🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Lenoir City's Holiday Open House Starts Tomorrow, a Winchester Craft Fair, Guntersville's Harbor Tree Lighting, Cookeville's Christmas on the Square, Rome's Big Parade, Crossville Lights and Candle Tours in Chickamauga

Or: Seven New Outings, From Tomorrow Through Mid-December

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, November 5, 2026

Morning, neighbor. This batch starts tomorrow and carries you into mid-December. On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6–7, Historic Downtown Lenoir City holds its Holiday Open House along Broadway. Winchester’s Craft Fair at the Square fills Saturday, Nov. 14. Guntersville lights the City Harbor Christmas tree on Thursday, Nov. 19. Cookeville’s free Christmas on the Square and courthouse tree lighting land on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 28. Rome, Ga., rolls its big Christmas parade on Tuesday night, Dec. 1. Crossville lights the tree at the Depot on Friday, Dec. 4. And Chickamauga’s historic Gordon-Lee Mansion opens for candlelight tours on Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12. What it means for you: several are free, the mansion tours have a clear ticket price, and Lenoir City, Rome and Chickamauga run on Eastern time.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri.–Sat., Nov. 6–7, 10 a.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday (Eastern): Holiday Open House, Lenoir City. This weekend.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (Central): Craft Fair at the Square, Winchester.
• Thu., Nov. 19, 6–8 p.m. (Central): City Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting, Guntersville. Free to watch.
• Sat., Nov. 28, 2–5 p.m., lighting at 5 p.m. (Central): Christmas on the Square, Cookeville. Free.
• Tue., Dec. 1, 7–9 p.m. (Eastern): Rome Christmas Parade, Rome, Ga. Free to watch.
• Fri., Dec. 4, 4 p.m., lighting at 5 p.m. (Central): Christmas Tree Lighting, Crossville Depot. Free.
• Fri.–Sat., Dec. 4–5 and 11–12, 6–8 p.m. (Eastern): Candle Light Tours, Gordon-Lee Mansion, Chickamauga. $10 adults / $2 kids.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Lenoir City, Rome and Chickamauga run an hour ahead of us. For those three, subtract one hour to get Dunlap time. Lenoir City’s open house opens at 10 a.m. Eastern, which is 9 a.m. our time. Rome’s parade starts at 7 p.m. Eastern, which is 6 p.m. our time. The Gordon-Lee candle tours start at 6 p.m. Eastern, which is 5 p.m. our time. Winchester, Guntersville, Cookeville and Crossville are on Central time, same as Dunlap.

🛍️ Get a Head Start on Gifts at Lenoir City’s Holiday Open House

If you’ve been meaning to shop small before Thanksgiving, this is your weekend. Historic Downtown Lenoir City Merchants Association invites folks to stroll Broadway for the Holiday Open House, with festive décor, unique gifts and that Main Street feeling we like better than a big-box parking lot. Shop hours can vary by store, so plan a leisurely browse rather than a race.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, from 10 a.m. Eastern through Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. Eastern (that’s 9 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. Saturday our time).
• Where: Historic Downtown / Broadway, Lenoir City, TN.
• How far: About 95 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes from Dunlap.
• Cost: Strolling and window-shopping are free. Bring money for the shops. Individual store hours can shift, so check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Early Christmas shoppers, couples on a day trip and anyone who likes a small downtown.
• Good to know: This one is tomorrow and Saturday, so it’s the soonest trip on the list. Loudon County is on Eastern time.

👉 Read more (AllEvents — Lenoir City Holiday Open House)

🎨 Shop Handmade at Winchester’s Craft Fair at the Square

Winchester’s downtown square turns into a craft morning on mid-November Saturday. The WFUMC Craft Fair at the Square brings handcrafted goods, live bluegrass and food trucks — the kind of easy stop where you can find a gift and eat lunch without overthinking it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central time, same as ours.
• Where: 100 S. Jefferson St., Winchester, TN (WFUMC / the square).
• How far: About 58 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Dunlap.
• Cost: Admission isn’t listed, so check before you go. Bring cash for vendors and food trucks.
• Who’ll love it: Crafters, bluegrass fans and families who like a Saturday morning market.
• Good to know: It opens at 9 a.m., which suits us early risers.

