🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A Free Medieval Circus in Loudon, Empty Bowls in Rome, “The Boxcar Children” in Woodbury, Holiday on Gates in Huntsville, a Family Campfire in Murfreesboro and the Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot in Jasper

Or: Catch a Free Show Under the Big Top, Take Home a Potter’s Bowl, Watch a Storybook Come Alive, Shop a Christmas Market in a Pioneer Village, Roast S’mores in the Woods and Trot Off the Turkey Close to Home — Six New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

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

Howdy, neighbor. Pour the coffee and grab a pencil. Here’s batch number sixty-six 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 first week of November through Thanksgiving Day. The Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus puts on free evening shows in Loudon, Nov. 3–5. The children’s play “The Boxcar Children” takes the stage in Woodbury on Saturdays, Nov. 7 and 14. Rome, Georgia holds its 23rd Empty Bowls soup supper on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Holiday on Gates fills Huntsville’s Alabama Constitution Hall Park with a Christmas market on Saturday, Nov. 14. Murfreesboro Parks hosts a Family Campfire in the woods on Friday, Nov. 20. And right next door, the Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot 5K runs through downtown Jasper on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Tue., Nov. 3–Thu., Nov. 5, 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. OUR time): The Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus, Loudon Municipal Park, Loudon. Free.
• Sat., Nov. 7 and Sat., Nov. 14, 2 p.m. (Central — our time): “The Boxcar Children,” Arts Center of Cannon County, Woodbury. Ticket price: check before you go.
• Tue., Nov. 10, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Eastern (3:30–5:30 p.m. OUR time): 23rd Annual Empty Bowls, Rome Civic Center, Rome, Ga. $25, cash or check, bought ahead.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 2–8 p.m. (Central — our time): Holiday on Gates, Alabama Constitution Hall Park, Huntsville.
• Fri., Nov. 20, 4–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Family Campfire at the Wilderness Station, Barfield Crescent Park, Murfreesboro. $5 adults, $3 ages 4–17, free under 4. Register ahead.
• Thu., Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving Day (Central — our time): Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot 5K, Courthouse Square, Jasper. $35 registration.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Loudon is in Tennessee but on EASTERN time, and so is Rome, Georgia. Woodbury, Murfreesboro, Huntsville and Jasper are CENTRAL, same as us. For Loudon and Rome, subtract an hour: the circus’s 6 p.m. show is 5 p.m. our time, and Empty Bowls’ 4:30 p.m. start is 3:30 p.m. our time. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, before every event on this list. Set the clocks back the night of Oct. 31.

🎪 Catch a Free Show Under the Big Top at the Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus in Loudon

A circus with knights-and-castles flair is rolling into Loudon Municipal Park for three nights. The Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus is listed by Loudon County’s tourism office as a free show, which makes it one of the best bargains of the fall. Pack a jacket; November evenings get chilly by the river.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Tue., Nov. 3 through Thu., Nov. 5, 2026, with a show at 6 p.m. Eastern each night — that’s 5 p.m. OUR time.
• Where: Loudon Municipal Park, 1470 Roberson Springs Rd., Loudon, TN.
• How far: About 87 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free, according to the county tourism listing. Concessions or extras may cost money; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Kids who’ve never seen a real circus, grandparents with grandkids and anybody who loves a bargain night out.
• Good to know: It’s a weeknight show, so leave the Valley by about 2:45 p.m. our time to park and find a seat. Seating details aren’t posted; bring a blanket or cushion just in case, and check before you go.

👉 Read more (Visit Loudon County — Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus)

📚 Watch a Storybook Come Alive at “The Boxcar Children” in Woodbury

Lots of us read “The Boxcar Children” as kids. Now the Arts Center of Cannon County is putting it on stage. The play follows Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, four orphaned siblings who make a home for themselves in an old boxcar. It’s part of the center’s Young At Art school matinee series, and it’s rated G.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Public shows Sat., Nov. 7 and Sat., Nov. 14, 2026, at 2 p.m. Central — our time.
• Where: Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury, TN 37190. Box office: 615-237-8600.
• How far: About 57 miles, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by way of McMinnville. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Ticket prices weren’t shown on the listings we checked. Tickets are on sale now through the Arts Center; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Young readers, homeschool families, grandparents who remember the books and anybody who wants a gentle Saturday matinee.
• Good to know: It’s the shortest drive on this list after Jasper. Pair it with lunch in McMinnville on the way. Buying tickets ahead is the safe bet for a small-town theater.

