🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Spend a Christmas Saturday at Dayton's Courthouse, Sip Cocoa With Mini Cows in Chickamauga, Shop a Merry Market at the Gordon-Lee Mansion, Meet Mrs. Claus in Murfreesboro, Dance in "North Pole Flurries" in Huntsville and Hear a Winter Solstice Concert

Or: Six December Outings, From Fluffy Little Highland Cows to a String Quartet on the Shortest Day of the Year, Plus One Thing to Remember: Dayton and Chickamauga Run an Hour Ahead of Us

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

Good evening, neighbor. Here are six outings we haven’t told you about before, and three of them are free. On Saturday, Dec. 5, downtown Dayton throws Christmas at the Courthouse, with a parade, Selfies with Santa and an old-time radio play of “It’s a Wonderful Life” inside the historic Rhea County Courthouse. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Chickamauga makes a whole day of it: Cocoa with the Minis at Hixson Farms lets kids sip hot chocolate next to mini Highland cows, then the Merry at the Mansion Market fills the grounds of the Gordon-Lee Mansion on Christmas parade day. On Friday, Dec. 18, you’ve got two free family nights to pick from: Christmas at Patterson in Murfreesboro, with story time with Mrs. Claus, or the Big Spring Jingle in downtown Huntsville, with a DJ, food trucks and “flurries from the North Pole.” And on Sunday, Dec. 20, the eve of the winter solstice, a string quartet plays seasonal music at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. What it means for you: the Dayton and Chickamauga outings run on Eastern time, the Murfreesboro and Huntsville ones are on our Central time, and two need tickets bought ahead.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Sat., Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–2 p.m. our time): Christmas at the Courthouse and Parade, Rhea County Courthouse, Dayton. Cost not listed; check before you go.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 10–11 a.m. Eastern (9–10 our time): Cocoa with the Minis, Hixson Farms, Chickamauga, Ga. $18 adults, $10 kids 3–15; buy ahead.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 2–7 p.m. Eastern (1–6 our time): Merry at the Mansion Market, Gordon-Lee Mansion, Chickamauga, Ga. Cost not listed; check before you go.
• Fri., Dec. 18, 6–8 p.m. Central: Christmas at Patterson, Patterson Park Community Center, Murfreesboro. Free.
• Fri., Dec. 18, 5–8 p.m. Central: Big Spring Jingle, Big Spring Park, Huntsville, Ala. Free.
• Sun., Dec. 20, 2:30–4:30 p.m. Central: Winter Solstice Concert, Huntsville Botanical Garden. $35 ($20 Garden members); buy ahead.

📝 The one thing to remember: Dayton and Chickamauga are an hour ahead of us; Murfreesboro and Huntsville are not. Cocoa with the Minis at 10 a.m. there is 9 a.m. on your kitchen clock. Everything on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20 is already on our Central time, so no math needed.

🏛️ Spend a Christmas Saturday at Dayton’s Historic Courthouse, With a Parade and a Radio Play

Just over the mountain, Main Street Dayton turns the square around the grand old Rhea County Courthouse into a holiday party. Christmas at the Courthouse brings a Christmas Critters pageant, a parade, Selfies with Santa and vendors. The sweetest part might be indoors: at 2 p.m. Eastern, a radio theater production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” plays in the courthouse’s second-floor courtroom, the kind of old-time show your grandparents gathered around the radio for.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–2 p.m. our time). The radio play starts at 2 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. our time.
• Where: Rhea County Courthouse, 1475 Market St., Dayton, Tenn.
• How far: About 36 miles, roughly 50 minutes over the mountain. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed. Downtown festivals like this are usually free to walk around, but check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Families with little ones, pet lovers (watch the Christmas Critters) and anyone who loves Jimmy Stewart’s classic.
• Good to know: The listing doesn’t give a parade start time, so call Main Street Dayton at 423-775-9847 before you go.