👉 Read more (AllEvents — Craft Fair at the Square)

🎄 Watch Guntersville Light the City Harbor Tree

If a lakeside kickoff sounds better than another indoor mall run, head south for Guntersville’s City Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting. Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected, and the Guntersville school choirs perform — a simple, free evening on the grass by the water.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m. Central time, same as ours.
• Where: City Harbor, Paddle Wheel Drive, Guntersville, AL (on the grass).
• How far: About 110–120 miles, roughly 2 hours from Dunlap — a little past our usual hundred-mile line, so treat it as a special evening trip.
• Cost: Free to watch. Bring money for nearby treats if you stay for dinner.
• Who’ll love it: Families with kids who want to see Santa, choir fans and anyone who likes a harbor view.
• Good to know: A weeknight lighting means less weekend traffic, but leave Dunlap by about 3:30 p.m. if you want a calm drive.

👉 Read more (Lake Guntersville Chamber — City Harbor Tree Lighting)

✨ Join Cookeville’s Free Christmas on the Square

Cookeville packs a whole afternoon of free family fun into the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The 3rd Annual Christmas on the Square brings train rides, bounce houses, ornament-making, Santa photos and carolers, then lights the courthouse lawn tree at 5 p.m. Think of it as Shop Small Saturday with a light switch at the end.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, 2 to 5 p.m., with the courthouse tree lighting at 5 p.m. Central time, same as ours.
• Where: Downtown Cookeville / 421 E. Spring St. (confirm parking and the exact square corner before you go).
• How far: About 74 miles, roughly 1 hour 25 minutes from Dunlap.
• Cost: Free.
• Who’ll love it: Grandkids, early shoppers and anyone who wants a one-afternoon holiday kickoff.
• Good to know: Everything happens in a three-hour window, so plan to be there before 2:30 if you want the rides and Santa without a rush. The Dogwood Park city tree lighting is a separate night on Dec. 6.

👉 Read more (AllEvents — Christmas on the Square)

🎅 Wave at Rome’s Christmas Parade

Rome, Ga., calls this Northwest Georgia’s oldest and largest Christmas parade, and the 2026 theme is “Christmastime — It’s for the Kids.” It rolls down Broad Street on a Tuesday night, with a rain date the following Thursday if the weather turns.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern (6 to 8 p.m. our time). Rain date: Thursday, Dec. 5.
• Where: Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161.
• How far: About 100–105 miles, roughly 2 hours from Dunlap.
• Cost: Free to watch. Arrive early for a curb spot.
• Who’ll love it: Parade fans, families and anyone who likes a big small-town Christmas night.
• Good to know: Leave by mid-afternoon our time. Watch local radio and the parade site if the forecast looks wet — the rain date is Dec. 5.

👉 Read more (Rome Christmas Parade)

🚂 Watch Crossville Light the Depot Tree

Crossville keeps this one simple and sweet: gather at the Depot, start around 4 p.m., and light the tree at 5. It’s a short, free stop that pairs well with a plateau supper or a later shopping trip downtown.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Dec. 4, 2026, starts at 4 p.m., lighting at 5 p.m. Central time, same as ours.
• Where: The Crossville Depot, downtown Crossville, TN.
• How far: About 61 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Dunlap.
• Cost: Free.
• Who’ll love it: Families, early risers who like an early-evening outing and folks who want a low-key tree lighting.
• Good to know: The same Depot hosts the free United Fund Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the same day as Crossville’s Christmas parade — handy if you want a return trip.

👉 Read more (Crossville Chamber — Christmas Tree Lighting)

🕯️ Tour the Gordon-Lee Mansion by Candlelight

For something quieter than a parade, Chickamauga’s Gordon-Lee Mansion opens for evening Candle Light Tours on four December nights. The 1840s house is furnished with antiques and carries a heavy Civil War history — a calm, ticketed tour rather than a crowd on the curb.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4–5, and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11–12, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m. Eastern (5 to 7 p.m. our time).
• Where: 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga, GA 30707.
• How far: About 47 miles, roughly 1 hour from Dunlap — the closest stop on this list.
• Cost: $10 adults, $2 children 12 and under for candlelight tours (regular daytime tours are cheaper).
• Who’ll love it: History fans, couples and anyone who prefers a quiet evening tour to a loud parade.
• Good to know: Call the Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion at 423-488-0861 or check their Facebook page if weather or hours shift. Georgia is on Eastern time.