👉 Read more (Arts Center of Cannon County — The Boxcar Children tickets)

🥣 Take Home a Potter’s Bowl at Rome’s 23rd Annual Empty Bowls

Here’s a supper that feeds two families. At Empty Bowls, your ticket gets you a simple meal and a handmade bowl from a regional potter to keep. The bowl reminds you of folks whose bowls are empty, and the money goes to The Salvation Army. This is the 23rd year Rome has done it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Tue., Nov. 10, 2026, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Eastern — that’s 3:30–5:30 p.m. OUR time.
• Where: Rome Civic Center, Rome, GA. Eat in, or use the drive-thru.
• How far: About 98 miles, roughly 2¼ hours by way of Chattanooga. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $25 a ticket. ⚠️ Cash or check only, and you buy tickets ahead at Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center, 402 Civic Center Dr. (weekdays 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern). Questions: 706-295-5576.
• Who’ll love it: Pottery lovers, church and civic groups and anybody who likes a good cause with supper attached.
• Good to know: Because tickets are sold in advance at the welcome center, call 706-295-5576 first and ask whether any are held for the door. It’s a long weekday drive, so it makes the most sense if you already have errands in Rome.

👉 Read more (Coosa Valley News — Empty Bowls tickets on sale)

🎄 Shop a Christmas Market in a Pioneer Village at Holiday on Gates in Huntsville

Alabama Constitution Hall Park is a living-history village in downtown Huntsville, with old-timey buildings where Alabama’s first constitution was written. For one Saturday, Holiday on Gates turns it into a Christmas market with local artisans. Strolling those little lanes with a gift bag beats a parking-lot crowd any day.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 14, 2026, 2–8 p.m. Central — our time.
• Where: Alabama Constitution Hall Park, 109 Gates Ave. SE, Huntsville, AL.
• How far: About 104 miles, roughly 2 hours. It’s right at the edge of our 100-mile range. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Admission isn’t clearly posted on the listing we checked. Check before you go. Bring money for gifts.
• Who’ll love it: Early Christmas shoppers, history buffs and couples looking for a festive afternoon that runs into the evening.
• Good to know: It runs until 8 p.m., so you can go late, shop after dark and still be home before bedtime. Downtown Huntsville parking fills up on Saturdays; give yourself extra time.

👉 Read more (Choose Huntsville — Holiday on Gates)

🔥 Roast S’mores in the Woods at the Family Campfire at Barfield Crescent Park

Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation is inviting families to walk a one-mile paved path through the woods to the Wilderness Station, where a campfire, s’mores and stories are waiting. It’s an easy hour outdoors, the kind of thing kids remember long after the toys are forgotten.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Nov. 20, 2026, 4–5 p.m. Central — our time.
• Where: Wilderness Station, Barfield Crescent Park, 401 Volunteer Rd., Murfreesboro, TN. Questions: 615-642-1103.
• How far: About 81 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5 ages 18 and up, $3 ages 4–17, free for kids under 4.
• Who’ll love it: Families with young kids, scout dens and grandparents who can handle an easy paved walk.
• Good to know: ⚠️ You must register ahead. The walk out is about a mile on pavement, and sunset is early in late November, so bring a flashlight for the walk back and dress warm.

