Will I See You At Moon River 2023?
Moon River Music Festival is returning to Chattanooga this September 9th and 10th after having a shaky 2022 with Sunday ending early due to inclement weather. This will be the eighth installment of this festival curated by Drew Holcomb and the fifth time in downtown Chattanooga after leaving it’s birthplace at the Levitt Shell in Memphis. The lineup has me awed with the talent, including Caamp, Hozier, Marcus King, and Judah and the Lion. It’s no wonder why this year sold out very early on with limited tickets available through the festival’s resale portal on their website. And in addition to the talent, the location of the festival is right on the Tennessee River with beautiful vistas serving as backdrops for both stages. There is even a free nosebleed section atop a bridge that overlooks both stages.
Moon River is bringing back some past experiences, The Treehouse and Lookout Lodge, to amp up this year’s festival. I am excited to see these activations as the festival ensures that this is a well-rounded event. The Lookout Lodge seems to be an improvement to the college and NFL games that were streamed on a large outdoor screen last year. This year they are including a sports bar, charging stations, and comfy furniture for folks to settle in to enjoy some football. The Treehouse is still a mystery but will be another fun aspect of this wonderful festival.
One of the cool things about Moon River is the festival works to build a lasting relationship with the Chattanooga community through non-profit partnerships. This year the festival is teaming up with Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga and St. Jude Children’s Hospital of Tennessee. A portion of each ticket sale goes towards funding these organizations. Not all festivals strive to make an impact on the local community outside of boosting the economy. I hope that Moon River continues to put positive vibes into the world.
I am looking forward to being a part of one of Chattanooga’s premiere events of the fall. Let’s not have another rained-out festival but one for the books! See you in the pit!