🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Hear a Bagpipe Band at a Free Christmas Spectacular in Chattanooga, Walk Through a Live Nativity in Cookeville, Catch Tuba Christmas in Harriman, Watch Knoxville Light a Menorah, Spend Christmas With Bill Landry and Ring In 2027 Under the Sunsphere

Or: Six December Outings, From a Theater Full of Tubas to a Ball Dropping off the Sunsphere, Plus One Thing to Remember: Harriman and Knoxville Run an Hour Ahead of Us

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, November 14, 2026

Good afternoon, neighbor. Here are six outings we haven’t told you about before, spread out across the whole month of December. On Thursday, Dec. 3, a free Christmas Spectacular in Chattanooga brings Santa, hot chocolate and the Chattanooga Pipe Band. On Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4–5, a Live Nativity walk-through with live animals lights up a campground outside Cookeville. On Saturday, Dec. 5, a stage full of tuba players fills Harriman’s historic Princess Theatre for the free 38th annual Tuba Christmas. On Sunday, Dec. 6, Knoxville’s Market Square hosts Chanukah in the City, with music, crafts and a menorah lighting. On Friday, Dec. 18, East Tennessee storyteller Bill Landry and actor Muse Watson head back to the Princess for an evening of Christmas stories and song. And on New Year’s Eve, Knoxville drops a ball from the Sunsphere at a free, alcohol-free family party. What it means for you: four are free or listed free, two need a quick check on price, and five of the six run on Eastern time, so watch the clock.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Thu., Dec. 3, 6:30–8 p.m. Eastern (5:30–7 our time): Seeking the King Christmas Spectacular, The Crossing Church, Chattanooga. Free tickets.
• Fri.–Sat., Dec. 4–5, 6–9 p.m. Central: Live Nativity Walk-Through, 4801 Blackburn Fork Rd., Cookeville. Cost: check before you go.
• Sat., Dec. 5, 11:45 a.m. Eastern (10:45 our time): 38th Annual Tuba Christmas, Princess Theatre, Harriman. Free.
• Sun., Dec. 6, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Eastern (2:30–4:30 our time): Chanukah in the City, Market Square, Knoxville. Cost not listed; check before you go.
• Fri., Dec. 18, 7–9 p.m. Eastern (6–8 our time): Christmas 2026 at The Princess with Bill Landry and Muse Watson, Harriman. Tickets; check price.
• Thu., Dec. 31, 9 p.m.–12:15 a.m. Eastern (8–11:15 p.m. our time): New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere, World’s Fair Park, Knoxville. Free activities; alcohol-free.

📝 The one thing to remember: Chattanooga, Harriman and Knoxville are an hour ahead of us. Only the Cookeville nativity is on Central time, same as Dunlap. Tuba Christmas at 11:45 a.m. there is 10:45 on your kitchen clock, and the Sunsphere ball drops at midnight there, which is 11 p.m. here.

🎄 Hear Bagpipes, See Santa and Sip Cocoa at a Free Christmas Spectacular in Chattanooga

Here’s one you might not hear about otherwise. Jungle Town Daycare is throwing its annual Seeking the King Christmas Spectacular at The Crossing Church in East Brainerd, and the whole community is invited. Expect Christmas carols, hot chocolate with marshmallows, Santa and his sleigh for wishes and photos, and the stirring sound of the Chattanooga Pipe Band. If the weather cooperates, there may even be Polar Express rides, plus a small vendors market with goods from around the world.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thursday, Dec. 3, 6:30–8 p.m. Eastern (5:30–7 p.m. our time). Doors open at 6 p.m. Eastern (5 our time).
• Where: The Crossing Church, 7501 Standifer Gap Rd., Chattanooga, Tenn.
• How far: About 45 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. The listing offers free tickets, so grab yours ahead.
• Who’ll love it: Young families, grandparents with little ones and anyone who gets chills when the bagpipes start.
• Good to know: The Polar Express rides depend on the weather. Questions? The organizers list 423-355-1228.