👉 Read more (Only in Murfreesboro — Family Campfire at the Wilderness Station)

🦃 Trot Off the Turkey Before Dinner at the Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot 5K in Jasper

This one’s practically in our backyard. The third annual Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot is a flat 5K run or walk through downtown Jasper, with a stretch on the Jasper rails-to-trails path and a loop through Jasper City Park. Money raised benefits the Marion County Children’s Fund. Costumes are encouraged, and there’s an award for the most creative one.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Nov. 26, 2026 — Thanksgiving Day. The start time isn’t posted on the registration page; check before you go. Packet pickup is Wed., Nov. 25, 4–6 p.m. Central at RedPoint Restaurant, with pizza, snacks and live music.
• Where: Courthouse Square, 1 Courthouse Square, Jasper, TN 37347.
• How far: About 25 miles, roughly 35 minutes down the Valley. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $35 registration. Register by Mon., Nov. 16 to be sure of a free T-shirt.
• Who’ll love it: Walkers and runners of every speed, families who want a Thanksgiving tradition and anyone who’d like to earn that second slice of pie.
• Good to know: The course is described as safe for all ages, with live music and a celebration afterward. Questions go to race director Barry Allen, 423-667-4609.

👉 Read more (Active.com — Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot 5K)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Tue., Nov. 3–Thu., Nov. 5, 5 p.m. OUR time (6 p.m. Eastern): Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus, Loudon. Free.
• Sat., Nov. 7 and Sat., Nov. 14, 2 p.m. (Central — our time): “The Boxcar Children,” Woodbury.
• Before Nov. 10, on a weekday: Buy Empty Bowls tickets ($25, cash or check) at the Rome Welcome Center, or call 706-295-5576.
• Tue., Nov. 10, 3:30–5:30 p.m. OUR time (4:30–6:30 Eastern): Empty Bowls, Rome Civic Center.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 2–8 p.m. (Central — our time): Holiday on Gates, Huntsville.
• Mon., Nov. 16: Register for the Turkey Trot by today to be sure of a T-shirt.
• Fri., Nov. 20, 4–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Family Campfire, Barfield Crescent Park. Register first.
• Wed., Nov. 25, 4–6 p.m. (Central): Turkey Trot packet pickup, RedPoint Restaurant, Jasper.
• Thu., Nov. 26 — Thanksgiving: Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot 5K, Jasper.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Loudon and Rome are Eastern — subtract an hour. Woodbury, Huntsville, Murfreesboro and Jasper are Central — our time.
• ✅ Three events need you to act ahead: Empty Bowls tickets (cash or check, in advance), the Family Campfire (registration) and the Turkey Trot (register by Nov. 16 for a shirt).
• ✅ Call ahead on details that weren’t posted: Boxcar Children ticket prices, Holiday on Gates admission, the circus’s seating and the Turkey Trot start time.
• ✅ November evenings are cold. Pack jackets, a blanket and a flashlight for the circus and the campfire.
• ✅ 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 six of these outings are new for article #66. We’ve covered other events in some of the same towns, like Rome’s RIFF film festival and Huntsville’s Galaxy of Lights, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

The Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus is listed as free. Holiday on Gates admission isn’t clearly posted, so check before you go. Empty Bowls is $25, the Family Campfire is $5 for adults and $3 for kids, and the Turkey Trot is $35. Boxcar Children ticket prices weren’t shown on the listings we checked.

Which ones are best for young kids?

The circus, “The Boxcar Children” and the Family Campfire are the best picks for little ones. The Turkey Trot is described as safe for all ages, and walkers are welcome.

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

“The Boxcar Children” is a seated indoor play, and Empty Bowls has a drive-thru. The circus is mostly sitting, though you’ll walk from the parking lot. Holiday on Gates means strolling a historic park. The campfire needs about a mile of paved walking each way, and the Turkey Trot is a 5K.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. So are Woodbury, Murfreesboro, Jasper and Huntsville. Loudon, Tenn., and Rome, 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

• Visit Loudon County — The Kingdom of Wonders Medieval Circus
• Arts Center of Cannon County — The Boxcar Children tickets
• Rutherford Source — The Boxcar Children coming to Woodbury
• Coosa Valley News — 23rd Annual Empty Bowls in Rome
• Choose Huntsville — Holiday on Gates
• Only in Murfreesboro — Family Campfire at the Wilderness Station
• Active.com — Sequatchie Valley Turkey Trot 5K registration
• 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. A circus under the lights, a play from a favorite old book, a bowl of soup for a good cause, a Christmas market in a pioneer village, s’mores by a campfire and a Thanksgiving walk down the Valley are all within a drive of home. 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.