🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Pumpkintown, a Bigfoot Festival, an Apple Fest and 5 More Fall Day Trips From Dunlap

Or: Bigfoot Calls, Flashlight Cabins and a Train That Crosses Over Its Own Tracks. Here Are 8 New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Home

Howdy again, neighbor. Last time we sent you to a sorghum mill, a lantern hike and a star party. Well, the fall calendar is still filling up faster than a church supper sign-up sheet, so here comes a fresh batch of Hundred-Mile Happenings. That’s our list of unusual, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap, laid out plain: when, where, how far, what it costs and who’ll love it. And like always, there are no repeats. Every one of these is new to the list.

This round, you can walk a whole downtown turned into a pumpkin festival in Athens and let the kids build and tinker for free in Chattanooga. You can hunt with a flashlight through pioneer log cabins in Murfreesboro, eat your way around an apple festival in Cleveland and try your best Bigfoot holler at a festival in Crossville. There’s a train ride through the Hiwassee River Gorge that loops right over its own tracks. And looking ahead to November, there’s a free canyon-rim festival in Fort Payne and the South’s largest rowing “head race” on the Chattanooga riverfront.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Sat., Oct. 10: Pumpkintown, downtown Athens. Eastern Time. Free. Rain is likely, so pack a jacket.
• Wed., Oct. 14: Chattanooga Imagination Fest, Miller Park. Eastern Time. Free.
• Fri. and Sat., Oct. 16 and 17 (evenings): Cannonsburgh Village After Dark, Murfreesboro. $5.
• Sat. and Sun., Oct. 17 and 18: Cleveland Apple Festival. Eastern Time. $8 adults, cash.
• Sat. and Sun., Oct. 17 and 18: Upper Cumberland Bigfoot Festival, Crossville. About $10 cash.
• Sat., Oct. 24: Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village. Free.
• Select days now through Nov. 22: Hiwassee Loop train from Delano. Eastern Time. Book ahead.
• Sat., Nov. 7: Canyon Fest, Little River Canyon near Fort Payne, Ala. Free.
• Sat. and Sun., Nov. 7 and 8: Head of the Hooch rowing races, Chattanooga. Eastern Time. Free to watch.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: the time line. Dunlap is on Central Time. Athens, Chattanooga, Cleveland and Delano are on Eastern Time, one hour ahead. So a 10 a.m. start in Athens is 9 a.m. our time. Crossville, Murfreesboro and Fort Payne run on Central Time, same as home. One more: clocks fall back on Sunday, Nov. 1, but Chattanooga still stays one hour ahead of us.

🎃 A Whole Downtown Turns Into Pumpkintown in Athens

Pumpkintown is named for an old McMinn County settlement, and for one Saturday each fall it takes over historic downtown Athens. This is its 24th year, and organizers say it drew more than 25,000 people last year. Expect about 325 arts, crafts and food booths, music on three stages, the Scott Crisp Memorial PowWow and the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum’s quilt show. The kids get a petting zoo, pony rides and pumpkin painting at The Arts Center. There’s even a “Mutt Strutt” pet costume contest from the McMinn Regional Humane Society.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. That’s 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. our time. Free pumpkin painting runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern at The Arts Center, while supplies last.
• Where: Historic downtown Athens, Tenn. Several downtown streets close from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, so watch for detour signs.
• How far: About 63 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Cost: Free. Organizers say all the day’s activities are free. Bring money for food and crafts.
• Who’ll love it: Families with little ones, quilters, history buffs and anybody whose dog looks good in a costume.
• Weather heads-up: The National Weather Service calls for showers likely Saturday as moisture from Tropical Storm Isaias moves in. Pack a rain jacket and check the festival’s page Saturday morning before you leave.

