🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Tellico Plains Fall Fest, Calhoun's Snowman Spectacular & Frosty Fest, Christmas on the Farm in Tracy City, the Cookeville Grinch Festival, Madisonville's Colonial Christmas and the Festival of Lights at Calhoun's ROCK Garden

Or: Catch the Last Fall Color in a Mountain Town, Vote for Your Favorite Snowman, Shop 40 Vendors on the Plateau, Bring the Kids to a Grinch Party, Watch a Colonial Christmas Parade and Walk Through a Village Made of Pebbles — Six New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, October 23, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Pour the coffee and grab a pencil. Here’s batch number sixty-four of Hundred-Mile Happenings, our running list of unusual, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap. Same promise as always: when, where, how far, what it costs and who’ll love it, in plain words. And no repeats. Every one of these is new to the list.

This batch runs from the last fall leaves to the week of Christmas. On Saturday, Oct. 31, Tellico Plains holds its Fall Fest at the foot of the Cherohala Skyway. In December, Calhoun, Georgia lines a park path with snowmen for its Snowman Spectacular (Dec. 4–13), starting with Frosty Fest on Friday, Dec. 4. Christmas on the Farm brings 40-plus vendors and Santa to a farm near Tracy City on Saturday, Dec. 5, the same weekend Cookeville’s Grinch Festival fills the Putnam County Fairgrounds (Dec. 5–6). Madisonville throws “A Colonial Christmas” on its square with a parade on Saturday, Dec. 12. And Calhoun’s little ROCK Garden village, built from pebbles and broken china, lights up for its Festival of Lights, Dec. 20–26.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Sat., Oct. 31, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–7 p.m. OUR time): Tellico Plains Fall Fest, downtown Tellico Plains. Cost: check before you go.
• Dec. 4–13; Frosty Fest Fri., Dec. 4, 4–7 p.m. Eastern (3–6 p.m. OUR time): Snowman Spectacular, Calhoun Recreation Department, Calhoun, Ga. Free to walk; snowman votes $1.
• Sat., Dec. 5, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Central — our time): Christmas on the Farm, The Farm at Fiery Gizzard, Tracy City. Admission: check before you go.
• Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central — our time): Grinch Festival, Putnam County Fairgrounds, Cookeville. Admission: check before you go.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 2–8 p.m. Eastern (1–7 p.m. OUR time): “A Colonial Christmas” Festival on the Square, downtown Madisonville. Parade at the end of the day.
• Dec. 20–26; kickoff Sun., Dec. 20, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30–7:30 p.m. OUR time): Festival of Lights at the ROCK Garden, Calhoun, Ga. No admission price posted.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Tellico Plains, Madisonville and Calhoun are on EASTERN time. Tracy City and Cookeville are CENTRAL, same as us. For the Eastern ones, subtract an hour: Frosty Fest’s 4 p.m. start is 3 p.m. our time, and the ROCK Garden kickoff at 6:30 p.m. is 5:30 p.m. our time. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, the night after Tellico Plains Fall Fest. Set the clocks back before bed.

🍂 Catch the Last Fall Color at Tellico Plains Fall Fest

Tellico Plains is the little mountain town where the Cherohala Skyway starts its climb into the Cherokee National Forest. By late October the color is often working its way down the mountain toward town. The Tellico Plains Mountain Collective is hosting an all-day Fall Fest downtown on Halloween Saturday, a good excuse to pair a festival with a scenic drive.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 31, 2026, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern — that’s 9 a.m.–7 p.m. OUR time.
• Where: Downtown Tellico Plains, TN 37385 (Monroe County).
• How far: About 90 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not stated on the listing. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Leaf-lookers, small-town strollers and families who want a Halloween daytime outing before trick-or-treat.
• Good to know: ⚠️ The official listing gives only the date, hours and host. Vendors, music and activities aren’t posted yet; check before you go. If you drive part of the Cherohala Skyway, bring a jacket. It’s much cooler up high, and there are few gas stops. It’s a long drive home, so leave by mid-afternoon our time if you have trick-or-treaters waiting.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Overhill — Tellico Plains Fall Fest)

⛄ Vote for Your Favorite Snowman at Calhoun’s Snowman Spectacular

Down in Calhoun, Georgia, local folks build and decorate snowmen and set them along a park path, and visitors vote for their favorites. Snow or no snow, it’s a cheerful walk. Opening night is Frosty Fest, with food trucks, train rides, carnival games, crafts, a “snow” play area, Santa’s Workshop and school choirs and bands.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Snowmen on display Dec. 4–13, 2026. Frosty Fest is Fri., Dec. 4, 4–7 p.m. Eastern — that’s 3–6 p.m. OUR time.
• Where: Calhoun Recreation Department, 110 Recreation Drive, Calhoun, GA, along the paved path between the Black & Yellow playground and the large parking lot. Questions: Gordon County CVB, (706) 625-3200.
• How far: About 80 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free to walk the path. Snowman votes are $1 each. Bring cash for food trucks. Whether rides and games cost extra isn’t posted; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Little kids, school-music families and grandparents who like an easy, paved holiday stroll.
• Good to know: The paved path makes this one of the easier walks in this batch. Frosty Fest ends after dark on a Friday, so plan to drive home in the dark or go another day during the 10-day run. Daily viewing hours aren’t posted; check before you go.