👉 Read more (Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Fri.–Sat., Nov. 6–7 (this weekend): Lenoir City Holiday Open House, 10 a.m. Eastern Friday = 9 a.m. our time.
• Sat., Nov. 14: Winchester Craft Fair at the Square, 9 a.m. (Central).
• Thu., Nov. 19: Guntersville City Harbor tree lighting, 6 p.m. (Central).
• Sat., Nov. 28: Cookeville Christmas on the Square, 2–5 p.m., lighting at 5 (Central).
• Tue., Dec. 1: Rome Christmas Parade, 7 p.m. Eastern = 6 p.m. our time.
• Fri., Dec. 4: Crossville Depot tree lighting, 4 p.m. / lights at 5 (Central).
• Dec. 4–5 and 11–12: Gordon-Lee candle tours, 6 p.m. Eastern = 5 p.m. our time.

Before you head out, a quick checklist:

• 🕰️ Subtract one hour for Lenoir City, Rome and Chickamauga. The other four are on our time.
• 📅 Lenoir City is this weekend — leave Friday morning if you want the full browse.
• 🎫 Bring cash or a card for the Gordon-Lee tours ($10 / $2) and for craft vendors.
• 🌧️ Watch the Rome rain date (Thursday, Dec. 5) if the forecast looks wet.
• 💵 Bring cash for markets, food trucks and downtown shops.
• ⛽ Fill up before you leave, especially for Guntersville or Rome. Need a local mechanic or gas stop? Look on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these are free?

Watching the Guntersville tree lighting, Cookeville’s Christmas on the Square, the Rome parade and the Crossville Depot lighting are free. Strolling Lenoir City’s open house is free (you pay for what you buy). The Winchester craft fair’s admission wasn’t listed when we checked. Gordon-Lee candle tours are $10 for adults and $2 for kids 12 and under.

Which one is closest to Dunlap?

The Gordon-Lee Mansion in Chickamauga, about 47 miles. Crossville and Winchester are each about an hour.

Which ones are on Eastern time?

Three: Lenoir City, Rome and Chickamauga. Winchester, Guntersville, Cookeville and Crossville are on Central time, same as us.

Can I bring the grandkids?

Yes to most of these. Cookeville’s square party is built for kids. The Guntersville lighting and Rome parade are easy curb watches. The Gordon-Lee candle tours welcome children at $2 each; it’s a quiet historic house, so dress them for an indoor evening tour.

Can I pair any of these in one trip?

On Friday, Dec. 4, you could catch Crossville’s Depot lighting at 5 p.m. our time, then — if you still have energy — drive toward Chickamauga for a Gordon-Lee candle tour that evening (doors at 5 p.m. our time). That’s a long day; most folks will pick one. Lenoir City this weekend stands alone as a Broadway shopping trip.

Is Guntersville really within 100 miles?

It’s a little over — roughly 110 to 120 road miles — so we flagged it as a special evening trip. Give yourself a full evening and a filled gas tank.

🔗 Other Resources

• AllEvents — Lenoir City Holiday Open House
• AllEvents — Craft Fair at the Square, Winchester
• Lake Guntersville Chamber — City Harbor Tree Lighting
• AllEvents — Christmas on the Square, Cookeville
• Rome Christmas Parade
• Crossville Chamber — Christmas Tree Lighting
• Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion — Candle Light Tours
• Cumberland County United Fund Holiday Market (Crossville Depot, Dec. 12)
• Dunlap.Directory — local businesses and services

🌅 Take It Easy, and Pick the One That Fits

You don’t have to do all seven. If you want to get out soon, Lenoir City’s Holiday Open House is tomorrow and Saturday, opening at 9 a.m. our time. For later, jot down three things: the Winchester craft fair on Saturday, Nov. 14, Cookeville’s free square party on Saturday, Nov. 28, and a Gordon-Lee candle tour night if you want a quiet historic evening. A gift found early, a harbor tree, a courthouse lighting or a candlelit parlor: there’s plenty of good cheer within an easy drive. And for more calm, useful news from right here at home, keep reading Dunlap.Today and find local help on Dunlap.Directory.