👉 Read more (Main Street Dayton — Christmas at the Courthouse and Parade)

🐮 Sip Hot Cocoa With Fluffy Mini Highland Cows on a Chickamauga Farm

Picture this: a cozy December morning, a mug of hot chocolate with all the toppings, homemade cookies, and a pen full of shaggy little Highland cows waiting for a scratch behind the ears. Hixson Farms keeps Cocoa with the Minis simple on purpose. Kids make a Christmas ornament, write a thank-you note to Santa and spend time with the cows, a donkey, goats and the rest of the farm crew. Grown-ups get fresh coffee.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 10–11 a.m. Eastern (9–10 a.m. our time).
• Where: Hixson Farms, 152 S. Marble Top Rd., Chickamauga, Ga.
• How far: About 50 miles, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $18 for adults (16 and up), $10 for kids 3–15, free for 2 and under, plus a small online ticket fee. Buy ahead; the farm is open by appointment only.
• Who’ll love it: Little animal lovers, grandparents with grandkids and anyone who wants a Christmas photo with a fuzzy cow.
• Good to know: Leave Dunlap by about 7:45 a.m. our time. Wear boots you don’t mind getting a little farm on.

👉 Read more (Hixson Farms — Cocoa with the Minis)

🎄 Tour a Decorated Antebellum Mansion and Shop a Christmas Market on Chickamauga’s Parade Day

Since you’ll already be in Chickamauga, stay for the afternoon. The 3rd annual Merry at the Mansion Market takes over the grounds of the Gordon-Lee Mansion, the stately 1840s home on Cove Road. Step inside to see every room decorated for Christmas, meet Santa, let the kids make crafts and play yard games, and browse vendors with handmade gifts and treats. That evening, the Chickamauga Christmas Parade passes right by.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2–7 p.m. Eastern (1–6 p.m. our time).
• Where: Gordon-Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Rd., Chickamauga, Ga.
• How far: About 50 miles, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed; check before you go. Bring money for the vendors.
• Who’ll love it: Old-house lovers, Christmas shoppers and families who want a full small-town Christmas day.
• Good to know: The city lists the parade for Dec. 12 but we couldn’t confirm a start time, so check before you go. Bonus stop: Cookies With Santa runs 10 a.m.–noon Eastern (9–11 our time) at the Chickamauga Library, 306 Cove Rd., just up the street. It’s free, with Santa pictures, cookie decorating and crafts.

👉 Read more (AllEvents — 3rd Annual Merry at the Mansion Market)

📚 Hear Story Time With Mrs. Claus at a Free Christmas Night in Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation keeps this one cozy and free. At Christmas at Patterson, kids can climb into Santa’s sleigh for do-it-yourself pictures (bring your phone), decorate ornaments, munch Christmas cookies, write letters to Santa, meet costumed characters and settle in for story time with Mrs. Claus. It’s indoors, so the weather can’t spoil it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Dec. 18, 6–8 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• How far: About 90 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes by way of McMinnville. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free.
• Who’ll love it: Preschoolers and early grade-schoolers, and parents who want a Christmas night that doesn’t cost a dime.
• Good to know: Leave Dunlap by about 4 p.m. Questions? Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation lists 615-848-8571.

👉 Read more (Only in Murfreesboro — Christmas at Patterson)

❄️ Dance in “North Pole Flurries” at Huntsville’s Free Big Spring Jingle

Huntsville calls this its biggest Parks & Recreation holiday party, and it’s the fourth annual Big Spring Jingle. Downtown’s Big Spring Park fills with a DJ dance party, food trucks, crafts, light-up gifts for children and a visit from Santa. Organizers even promise “flurries from the North Pole,” which is about as close to a guaranteed white Christmas as we’re going to get around here.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Dec. 18, 5–8 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: Big Spring Park, downtown Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100–105 miles, roughly 2 hours by way of Jasper and Scottsboro. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. Bring money for the food trucks.
• Who’ll love it: Kids with energy to burn, teens who like to dance and anyone who wants to see snow fall in Alabama.
• Good to know: Big Spring Park is also home to the Tinsel Trail of decorated trees, so stroll it while you’re there. Leave Dunlap by about 2:45 p.m.

