🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A Holiday Bazaar at Niota’s Old Train Depot, Christmas Comes to “Tennessee’s Mayberry” in Granville, Free Art Studio Tours Near Murfreesboro, a Free Railroad History Talk in Athens, a Zine and Small Press Fest at Lowe Mill, a Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater and a Candlelit Christmas Concert in a Chattanooga Basilica

Or: Shop a Depot Bazaar, Stroll Mayberry at Christmas, Watch Artists at Work, Hear How the Trains Shaped the Overhill, Browse Handmade Books, Laugh With Ernest T. Bass and Hear Carols by Candlelight — Seven New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Evening, neighbor. Set the coffee pot for morning and grab a pencil. Here’s batch number seventy 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 mid-November to the week before Christmas. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the little town of Niota fills its historic train depot with a Holiday Bazaar. From Nov. 13 to 15, Historic Granville, which calls itself “Tennessee’s Mayberry Town,” opens its Christmas season. The weekend before Thanksgiving, Nov. 20–22, local artists around Murfreesboro and Cannon County open their workshops for the free Art Studio Tour. On Saturday, Nov. 21, a speaker from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum tells the story of railroading in the Overhill at a free talk in Athens, and Huntsville’s Lowe Mill holds its Gobble Gobble Hey! Zine and Small Press Fest. In early December, Granville’s Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater brings Ernest T. Bass and Otis to the stage. And on Dec. 16 and 17, the Vienna Light Orchestra plays Christmas music by the light of more than 2,000 candles in Chattanooga’s Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri.–Sun., Nov. 13–15 (Central — our time): Christmas Opening Weekend in Historic Granville, Granville, TN. Ladies’ luncheon needs a reservation; town tour tickets $7 adults.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–3 p.m. OUR time): Niota Depot Holiday Bazaar, 201 E. Main St., Niota, TN. Cost not listed: check before you go.
• Fri.–Sun., Nov. 20–22, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Art Studio Tour, studios around Murfreesboro, Readyville and Woodbury. Free.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 11 a.m. Eastern (10 a.m. OUR time): History for Lunch: Railroading in the Overhill, McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, Athens, TN. Free; register ahead.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (Central — our time): Gobble Gobble Hey! Zine and Small Press Fest, Lowe Mill, Huntsville, AL. Listed as free: check before you go.
• Dec. 3, 4, 10 and 11 (Dec. 9 is sold out), Central — our time: Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater, Granville, TN. $35; reservations required.
• Wed.–Thu., Dec. 16–17, shows 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Eastern (12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. OUR time): Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Concert, Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Chattanooga. $61–$133.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Granville, the Art Studio Tour and Huntsville are on CENTRAL time like us. Niota, Athens and Chattanooga are EASTERN, one hour ahead. For those three, subtract an hour. And remember, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, before any of these. Set the clocks back one hour on Halloween night. The one-hour difference between us and Chattanooga stays the same.

🎄 Watch “Tennessee’s Mayberry” Light Up for Christmas in Historic Granville

Tucked on the shore of Cordell Hull Lake, Historic Granville calls itself “Tennessee’s Mayberry Town,” and at Christmas it means it. The town promises a Festival of Trees, an Antique Toy Show, Christmas characters on parade and gift shopping in little shops like the Granville Broom & Fiber Shop and Aunt Bee’s Quilt Shop & Bakery. The Sutton Historic Homestead is decorated this year around the theme “Stories of Family Christmas Traditions,” with guided tours. The season kicks off with an opening weekend.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri. and Sat., Nov. 13–14, 2026: Ladies Fashion Show & Luncheon, with early shopping at 9 a.m. and the fashion show at 11 a.m. Sun., Nov. 15: Christmas Open House, with all 13 venues open 11 a.m.–4 p.m., shop hours noon–4 p.m. and a holiday lunch at the Sutton General Store at 11 a.m., noon or 1 p.m. All Central — our time. Christmas decorations stay up through Dec. 31.
• Where: Historic Granville, 169 Clover St., Granville, TN (Jackson County).
• How far: About 83 miles, roughly 2 hours by way of McMinnville, Sparta and Cookeville. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Daily town tour tickets are $7 for adults, with special pricing for children and families. The ladies’ luncheon needs a reservation and its ticket includes a town tour; the price wasn’t on the page we read. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Andy Griffith fans, ladies’ church groups, antique toy lovers and anybody who likes a slow small-town Christmas.
• Good to know: Granville is usually closed Sunday through Tuesday, so the Nov. 15 open house is a special Sunday. Questions and reservations: (931) 653-4151.