👉 Read more (AllEvents — Seeking the King Christmas Spectacular)

🐑 Walk Through a Live Nativity With Real Animals Outside Cookeville

For two nights, volunteers and local groups set up the Christmas story scene by scene along a walking path through a campground outside Cookeville. You stroll from one scene to the next and see it come alive, live animals and all. The hosts say to plan on about an hour and to bundle up, because the whole thing is outdoors on a December night.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, 6–9 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: 4801 Blackburn Fork Rd., Cookeville, Tenn.
• How far: About 85 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes by way of Spencer and Sparta. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Church families, kids who love animals and anyone who wants a quiet, meaningful walk before Christmas.
• Good to know: The listing doesn’t name the host group, so check before you go. Wear warm shoes; it’s a walk outdoors in the dark.

👉 Read more (HappeningNext — Live Nativity Walk-Through)

🎺 Hear a Whole Stage of Tubas Play Christmas Carols in Harriman

There’s nothing quite like Christmas carols played on dozens of big, mellow brass horns. Tuba Christmas brings tuba and euphonium players of all ages together to play the old favorites, and Roane State Community College has hosted Harriman’s version for 38 years. It happens at the Princess Theatre, Harriman’s historic downtown theater. It’s warm, funny, a little bit goosebump-y and over in time for lunch.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Dec. 5, 11:45 a.m. Eastern (10:45 a.m. our time). Doors open at 11:15 a.m. Eastern (10:15 our time).
• Where: Princess Theatre, 421 N. Roane St., Harriman, Tenn.
• How far: About 75 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by way of Pikeville and Rockwood. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. Donations welcome. No tickets needed; seats are first-come, first-served.
• Who’ll love it: Band parents, former band kids, music lovers and anyone who needs a smile.
• Good to know: Play a tuba or euphonium? Players register at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. Leave Dunlap by about 9 a.m. our time to get a good seat.

👉 Read more (Princess Theatre — 38th Annual Tuba Christmas)

🕎 Watch Knoxville Light a Menorah on Market Square

Knoxville’s Christmas in the City season makes room for another winter festival of lights. Chanukah in the City fills Market Square with live music, crafts and the lighting of the menorah. It’s a friendly, open-to-all afternoon and a gentle way for kids to learn how their neighbors celebrate the season. Chabad of Knoxville’s downtown celebration keeps going until 7 p.m. Eastern.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sunday, Dec. 6, 3:30–5:30 p.m. Eastern (2:30–4:30 p.m. our time).
• Where: Market Square, downtown Knoxville, Tenn.
• How far: About 110 miles, roughly 2 hours. That’s the far edge of our circle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed; city festival events like this are usually free, but check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Curious families, crafty kids and anyone who enjoys learning about other traditions.
• Good to know: Market Square’s Holidays on Ice rink is right there, so you can make an afternoon of it.

👉 Read more (City of Knoxville — Christmas in the City)

📖 Spend a Christmas Evening With Bill Landry and Muse Watson at the Princess

If you remember Bill Landry telling East Tennessee stories on The Heartland Series, this one’s for you. He and actor Muse Watson return to Harriman’s Princess Theatre for Christmas 2026 at The Princess, an evening of stories, song and celebration. Music comes from Dr. Eric Littleton and the Princess Children’s Theater, and the evening helps support live events at the historic theater.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Dec. 18, 7–9 p.m. Eastern (6–8 p.m. our time).
• Where: Princess Theatre, 421 N. Roane St., Harriman, Tenn.
• How far: About 75 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Ticketed through Eventbrite; we couldn’t confirm the price, so check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Heartland Series fans, storytelling lovers and grown children taking Mom or Dad out for a Christmas night.
• Good to know: Leave Dunlap by about 4:15 p.m. our time. It’ll be dark on the drive home, so take it easy on the mountain.

