residents interacted with and shaped their environment, with focus on placement of park's earthen structures and their builders, 2 p.m. Sunday, 3:30 p.m. July 3.

* Site tour: A 1.25-mile hike to see 2,000-year-old American Indian ceremonial enclosure known as the Old Stone Fort includes walls and cliffs overlooking Big and Little Duck rivers, 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Wear comfortable shoes; bring water.

TRAIN RIDES, CHATTANOOGA -- Departing from Tennessee Valley Railroad, 4119 Cromwell Road. 894-8028, www.tvrail.com.

* Missionary Ridge Local: Six-mile, 55-minute ride through East Chattanooga and to TVRM's repair shop where locomotive rotated and reposition for ride back. Departures: 10:40 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Monday-Friday, and at 10:40 a.m., and 12:05, 1:15, 2:25 and 3:35 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $14 adults, $8 children ages 3-12, free to younger kids.

TRAIN RIDES, ETOWAH -- Departing from Etowah, Tenn., depot; presented by Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and Tennessee Overhill Association. 894-8028. www.tvrail.com.

* Hiwassee River Loop: three-and-a-half hour ride, which goes through "Eye" of "Hook and Eye" rail line and parallels scenic Hiwassee River most of the way, 1:30 p.m. today and other dates through November. $32 adult, $22 ages 3-12.

* Copperhill Run: scenic ride that parallels Hiwassee River and layover in Copperhill, Tenn., for lunch and antiques shopping, 9:15 a.m. Saturday and other dates through November. $55/$38.

BOOKS/AUTHORS

BARNES & NOBLE -- Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. Open-mike session, 7:30 p.m. today. 893-0186.

OWL TOWNE WRITERS GROUP -- Resurrection Lutheran Church, 4309 Ooltewah Ringgold Road, Ooltewah. Discussion for anyone interested in writing, regardless of experience, 7 p.m. today. Facets of building writing skills reviewed. 834-0222.

POETRY NIGHT -- CreateHere, 55 E. Main St. 648-2195, www.createhere.org. Poetry or workshop, 7-9 p.m. each Wednesday. Free. Contact: Melinda Brown, 313-8704.

ROCK POINT BOOKS -- 401 Broad St. 756-2855, www.rockpointbooks.com.

* Discussion for writers on Francine Prose's "Reading Like a Writer," led by Ray Zimmerman, 11 a.m. Saturday (10 percent discount on book for participants).

* Southern Literature Book Club members explore life and selected book of Southern author each month (10 percent discount on reviewed books). Up next: "The Light in the Piazza and Other Italian Tales" by Elizabeth Spencer, 6 p.m. Monday. Contact: Jennifer Hoff, 309-7464, SouthernLitClub@comcast.net.

CHILDREN/TEENS

BARNES & NOBLE -- Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. 893-0186. Summer reading program, through Sept. 7, awards free book to kids in grades 1-6 who read eight books and turn in completed journal sheet, with chance to win autographed copy of "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan.

BICENTENNIAL LIBRARY

All locations of Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library system have programs and activities. Call downtown, 757-5314; Eastgate, 855-2685; Northgate, 870-0636; Ooltewah/Collegedale, 396-9322; South Chattanooga, 825-7237. The central information number for all branches is 757-5310. www.lib.chattanooga.gov.

* Be Creative @ Your Library: summer reading program for ages up to 12 years. Last day to register is July 11. Grand Finale is party at First Tennessee Pavilion, July 15.

* Express Yourself @ Your Library: summer reading program for teens, through Aug. 1.

* Kindred Connections, a teen/parent book club, meets two more times over summer: 2:30 p.m. Saturday for "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins; and 2:30 p.m. July 25 for "I, Q" by Roland Smith.

CHILDREN'S READING HOUR -- Rock Point Books, 401 Broad St. 756-2855. www.rockpointbooks.com. Fun Friday features stories and related programming, 10:30 a.m. every Friday.

* Today: Activities with Read 20.

* July 3: "Jellies: Living Art" activities with Hunter Museum of American Art.

CHILDREN'S STORY TIME -- Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. "Fourth of July Mice," with a sweet rodent family that celebrates the holiday in traditional ways, by Bethany Roberts, 11 a.m. Wednesday. 893-0186.

