🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Walk Through Millions of Lights at a Waterfall, Watch a Turkey Ride a Fire Truck, Taste the Holidays in Harriman, Light the Depot in Spring City and Cheer a Storybook Parade in Livingston

Or: Six Small-Town Holiday Outings in Tennessee and North Alabama — Six New Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Good evening, neighbor. Settle in with something warm. Here’s batch number eighty-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 is all small-town holiday cheer, in both directions off the mountain. On Nov. 13–14, shops in Rainsville, Ala., throw a Holiday Open House. Starting Nov. 13, Christmas at the Falls lights up Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Ala., every night into January. On Thursday, Nov. 19, Albertville’s Turkey & Tinsel on Main parade starts with a turkey riding in on a fire truck. On Saturday, Nov. 21, Roane’s Taste of the Holidays fills Walden Street in Harriman. On Saturday, Nov. 28, Spring City holds Christmas at the Depot. And on Saturday, Dec. 12, Livingston’s Storybook Christmas parade honors Dolly Parton’s love of books.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri.–Sat., Nov. 13–14 (Central time): Rainsville Holiday Open House, Rainsville, Ala. Hours not posted; check before you go.
• Nightly from Nov. 13 to Jan. 2 (Central time): Christmas at the Falls, Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden, Ala. Ticketed; kids 3 and under free.
• Thu., Nov. 19 (Central time): Turkey & Tinsel on Main parade, downtown Albertville, Ala. No spectator fee posted.
• Sat., Nov. 21 (Eastern time): Roane’s Taste of the Holidays, Walden Street, Harriman. Free kid zone and Santa photos.
• Sat., Nov. 28 (Eastern time): Christmas at the Depot, Spring City. Free admission listed; 2026 times not posted yet.
• Sat., Dec. 12 (Central time): Livingston/Overton County Christmas Parade, “A Storybook Christmas.” No spectator fee posted.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Four of these are on OUR Central time. Two are on Eastern. The Alabama trips and Livingston keep the same clock as Dunlap. Harriman and Spring City are on Eastern time, one hour ahead, so subtract an hour for those two. And daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 1, so set the clocks back one hour Saturday night.

🛍️ Start the Season at the Rainsville Holiday Open House

Small-town Christmas shopping has a charm the big stores can’t match. Each November, the Rainsville Chamber of Commerce rounds up local businesses for a Holiday Open House on Sand Mountain. It’s a good excuse for a slow drive, a little browsing and a country lunch. The chamber posts a list of the shops taking part.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13–14, 2026 (Central time, same as ours). Hours aren’t posted and may vary by shop. Check before you go.
• Where: Participating businesses around Rainsville, Ala., in DeKalb County. The chamber is at 115 Main Street W.
• How far: About 80 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission listed. It’s shopping, so bring your list.
• Who’ll love it: Shoppers who’d rather buy local, and anybody who enjoys a quiet country drive.
• Good to know: Look at the chamber’s list of participating businesses before you leave, so you know where to stop. You can pair it with Christmas at the Falls in Gadsden the same evening.

👉 Read more (Rainsville Chamber — Holiday Open House)

✨ Stroll Through Millions of Lights at Christmas at the Falls

Picture a waterfall park all dressed up for Christmas. Christmas at the Falls is one of Alabama’s favorite holiday traditions. The park says millions of sparkling lights line its winding paths, with festive decorations and lit-up gardens everywhere you turn. It runs almost every night for seven weeks, so you can pick a dry, mild evening.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Nightly, Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 2, 2027, 4–10 p.m. Central (our time). Closed Nov. 16–19 and Dec. 24–25.
• Where: Noccalula Falls Park, 1500 Noccalula Rd., Gadsden, Ala.
• How far: About 115 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. That’s a little past our 100-mile line, and the farthest trip on this list. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Tickets are sold through the park’s website. Children 3 and under are free. Adult prices weren’t posted on the page we checked. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Grandkids who love Christmas lights, and couples looking for a pretty evening walk.
• Good to know: It’s a long drive home in the dark. Go on a weekend, arrive near opening time, and plan to be back on the road early.

👉 Read more (Noccalula Falls Park — Christmas at the Falls)

🦃 Watch a Turkey Ride a Fire Truck in Albertville

Why pick between Thanksgiving and Christmas when you can have both in one parade? Turkey & Tinsel on Main kicks off with the chamber’s signature turkey riding in on a fire truck and ends with Santa on the final float. In between come marching bands, festive floats, local groups and businesses. It’s quirky, it’s short, and it’s pure small-town fun.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, 5:30–7 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Downtown Albertville, Ala.
• How far: About 100 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No spectator fee is posted. The $10 fee on the chamber’s page is for groups entering the parade, not for people watching.
• Who’ll love it: Kids who’ll giggle at a turkey on a fire truck, and anybody who loves a hometown parade.
• Good to know: It’s a weeknight evening event with a long drive back. Bring a blanket or folding chair, and think about an early supper in town before it starts.