👉 Read more (Friendly City Festivals: Pumpkintown)

🔬 Free Build-It, Dream-It Fun for Kids at Chattanooga’s New Imagination Fest

Here’s a brand-new one. The Chattanooga Imagination Fest is a free, one-day festival built around science, technology, engineering, art and math, the “STEAM” you hear teachers talk about. That just means hands-on stuff kids love: building stations, maker projects, art and challenges. Booths come from groups like the UTC Challenger Learning Center, the Chattanooga Public Library, Scouting America, the Girl Scouts, Chattanooga State’s engineering folks and even the Chattanooga Radio Control Club. Food trucks will be on hand.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Wed., Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern. That’s 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. our time. It falls on fall break for Chattanooga-area schools, so it’s a weekday outing.
• Where: Miller Park, 928 Market St., downtown Chattanooga.
• How far: About 30 miles from Dunlap, roughly 45 minutes to an hour, plus time to find downtown parking.
• Cost: Free. Donations are welcome.
• Who’ll love it: Homeschool families, preschoolers, grandparents watching grandkids midweek and any child who takes apart the toaster to see how it works.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Imagination Fest)

🔦 Bring a Flashlight: Log Cabins After Dark and a 50th Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Village

Tucked in the middle of Murfreesboro, Cannonsburgh Village is a re-created pioneer village of log cabins and old buildings. It’s celebrating 50 years in 2026, and the city says it’s also home to the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket. October brings two good reasons to go. At Cannonsburgh Village After Dark, families explore the buildings at night with flashlights, hunt through the dark corners of the cabins and enjoy sweet treats, hot drinks, crafts, games and music. Costumes are welcome. A week later, the 50th annual Harvest Days fills the village with blacksmithing demonstrations, handmade crafts, food trucks, live music and clogging at the gazebo, plus a car show.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: After Dark is Fri., Oct. 16 and Sat., Oct. 17, 6 to 9 p.m. Harvest Days is Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both are on Central Time, same as home.
• Where: Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St., Murfreesboro, Tenn. Call (615) 890-0355 with questions.
• How far: About 77 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Cost: After Dark is $5 per person (online or at the gate), and ages 5 and under are free. Harvest Days is free.
• Who’ll love it: Young kids who think a flashlight is the best toy ever, old-car fans, crafters and anybody who likes the ring of a blacksmith’s hammer.

👉 Read more (City of Murfreesboro: Events at Cannonsburgh)

🍎 An Apple a Day, and a Whole Courthouse Square Full of Them, in Cleveland

The Cleveland Apple Festival wraps around the Bradley County Courthouse Square for a weekend of arts and crafts, live music, food booths and family fun. It’s a nonprofit festival, and organizers say all the net proceeds go to other Cleveland-area nonprofits. For the young’uns, the Apple Valley Orchard Kid’s Zone, including a petting zoo, is free with paid admission for children 12 and under.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 18, 1 to 6 p.m., Eastern Time. That’s 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. our time.
• Where: Bradley County Courthouse Square, 155 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, Tenn. Free parking is available around downtown.
• How far: About 59 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Cost: Cash only at the gate. One-day passes are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and $5 for kids 3 to 12. A $25 family pass covers two adults and up to four children. Kids under 3 get in free.
• Who’ll love it: Craft shoppers, apple lovers, seniors looking for a bargain day out and families with small children. Only trained service animals are allowed, so leave Fido home.

👉 Read more (Cleveland Apple Festival: General Info)

🦶 Practice Your Best Holler for the Bigfoot Calling Contest in Crossville

Whether you’re a true believer or you just like a good story, the Upper Cumberland Bigfoot Festival is about the most fun you can have for a few dollars on the Plateau. This year it grows into a two-day event under new organizers, Center Hill Events. Festival listings promise a Bigfoot Calling Contest, a Bigfoot 5K, chainsaw carving, blacksmith demos, live music, food trucks and a kids’ zone with train rides, bounce houses and face painting. A portion of the money raised helps local veterans and Shop with a Cop.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Central Time).
• Where: Cumberland County Fairgrounds (Community Complex), Livingston Road, Crossville, Tenn.
• How far: About 50 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Cost: A Bigfoot-fan event listing says $10 cash, kids 5 and under free. The organizers haven’t posted prices on their own page yet, so check before you go, and bring small bills.
• Who’ll love it: Kids, grandkids, campfire storytellers and anyone who’s ever heard a strange noise in the holler and wondered.