👉 Read more (Explore Calhoun-Gordon — Snowman Spectacular)

🎅 Shop 40 Vendors and See Santa at Christmas on the Farm Near Tracy City

Here’s one close to home. The Farm at Fiery Gizzard, a wedding and event venue on the edge of the plateau near Tracy City, is turning its grounds into a one-day holiday market. Expect more than 40 vendors, food, pictures with Santa and two big giveaways: a $12,000 wedding venue package and a $3,000 designer Christmas tree.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 5, 2026, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Santa photos 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: The Farm at Fiery Gizzard, 687 Dutchtown Road, Tracy City, TN 37387. Questions: (931) 409-4357.
• How far: About 40 miles, roughly 1 hour up the mountain. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Admission isn’t posted. Check before you go. Bring money for vendors, food and any Santa photo fee.
• Who’ll love it: Christmas shoppers, families with little ones for Santa, and engaged couples eyeing the wedding giveaway.
• Good to know: Organizers say you don’t have to be present to win the giveaways. It’s an outdoor venue on the plateau, which runs colder than the Valley; dress warm. Parking details hadn’t been announced; check before you go.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today — Christmas on the Farm 2026)

💚 Bring the Kids to a Green-and-Grumpy Weekend at the Cookeville Grinch Festival

Cookeville’s Grinch Festival takes over the Putnam County Fairgrounds for a whole weekend of Who-ville fun. Listings promise more than 100 vendors, a kids’ zone, hayrides, food trucks, drinks and entertainment. Wear something green, and see if anyone’s heart grows three sizes.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 5 and Sun., Dec. 6, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. both days. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Putnam County Fairgrounds, Fairground Street, Cookeville, TN 38501.
• How far: About 60 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by way of Spencer and Sparta. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not stated. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Kids who’ve watched the Grinch a dozen times, Christmas shoppers and anybody who’d rather spend a winter Saturday outside than at the mall.
• Good to know: ⚠️ We found these details on festival and vendor listing sites, not on an organizer’s own page. Confirm the dates, hours and admission before you go. It falls on the same Saturday as Christmas on the Farm, so pick one for Saturday and the other for Sunday.

👉 Read more (FairsAndFestivals.net — 2026 Cookeville Grinch Festival)

🥁 Watch a Colonial Christmas Parade on the Madisonville Square

Madisonville, the Monroe County seat, is dressing its Christmas Festival on the Square in colonial style this year for America’s 250th birthday. Expect vendors, food, kids’ activities, entertainment and colonial experiences all afternoon. A Christmas parade closes out the day.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, 2–8 p.m. Eastern — that’s 1–7 p.m. OUR time. The parade ends the day; we saw a 7 p.m. Eastern start (6 p.m. our time) on a listing preview but couldn’t confirm it, so check before you go.
• Where: Downtown Madisonville, TN, on the courthouse square. Questions: Madisonville Main Street, (423) 442-9416, ext. 210.
• How far: About 80 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission posted. We saw a mention of a paid ice-skating rink but couldn’t confirm it; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Parade lovers, history fans, and families who want a full small-town Christmas afternoon.
• Good to know: We already told you about Madisonville’s Lighting of the Square. This is a separate, later event. Bring a folding chair for the parade, plus warm layers and a flashlight for the walk back to the car.

👉 Read more (Visit Madisonville — Christmas Festival on the Square)

✨ Walk Through a Tiny Village of Pebbles and Broken China at the ROCK Garden Festival of Lights

Here’s a true hidden gem. Behind a church in Calhoun, Georgia, volunteers have built more than 50 miniature buildings out of pebbles, seashells and broken china: castles, chapels and even a model of Notre Dame. It’s folk art you can wander through, and the week before Christmas it glows for the Festival of Lights.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Dec. 20–26, 2026. Kickoff Sun., Dec. 20, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30–7:30 p.m. OUR time), with live music, hot drinks and snacks. Open until 8:30 p.m. Eastern (7:30 p.m. our time) each night. Nightly start time isn’t posted; check before you go.
• Where: The ROCK Garden, 1411 Rome Road SW, Calhoun, GA, behind Calhoun Seventh-day Adventist Church. Questions: 706-629-5470.
• How far: About 80 miles, roughly 1 hour 55 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission price posted. Donations are welcome; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Folk-art fans, model-train and dollhouse lovers, and kids who like spotting tiny details.
• Good to know: ⚠️ The garden says it is not handicap accessible. Paths are uneven, and no pets are allowed. Wear good shoes and bring a flashlight. Christmas week may change plans; call ahead.