👉 Read more (RocketCityNow — Big Spring Jingle and Huntsville holiday events)

🎻 Welcome the Winter Solstice With a String Quartet at the Huntsville Botanical Garden

When the days are at their shortest, here’s a warm, quiet way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The Huntsville Botanical Garden hosts a Winter Solstice Concert in its Isenberg Grand Hall, where the Southern Strings quartet plays music inspired by winter, the holidays and the hush of the season. Your ticket includes Garden admission, so come early and walk the grounds first.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sunday, Dec. 20, 2:30–4:30 p.m. Central, our time, with a 10-minute intermission. Doors open at 2 p.m.
• Where: Isenberg Grand Hall, Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave., Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100–105 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $35 per person ($20 for Garden members). Tickets must be bought online, in advance, and sales are final.
• Who’ll love it: Music lovers, couples, and grown kids treating Mom or Dad to a peaceful Christmas-week outing.
• Good to know: The Garden is open only 11 a.m.–3 p.m. that day, so do your stroll before the music. The concert ends just before the Galaxy of Lights walking night, which needs a separate ticket.

👉 Read more (Huntsville Botanical Garden — Winter Solstice Concert)

✅ Your Trip-Planning Checklist

• ✅ Clock check: Dayton and Chickamauga are on Eastern time (10 a.m. there = 9 a.m. here). Murfreesboro and Huntsville are Central, same as us.
• ✅ Sat., Dec. 5: Christmas at the Courthouse in Dayton, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. our time. Radio play at 1 p.m. our time.
• ✅ Sat., Dec. 12, morning: Cocoa with the Minis, 9 a.m. our time. Buy tickets ahead. Free Cookies With Santa at the Chickamauga Library, 9–11 our time.
• ✅ Sat., Dec. 12, afternoon: Merry at the Mansion Market, 1–6 p.m. our time, then the parade (call to confirm the time).
• ✅ Fri., Dec. 18: Pick one free night: Christmas at Patterson in Murfreesboro (6–8 p.m.) or Big Spring Jingle in Huntsville (5–8 p.m.).
• ✅ Sun., Dec. 20: Winter Solstice Concert, 2:30 p.m. Buy tickets online ahead.
• ✅ 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?

Christmas at the Courthouse in Dayton, about 36 miles and under an hour over the mountain.

Which ones are free?

Christmas at Patterson, the Big Spring Jingle and the bonus Cookies With Santa at the Chickamauga Library. Dayton’s Christmas at the Courthouse and the Merry at the Mansion Market don’t list a price, so check first.

Can I do both Chickamauga outings on Dec. 12?

Yes. Cocoa with the Minis wraps up at 11 a.m. Eastern, and the Merry at the Mansion Market opens at 2 p.m. Eastern. Squeeze in Cookies With Santa at the library in between, grab lunch, then shop the market and stay for the parade.

Do I need tickets?

For Cocoa with the Minis and the Winter Solstice Concert, yes, and buy them ahead online. The two Dec. 18 events are free and don’t list tickets.

Why do some times look an hour off?

Dayton and Chickamauga are on Eastern time. Subtract one hour to get Dunlap’s Central time. Murfreesboro and Huntsville are already on Central.

Is the Huntsville drive worth it for one evening?

It’s about two hours each way, so make it a full outing: walk the Tinsel Trail in Big Spring Park before the Jingle, or pair the solstice concert with the Galaxy of Lights after.

🔗 Other Resources

• Main Street Dayton — Christmas at the Courthouse and Parade
• Hixson Farms — Cocoa with the Minis
• AllEvents — 3rd Annual Merry at the Mansion Market
• City of Chickamauga — 2026 event schedule (Christmas Parade Dec. 12)
• Alliance for Dade — Cookies With Santa at the Chickamauga Library
• Only in Murfreesboro — Christmas at Patterson
• RocketCityNow — Big Spring Jingle and Huntsville holiday events
• Huntsville Botanical Garden — Winter Solstice Concert
• 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, head over the mountain to Dayton on Saturday, Dec. 5. If you have little ones who love animals, make Saturday, Dec. 12, your Chickamauga day, cows in the morning and a mansion market in the afternoon. On Friday, Dec. 18, pick one free family night, and music lovers, save Sunday afternoon, Dec. 20, for the solstice concert. Jot down three things: Dayton and Chickamauga are an hour ahead; buy cow-cocoa and concert tickets ahead; 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.