👉 Read more (Visit Cookeville: 2026 Upper Cumberland Bigfoot Festival)

🚂 Ride a Train Through the Hiwassee Gorge That Loops Right Over Itself

This is one for the bucket list. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s Hiwassee Loop ride leaves from tiny Delano, in Polk County, and rolls about 50 miles round trip through the Hiwassee River Gorge in the Cherokee National Forest. The big moment comes near Farner, where the track spirals up and the train crosses a bridge over the very track it just rode on. You ride in climate-controlled vintage cars with restrooms and onboard narration, and snacks are sold aboard. TVRM says fall color usually peaks from about mid-October into early November, though nobody can promise peak leaves on a given day.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Select dates now through Sun., Nov. 22. The ride lasts about 4½ hours with no layover. Departure times change by date, so pick your day on the TVRM calendar and arrive 30 minutes early. Times are Eastern, one hour ahead of us.
• Where: Boarding is at 9406 Highway 411, Delano, Tenn. Not at the museum in Chattanooga. That’s the easy mistake to avoid.
• How far: About 78 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Cost: Fall fares for regular coach seats start at $65 for ages 13 and up and $50 for ages 2 to 12. Dome and first-class seats cost more. October weekends sell out, so book ahead.
• Who’ll love it: Train lovers of every age, leaf-peepers and grandparents who’d rather sit back and watch the scenery than hike to it. Historic cars can’t fit every wheelchair or scooter, so call (423) 894-8028 first if mobility is a concern.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Hiwassee Loop)

🏞️ Mark Your Calendar: A Free Festival on the Rim of Little River Canyon

Little River Canyon, up on Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne, is a national preserve full of overlooks and waterfalls, and the Little River Canyon Center sits right by it. On the first Saturday in November, the center throws its 15th annual Canyon Fest with music, arts and crafts, food, demonstrations and live animal programs. Make a day of it and drive the canyon rim overlooks while you’re there.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Central Time).
• Where: Little River Canyon Center, 4322 Little River Trail NE, Fort Payne, Ala.
• How far: About 86 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Cost: Free admission.
• Who’ll love it: Nature lovers, kids who want to see critters up close, photographers and anybody who wants one more pretty mountain drive before winter.

👉 Read more (Little River Canyon Center: Canyon Fest 2026)

🚣 Watch Thousands of Rowers Race the Clock on the Chattanooga Riverfront

Here’s a sight you won’t forget. The Head of the Hooch is the South’s largest “head race,” and organizers say it draws more than 6,500 athletes from across the country. Instead of racing side by side, boats start about 15 seconds apart and race the clock down a 2.8-mile course on the Tennessee River, finishing at Ross’s Landing near the Tennessee Aquarium. That means there’s nearly always a boat going by. Grab a spot in the Ross’s Landing grandstand by the finish, look straight down on the crews from the Walnut Street Bridge or bring a lawn chair to quieter Coolidge Park.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 7 and Sun., Nov. 8. Saturday’s races begin around 8 a.m. Eastern (7 a.m. our time). Check the race-day schedule for later start times.
• Where: Ross’s Landing Park, downtown Chattanooga. Parking is tight, so organizers suggest garages and the free downtown electric shuttle.
• How far: About 29 miles from Dunlap, roughly 45 minutes to an hour. It’s the shortest trip on the list.
• Cost: Free to watch, rain or shine. Garage parking costs extra.
• Who’ll love it: Early risers (that’s us!), teens thinking about college sports, photographers and anybody who likes a crisp morning by the river with a hot cup of coffee.

👉 Read more (Head of the Hooch: Spectators)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge

• Sat., Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern (9 to 4 our time): Pumpkintown, Athens. Free. Rain likely.
• Wed., Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern (9 to 2 our time): Chattanooga Imagination Fest, Miller Park. Free.
• Fri., Oct. 16 and Sat., Oct. 17, 6 to 9 p.m.: Cannonsburgh Village After Dark, Murfreesboro. $5.
• Sat., Oct. 17 and Sun., Oct. 18: Cleveland Apple Festival. Opens 10 a.m. Eastern Saturday (9 a.m. our time). Cash.
• Sat., Oct. 17 and Sun., Oct. 18: Upper Cumberland Bigfoot Festival, Crossville. Opens 10 a.m.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Harvest Days, Cannonsburgh Village. Free.
• Select dates through Nov. 22: Hiwassee Loop train from Delano. Book ahead.
• Sun., Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour.
• Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Canyon Fest, Fort Payne. Free.
• Sat., Nov. 7 and Sun., Nov. 8: Head of the Hooch, Chattanooga. Free to watch.