👉 Read more (Calhoun SDA Church — The ROCK Garden)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Sat., Oct. 31, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. OUR time (10–8 Eastern): Tellico Plains Fall Fest, downtown Tellico Plains.
• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Fri., Dec. 4, 3–6 p.m. OUR time (4–7 Eastern): Frosty Fest kicks off the Snowman Spectacular in Calhoun, Ga. Snowmen stay up through Dec. 13.
• Sat., Dec. 5, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (Central — our time): Christmas on the Farm, Tracy City. Santa 11–5.
• Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central — our time): Grinch Festival, Putnam County Fairgrounds, Cookeville.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 1–7 p.m. OUR time (2–8 Eastern): “A Colonial Christmas” on the Madisonville square, with the parade to finish.
• Sun., Dec. 20, 5:30–7:30 p.m. OUR time (6:30–8:30 Eastern): ROCK Garden Festival of Lights kickoff, Calhoun, Ga. Lights run through Dec. 26.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Tellico Plains, Madisonville and Calhoun are Eastern — subtract an hour. Tracy City and Cookeville are Central — our time.
• ✅ Call ahead on details that weren’t posted: Tellico Fall Fest activities and cost, Christmas on the Farm admission and parking, Grinch Festival admission, the Madisonville parade time and the ROCK Garden’s nightly opening time.
• ✅ Dec. 5 is a double day. Christmas on the Farm and the Grinch Festival fall on the same Saturday. The Grinch Festival also runs Sunday.
• ✅ The Calhoun and Madisonville trips end after dark. Bring a co-pilot and a flashlight.
• ✅ Pack warm layers, water and cash for vendors, food trucks, Santa photos and $1 snowman votes.
• ✅ Check the event page the morning you go in case plans change.
• ✅ Fill up and grab a biscuit before you leave the Valley. Find local stops on Dunlap.Directory.

Remember: check the clock, check the weather, and pick the outing that fits your crew. A good day trip gets you home tired and happy, not worn out.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Are these events already on earlier Hundred-Mile Happenings lists?

No. We keep a covered-events list and skip anything we’ve already featured. All of these outings are new for article #64. We’ve covered other events in some of the same towns, like Madisonville’s Lighting of the Square and other Christmas parades around the region, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

The Snowman Spectacular is free to walk, and votes are $1 each. No admission is posted for Madisonville’s Colonial Christmas or the ROCK Garden lights, which welcomes donations. Admission isn’t posted for Tellico Plains Fall Fest, Christmas on the Farm or the Grinch Festival, so check before you go.

Which ones are best for young kids?

Frosty Fest has train rides, games, a “snow” play area and Santa’s Workshop. The Grinch Festival has a kids’ zone and hayrides. Christmas on the Farm has Santa photos. Kids who like tiny details will love the ROCK Garden’s miniature buildings.

Which ones are easiest if I don’t walk far?

The Snowman Spectacular is on a paved path. Christmas on the Farm and the Grinch Festival are outdoor markets, so you can walk as much or as little as you like. At Madisonville, bring a chair and stay put for the parade. The ROCK Garden is the hardest: it says it is not handicap accessible and has uneven ground.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. So are Tracy City and Cookeville. Tellico Plains, Madisonville and Calhoun, Ga., are on Eastern time, one hour ahead.

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. When a detail isn’t posted, we say so. We keep a list so we never repeat an event. If you know a hidden gem, tell us at Dunlap.Today.

🔗 Other Resources

• Tennessee Overhill — Tellico Plains Fall Fest
• Visit Monroe TN — Events calendar
• Explore Calhoun-Gordon — Snowman Spectacular & Frosty Fest
• Dunlap.Today — Christmas on the Farm 2026 in Tracy City
• FairsAndFestivals.net — 2026 Cookeville Grinch Festival
• Visit Madisonville — Christmas Festival on the Square: A Colonial Christmas
• Calhoun SDA Church — The ROCK Garden
• Gordon Gazette — Community calendar (ROCK Garden Festival of Lights)
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Slow Down and Go See Something

You don’t need a big trip to make a good memory. Fall leaves in a mountain town, a path full of snowmen, Santa on a plateau farm, a Grinch-green weekend, a colonial Christmas parade and a tiny village of pebbles glowing in the dark are all within a drive of the Valley. Grab a buddy, check the clock and the weather, and go.

Keep exploring, keep it easy and keep reading. Read Dunlap.Today for more Hundred-Mile Happenings, and find the Valley businesses that’ll fuel your trip on Dunlap.Directory.