👉 Read more (Historic Granville — Christmas in Granville)

🚂 Shop for Christmas Inside Niota’s Historic Train Depot

Niota is a tiny McMinn County town along the railroad, and its pride is the Niota Depot, a piece of Tennessee railroad history that the city now uses for gatherings. On this Saturday, the city hosts its Depot Holiday Bazaar: a day of local vendors, handmade crafts and a concession stand, all aimed at helping you find “just the right gift for that special someone.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 14, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. OUR time).
• Where: Niota Depot, 201 E. Main St., Niota, TN (McMinn County, between Athens and Sweetwater). The listing says the bazaar is in Niota and calls it the Depot Holiday Bazaar; check before you go to confirm it’s at the depot itself.
• How far: About 69 miles, roughly 1 hour 35 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed. Bazaars like this are usually free to walk through, but check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Train fans, early Christmas shoppers, crafters and anybody who likes a small-town bazaar with a snack stand.
• Good to know: Questions: Niota City Hall, (423) 568-2584, weekdays. Make a day of it: Athens and Sweetwater are each just a short drive away.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Home and Farm — Niota Holiday Bazaar)

🎨 Step Inside Real Artists’ Workshops on the Free Art Studio Tour

Ever wondered where a handmade bowl or painting actually gets made? Since 1994, the Stones River Crafts Association has held a free Art Studio Tour the weekend before Thanksgiving. Local artists open their own working studios so you can watch live demonstrations, hear artist talks and buy one-of-a-kind work right from the person who made it. This year’s hosts include Red Oak Pottery, Blue Pony Studio, Acorn Haven Studios, Tinkerings, Todd Art Gallery and the Arts Center of Cannon County.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri.–Sun., Nov. 20–22, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Studios spread around Rutherford and Cannon counties. One host, Blue Pony Art Studio, is at 88 Hoyt Knox Rd., Readyville, TN. The tour website has each host’s page; plan your loop before you leave.
• How far: Woodbury is about 57 miles (roughly 1 hour 20 minutes), Readyville about 67 miles (roughly 1 hour 30 minutes) and Murfreesboro about 76 miles (roughly 1 hour 45 minutes). Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. Bring money if you want to take something home.
• Who’ll love it: Potters, painters, woodworkers, curious grandkids and anybody shopping for handmade Christmas gifts.
• Good to know: Cannon County is the closest end of the tour to us. Questions: Stones River Crafts Association, (615) 273-2147.

👉 Read more (Art Studio Tour — hosts and studios)

🛤️ Hear How the Railroad Built the Overhill at a Free History Talk in Athens

The trains that run through Etowah, Athens and Niota shaped this whole corner of East Tennessee. At the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, Joshua Monroe of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga will give a talk on the history of railroading in the Overhill region. It’s part of the museum’s History for Lunch series, and this one is on a Saturday.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 21, 2026, 11 a.m. Eastern (10 a.m. OUR time). An end time wasn’t listed.
• Where: McMinn County Living Heritage Museum, 522 W. Madison Ave., Athens, TN.
• How far: About 63 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free admission. Please register ahead on the museum’s event page.
• Who’ll love it: Train buffs, history lovers, retired railroaders and grandkids who light up at the sound of a whistle.
• Good to know: Museum phone: (423) 745-0329. Make it a railroad day: the Niota Depot is about 15 minutes up the road, and Etowah’s L&N Depot isn’t far either.

👉 Read more (McMinn County Living Heritage Museum — Railroading in the Overhill)

📚 Browse Handmade Books and Little Magazines at Lowe Mill’s “Gobble Gobble Hey!”

A zine (say “zeen”) is a little homemade magazine, folded and stapled and full of somebody’s stories, drawings or know-how. At Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, a huge old cotton mill turned art center in Huntsville, the Gobble Gobble Hey! Zine and Small Press Fest fills a market with zines, comics, self-published and small-press books, book-making arts, letterpress and printmaking. You can meet the writers and printers, from hobbyists to professionals.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 21, 2026, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, 2211 Seminole Dr. SW, Huntsville, AL (first-floor connector, according to the event listings).
• How far: About 104 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. This one is right at the edge of our 100-mile circle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Huntsville event listings show it as free; Lowe Mill’s own page doesn’t mention a price. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Readers, writers, scrapbookers, teens who draw comics and anybody who remembers setting type or running a mimeograph.
• Good to know: Huntsville is on our time. Lowe Mill is full of working artists’ studios, so plan extra time to wander.

👉 Read more (Lowe Mill — Gobble Gobble Hey! Zine and Small Press Fest)

🎭 Laugh Along With Ernest T. Bass at Granville’s Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater

If you grew up on The Andy Griffith Show, this one’s for you. Historic Granville’s Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater serves supper in the historic Sutton General Store dining room and then puts on a live show in the town’s event center just steps away. This year’s bill: “My Fair Ernest T. Bass” and “Deputy Otis.” The town says it’s one of its most popular events.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When (all Central — our time): Thu., Dec. 3 at 3:30 or 5:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 4 at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 10 at 3:30 or 5:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 11 at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. The Dec. 9 shows are already sold out.
• Where: Sutton General Store and the Event Center, Historic Granville, 169 Clover St., Granville, TN.
• How far: About 83 miles, roughly 2 hours. For the evening shows, remember that’s a long, dark drive home on curvy roads. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $35. Reservations are required, online or by calling (931) 653-4151.
• Who’ll love it: Mayberry fans, couples looking for a date night, Sunday school classes and anybody who needs a good laugh.
• Good to know: The afternoon shows on Dec. 3 and 10 let you drive home in daylight. And on Sat., Dec. 12, Granville holds its Country Christmas with Breakfast with Santa (reservation required), a children’s program and a Christmas parade.