👉 Read more (Albertville Chamber — Turkey & Tinsel on Main)

🎅 Taste the Holidays on Walden Street in Harriman

Harriman’s historic downtown is a pretty place to start the holiday season. Roane’s Taste of the Holidays, put on by the Roane County Chamber, brings local vendors, food trucks, live holiday music from local groups and students, a free Holiday Kid Zone, letters to Santa and free photos with Santa. The chamber is also handing out free shopping bags while they last.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern (that’s 9 a.m.–3 p.m. our time).
• Where: Walden Street, downtown Harriman.
• How far: About 75 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission is listed. The kid zone and Santa photos are free. Food and shopping are extra.
• Who’ll love it: Families with little ones, and folks who like to snack their way down a main street.
• Good to know: Bring your own phone or camera for the Santa photo. Free shopping bags go fast, so earlier is better.

👉 Read more (Roane County Chamber — Taste of the Holidays)

🚂 Light Up the Depot at Spring City’s Christmas at the Depot

Spring City is a short, pretty drive up the valley. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, it holds Christmas at the Depot on Front Street and the Depot Lawn. Listings describe a Christmas parade, a craft fair, a kids’ Christmas pageant, gingerbread houses, snowball fights, food trucks and pictures with Santa. The town approved the 2026 parade and depot lighting on Oct. 1.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026 (Eastern time). The town set this date in its planning minutes. The 2026 times haven’t been posted. Last year, vendors opened at noon, the parade went at 2 p.m., and the depot lighting was at 6 p.m. Eastern. Check before you go.
• Where: Front Street and the Depot Lawn, 390 Front St., Spring City.
• How far: About 50 miles, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. That makes it the closest trip on this list. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free admission, according to a festival listing. Food, crafts and any carriage rides are extra.
• Who’ll love it: Train lovers, grandkids ready for a snowball fight, and anybody who loves a hometown tree-lighting.
• Good to know: The listing says the event is on a paved street and a level lawn, so it’s easy for walkers. It goes on rain or shine.

👉 Read more (Christmas at the Depot listing)

📚 Cheer “A Storybook Christmas” Parade in Livingston

This year’s Livingston/Overton County Christmas Parade has a sweet theme. “A Storybook Christmas” honors Dolly Parton and her lifelong love of books. The chamber notes that Dolly’s Imagination Library has given free books to Overton County children from birth to age 5. Floats will be based on holiday stories like A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! It’s the 61st year of the parade.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 4 p.m. Central (our time). The chamber lists it from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Livingston, Overton County. The 2026 route hasn’t been posted.
• How far: About 80 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No spectator fee is posted. The $10 fee is for parade entries.
• Who’ll love it: Book lovers, Dolly fans and families with young readers.
• Good to know: The chamber says the parade goes on in light rain or snow. If severe weather cancels it, they’ll announce it by noon that day on their social media and local news.

👉 Read more (Livingston/Overton County Chamber — Christmas Parade)

✅ 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 (Central — our time): Rainsville Holiday Open House, Rainsville, Ala.
• Nightly, Nov. 13–Jan. 2 (Central — our time): Christmas at the Falls, Gadsden, Ala., 4–10 p.m. Closed Nov. 16–19 and Dec. 24–25.
• Thu., Nov. 19 (Central — our time): Turkey & Tinsel on Main, Albertville, Ala., 5:30 p.m.
• Sat., Nov. 21 (Eastern — subtract an hour): Roane’s Taste of the Holidays, Harriman.
• Sat., Nov. 28 (Eastern — subtract an hour): Christmas at the Depot, Spring City.
• Sat., Dec. 12 (Central — our time): Storybook Christmas Parade, Livingston, 4 p.m.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Harriman and Spring City are Eastern — subtract an hour. The other four are on our time.
• ✅ Closest to home: Spring City, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Farthest: Gadsden and Albertville, a little over 2 hours.
• ✅ Two are evening events (Christmas at the Falls and the Albertville parade). Plan for driving home after dark.
• ✅ Parades are cold to stand through. Pack gloves, a warm hat, a folding chair and a thermos.
• ✅ Check the event page the week before. Spring City’s times, Rainsville’s hours and the Gadsden ticket prices still need to be posted.
• ✅ 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 are new for article #86.

Why are some times missing?

Some organizers haven’t posted their 2026 details yet. Spring City has set its date but not its schedule, so we shared last year’s times as a guide. Rainsville’s open house hours depend on each shop. Where we don’t know something, we say so.

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

Spring City’s event is on a paved street and a level lawn. The parades in Albertville and Livingston let you sit in one spot with a folding chair. Christmas at the Falls is a walking trail of lights, so wear comfortable shoes and take your time.

Is Gadsden really within 100 miles?

Not quite. Noccalula Falls Park is about 115 miles away, a little past our usual line. We included it because it runs almost every night for seven weeks, so you can pick the best evening to go.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central time. So are Overton County (Livingston) and all of Alabama. Rhea County (Spring City) and Roane County (Harriman) are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, Nov. 1, but the one-hour difference stays the same all year.

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

• Noccalula Falls Park — hours, tickets and directions
• Alabama Tourism — 2026 Christmas at the Falls
• Albertville Chamber of Commerce
• Roane County Chamber — Taste of the Holidays
• Livingston/Overton County Chamber — Events calendar
• Visit Lookout Mountain — Rainsville Holiday Open House
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Easy Does It This Season

The holidays don’t have to be a rush. A slow drive to a small town, a cup of cocoa on a main street, and a parade you can watch from a folding chair. That’s a calm, happy way to welcome the season. Pick one, mark the calendar, 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.