✅ Your Easy Day-Trip Checklist

• ✅ Check the clock. Athens, Chattanooga, Cleveland and Delano are one hour ahead of Dunlap.
• ✅ Watch this weekend’s weather. Rain from Tropical Storm Isaias is likely Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11. Check the event page before you leave.
• ✅ Bring cash, in small bills. The Apple Festival and Bigfoot Festival gates are cash only.
• ✅ Book the train early. Fall weekend seats on the Hiwassee Loop go fast.
• ✅ Wear good walking shoes and bring a jacket. Mountain mornings and evenings get chilly fast.
• ✅ Fill the tank and pack water and snacks. Some of these roads are long and lonesome.
• ✅ Shop local on the way out. Grab breakfast or gas from a Valley business. Find one on Dunlap.Directory.
• ✅ Snap a photo of this page so the dates and times ride along with you.

Practical rule: Pick one trip, write it on the calendar tonight with the time zone beside it, and tell somebody you’re taking them along. A plan with a date and a buddy actually happens.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these trips is closest to Dunlap?

The Head of the Hooch at Ross’s Landing (about 29 miles) and the Imagination Fest at Miller Park (about 30 miles) are the shortest drives, both in downtown Chattanooga. The Bigfoot Festival in Crossville is about 50 miles.

Which ones are free?

Pumpkintown, the Chattanooga Imagination Fest, Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh, Canyon Fest and watching the Head of the Hooch are all listed as free. Cannonsburgh After Dark is $5, the Apple Festival is $8 for adults ($5 for seniors), the Bigfoot Festival is about $10, and the Hiwassee Loop train starts at $65 for adults in the fall.

Which ones are on Eastern Time?

Pumpkintown (Athens), the Imagination Fest and Head of the Hooch (Chattanooga), the Cleveland Apple Festival and the Hiwassee Loop train (Delano) are all on Eastern Time, one hour ahead of us. Crossville, Murfreesboro and Fort Payne are on Central Time, same as home.

Will the rain from Isaias cancel anything?

As of Wednesday afternoon, we haven’t seen any changes announced. The National Weather Service calls for showers likely on Saturday, Oct. 10, and showers and storms on Sunday. If you’re headed to Pumpkintown, check the festival’s page or social media Saturday morning, and pack rain gear.

Do I need tickets ahead of time?

Only for the train. The Hiwassee Loop should be booked online or by phone ahead of time. Cannonsburgh After Dark sells tickets online or at the gate. The Apple Festival and Bigfoot Festival take cash at the gate, and the rest are free.

Are these good for little kids and older folks?

Yes, nearly all of them. The festivals are easy, flat outings with food and restrooms close by. The train is a sit-back-and-relax ride, though historic cars have steps, so call ahead about mobility needs.

How do you pick these events?

We look for one-of-a-kind, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap, and we check each one against the organizer’s own page whenever we can. We keep a list so we never repeat an event. If you know a hidden gem, tell us at Dunlap.Today.

🔗 Other Resources

• Friendly City Festivals (Athens, Tenn.)
• Cleveland Apple Festival
• Cannonsburgh Village, City of Murfreesboro
• Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum: Fall train rides
• Head of the Hooch
• National Weather Service Morristown: Forecast for East Tennessee
• TDOT SmartWay: Road conditions before you drive
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, breakfast and supplies

🍂 Slow Down and Go See Something

You don’t need a plane ticket or a big budget to make a memory. A pumpkin painted by a five-year-old, a train whistle echoing through a river gorge or a grandkid’s very best Bigfoot holler will stick with you longer than most things money can buy. Pick one outing, mark the date and the time zone, and go enjoy this beautiful corner of the world. We’ll be back with more Hundred-Mile Happenings soon, never the same event twice. Read Dunlap.Today for plain-English Valley news and things to do, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.