👉 Read more (Eventbrite — Christmas 2026 at The Princess)

🎆 Ring In 2027 as a Ball Drops From Knoxville’s Sunsphere

You don’t have to go to Times Square to watch a ball drop. Knoxville lowers one from the golden Sunsphere, the landmark from the 1982 World’s Fair, at a free, family-friendly, alcohol-free party on the Festival Lawn at World’s Fair Park. There are food trucks, a silent disco (everyone dances to music in their own headphones), and live music from the band FOURKAST until just before midnight.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thursday, Dec. 31, 9 p.m.–12:15 a.m. Eastern (8–11:15 p.m. our time). The ball drops at midnight Eastern, which is 11 p.m. our time.
• Where: Festival Lawn, World’s Fair Park, downtown Knoxville, Tenn.
• How far: About 110 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free activities and free parking all day in City-owned garages, including Locust Street, Market Square and 11th Street. Bring money for food trucks.
• Who’ll love it: Night owls, teenagers, and families who want to celebrate early (by Dunlap’s clock) without the rowdiness.
• Good to know: Rain or shine. Chairs are welcome; tents and canopies aren’t. It’s a long late drive home, so consider a hotel or a designated fresh driver.

👉 Read more (City of Knoxville — New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere)

✅ Your Trip-Planning Checklist

• ✅ Clock check: Chattanooga, Harriman and Knoxville are on Eastern time (11:45 a.m. there = 10:45 a.m. here). Cookeville is Central, same as us.
• ✅ Thu., Dec. 3: Free Christmas Spectacular in Chattanooga, 5:30 our time. Get your free ticket ahead.
• ✅ Fri.–Sat., Dec. 4–5: Cookeville Live Nativity, 6–9 p.m. Dress warm.
• ✅ Sat., Dec. 5: Tuba Christmas in Harriman, 10:45 a.m. our time. Free, first-come seats.
• ✅ Sun., Dec. 6: Chanukah in the City, Knoxville, 2:30–4:30 our time.
• ✅ Fri., Dec. 18: Bill Landry and Muse Watson at the Princess, 6 p.m. our time. Buy tickets ahead.
• ✅ Thu., Dec. 31: Sunsphere ball drop at 11 p.m. our time. Free parking in city garages.
• ✅ Fill up before you go. Need gas, a tire check or a good breakfast spot on the way? Look on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these is closest to Dunlap?

The Seeking the King Christmas Spectacular at The Crossing Church in Chattanooga, about an hour away.

Which ones are free?

The Christmas Spectacular (free tickets), Tuba Christmas and the activities at New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere. Chanukah in the City and the Cookeville nativity don’t list a price, so check first.

What is Tuba Christmas?

It’s a holiday tradition where tuba and euphonium players of all ages gather to play Christmas carols together. Harriman’s has been going for 38 years.

Can I combine two trips?

Yes. Tuba Christmas wraps up around lunchtime on Dec. 5, and the Cookeville nativity opens at 6 p.m. that evening, though that’s a lot of driving for one day. Chanukah in the City sits right beside Market Square’s ice rink.

Why do some times look an hour off?

Chattanooga, Harriman and Knoxville are on Eastern time. Subtract one hour to get Dunlap’s Central time.

Is the Sunsphere party OK for kids?

Yes. The city calls it family-friendly and alcohol-free. Just plan for a late night and a long drive home.

🔗 Other Resources

• AllEvents — Seeking the King Christmas Spectacular
• HappeningNext — Live Nativity Walk-Through, Cookeville
• Princess Theatre — 38th Annual Tuba Christmas
• City of Knoxville — Christmas in the City (incl. Chanukah in the City)
• Knoxville Jewish Alliance — Chanukah Downtown with Chabad
• Eventbrite — Christmas 2026 at The Princess
• City of Knoxville — New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere
• Dunlap.Directory — local businesses and services

🌅 Take It Easy, and Pick the One That Fits

You don’t need to do all six. If you want something close and free, head to Chattanooga on Thursday, Dec. 3, for the Christmas Spectacular. If you’d like a smile and a song, make Saturday morning, Dec. 5, your Tuba Christmas trip to Harriman. Heartland Series fans, save Dec. 18 for Bill Landry, and night owls, circle New Year’s Eve at the Sunsphere. Jot down three things: Chattanooga, Harriman and Knoxville are an hour ahead; Tuba Christmas starts at 10:45 our time; and call before you go for anything we flagged. For more calm, useful news from right here at home, keep reading Dunlap.Today and find local help on Dunlap.Directory.