👉 Read more (Historic Granville — Mayberry Dinner Theater)

🕯️ Hear Christmas Carols by the Light of 2,000 Candles in a Chattanooga Basilica

Picture a grand old church glowing with more than two thousand flickering candles and a “forest of Christmas trees,” with an orchestra and singers filling it with beloved Christmas music. That’s the Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour, and it stops at Chattanooga’s Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for two days. The organizers call it “a nostalgic, candlelit escape from the noise of the world.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Wed. and Thu., Dec. 16–17, 2026. Shows at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Eastern (12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. OUR time). Doors open about 45 minutes to an hour before each show.
• Where: Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 214 E. 8th St., Chattanooga, TN.
• How far: About 30 miles, roughly 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app, and allow time for downtown parking.
• Cost: $61 to $133, fees included. All sales are final. Groups of 10 or more get 10% off.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, grandparents treating grandkids, choir lovers and anybody who wants one quiet, beautiful hour before Christmas.
• Good to know: No infants under 2, and children under 16 must come with an adult. The venue is listed as ADA accessible. The 1:30 p.m. Eastern matinee (12:30 our time) gets you home before dark.

👉 Read more (Vienna Light Orchestra — Chattanooga)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Fri.–Sat., Nov. 13–14, 9 a.m. shopping, 11 a.m. show (Central — our time): Granville Ladies Fashion Show & Luncheon. Reservation required.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. OUR time (10–4 Eastern): Niota Depot Holiday Bazaar.
• Sun., Nov. 15, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central — our time): Christmas Open House, Historic Granville.
• Fri.–Sun., Nov. 20–22, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Art Studio Tour, Murfreesboro area and Cannon County. Free.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 10 a.m. OUR time (11 Eastern): Railroading in the Overhill talk, Athens. Free; register.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. (Central — our time): Gobble Gobble Hey! Zine Fest, Lowe Mill, Huntsville.
• Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11 (Central — our time): Mayberry Christmas Dinner Theater, Granville. $35. Call (931) 653-4151.
• Dec. 16–17, 12:30, 3:30 or 6:30 p.m. OUR time: Vienna Light Orchestra, Chattanooga basilica. $61–$133.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Granville, the Art Studio Tour and Huntsville are Central — our time. Niota, Athens and Chattanooga are Eastern — subtract an hour.
• ✅ Book early for the ones that need it: the Granville luncheon, the Mayberry dinner theater (one date already sold out), the Athens railroad talk (free, but register) and the candlelight concert (no refunds).
• ✅ Nov. 14 and Nov. 21 are pick-one Saturdays. On Nov. 21, the railroad talk and the art tour are both closer than Huntsville.
• ✅ Make a railroad day: pair the Niota depot (Nov. 14) or the Athens talk (Nov. 21) with lunch in Athens.
• ✅ Pick the afternoon shows in Granville and Chattanooga if you’d rather not drive the mountain home in the dark.
• ✅ Bring cash for bazaar vendors, artists and small shops.
• ✅ 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 seven of these outings are new for article #70. We’ve covered other events in some of the same places, like Lowe Mill’s Christmas market, Etowah’s Gem Theater concerts and Sweetwater’s Small Town Christmas, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

The Art Studio Tour and the Athens railroad talk are free (register for the talk). The Lowe Mill zine fest is listed as free by Huntsville event sites. The Niota bazaar didn’t list a cost. Granville town tour tickets are $7 for adults, the Mayberry dinner theater is $35 and the candlelight concert runs $61 to $133.

Which ones are best for kids?

The Art Studio Tour lets kids watch potters and painters at work. Teens who like to draw will enjoy the zine fest. Granville’s Dec. 12 Country Christmas has Breakfast with Santa and a children’s program. The candlelight concert doesn’t allow infants under 2.

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

The Athens railroad talk and the Mayberry dinner theater are sit-down events. The candlelight concert is seated, and the venue is listed as ADA accessible. The Niota bazaar is in one building. Granville and the Art Studio Tour involve some walking or driving between stops, so take them at your own pace.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. So are Granville, Murfreesboro, Readyville, Woodbury and Huntsville, Ala. Niota, Athens and Chattanooga are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, before all of these events.

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, the local tourism calendar or local news 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

• Historic Granville — Christmas in Granville schedule
• Historic Granville — Mayberry Dinner Theater tickets
• Tennessee Home and Farm — Niota Holiday Bazaar
• City of Niota — Niota Depot
• Art Studio Tour — studio hosts
• McMinn County Living Heritage Museum — Railroading in the Overhill registration
• Lowe Mill — Gobble Gobble Hey! Zine and Small Press Fest
• Vienna Light Orchestra — Chattanooga tickets
• 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 craft table in an old train depot, a Christmas tree in Mayberry, a potter’s wheel spinning, a story about the trains that built our towns, a little handmade book, a good laugh at Ernest T. Bass and one quiet hour of carols by candlelight 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.