CREATIVE DISCOVERY MUSEUM -- 321 Chestnut St. Summer hours (through Aug. 9): 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $9.95 for children and adults. 756-2738, www.cdmfun.org.

* Banana Day, Saturday, includes banana hats and songs all day; banana pudding contest, 1-3 p.m., cooking with plantains, 3:30-4:30 p.m. in upstairs teaching kitchen.

* Red, White & Blue Days, July 3-5, feature watermelon seed spitting contest, sprinklers on the plaza, picnic, parade led by Curious George and bubble wrap fireworks.

* "Curious George: Let's Get Curious," traveling exhibit highlighting concepts in science, math and engineering, through Sept. 27.

* Rooftop Fun Factory, Excavation Station, RiverPlay and Corner Clinic are permanent exhibits.

CDM SCIENCE THEATRE -- Northgate Mall, Highway 153 at Hixson Pike. Free climbing days to celebrate grand opening of Magna Traverse Wall, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday. Community Free Day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, includes ribbon-cutting ceremony, 10:30 a.m.; Science Spy Escapades shows, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.; liquid nitrogen ice cream (one serving per visitor), 1:30-4:30 p.m. and hands-on Spy Workshops and climbing challenges, all day. 875-8522, www.cdmfun.org.

FIRST TEE GOLF -- First Tee of Chattanooga and city Parks and Recreation Department offer golf lessons and play for children 6-12 every Wednesday. Sign up at Avondale, Brainerd, Carver, East Chattanooga, First-Centenary, Glenwood, John A. Patten and North Chattanooga rec centers for 10 a.m.-noon sessions at Lupton City Golf Course. Sign up at East Lake, Eastdale, Sheila M. Jennings/Westside, Shepherd, South Chattanooga, Tyner and Washington Hills rec centers for 2-4 p.m. sessions at Hickory Valley Golf Course. Transportation provided. Contact: Richard West, 643-6055.

INTERACTIVE SHOW -- Vaudeville Cafe, 138 Market St. "Mystery of the Time Machine," audience-participation, comedy-mystery geared toward children, plus pizza buffet, 1 p.m. each Saturday. $12. 517-1839. www.funnydinner.com.

KIDS FOR CLEAN WATER -- Chester Frost Park, Hixson. Members of TenneSEA (Tennessee Student Environmental Alliance) lead water sample testing and look for aquatic critters in park's ecosystem for rising fifth- through eighth-graders, 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday. $2. Registration required by today . 842-6748.

TREASURE HUNTERS -- Chester Frost Park, Hixson. Two sessions sponsored by Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, 10 a.m.-noon, for ages 6 and older. $4. Includes take-home projects. Registration required. 842-6748.

* June 26: Find buried treasure and identify fossils.

* July 10: Learn to identify animal signs and habits and how to know what owls eat.

CLASS/WORKSHOP

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY -- North River Civic Center, 1009 Executive Drive, Suite 102, Hixson. Chattanooga Professional Photography Guild sponsors seminar, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. Registration required; 870-8924.

THEATRICAL WORKSHOPS -- Tennessee Valley Theatre, 184 W. Jackson Ave. Acting for Youth (ages 12-19), Acting for Adults and Lighting/Set Design, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday. Free but space is limited to 15 per class. Reservations: 423-365-PLAY. Information: www.tennesseevalleytheatre.com.

DANCE

COMMUNITY CONTRA DANCE -- All Saints Academy, 310 E. Eighth St. Chattanooga Traditional Dance Society presents live music by Waxwing with featured caller Vicki Herndon, 8-11 p.m. Saturday. Basic lesson for newcomers at 7:30 p.m. $8 adults, $5 students. 876-7359. www.contranooga.org.

COUNTRY -- Troy's Place, 320 Emerson Drive, Ringgold, Ga. Hopeful Country band, 8-11 p.m. each Friday and 7-11 p.m. each Saturday. $6. No-smoking or alcohol. 706-965-8346.

LINE DANCE CLASSES -- St. Jude Parish Hall, 930 Ashland Terrace. Instruction by Jeanette Bowen for beginners and intermediates, 5:30-7 p.m. each Thursday. $3 per person. 580-4879.

LINE DANCE INSTRUCTION -- United Methodist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, 1733 Battlefield Parkway. Line dance classes 11 a.m.-noon every Saturday. $3 donation for nursing-home patients. 706-866-9008.