🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Hear Live Music Under the Rockets in Huntsville, Shop a Gingerbread Market and a Chattanooga Artists' Studio Sale, Browse Tullahoma's Kiwanis Kraft Show, Catch a Plateau Sunset at Pogue Creek and Make Snowflakes or Sketch on Burritt Mountain

Or: Seven Fresh Pre-Thanksgiving Outings, From Rocket-Park Music to a Ranger-Led Sunset, All on Our Own Central Time

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Morning, neighbor. Here are seven outings we haven’t told you about before, and most of them land on the weekend before Thanksgiving. On Friday evening, Nov. 20, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center hosts Rocket Sessions, an outdoor picnic concert in Rocket Park. That same weekend, Nov. 20–21, you can shop the Gingerbread Marketplace in Huntsville (100-plus crafters and free photos with Santa), the Townsend Atelier Holiday Art Show and Sale in Chattanooga (more than 350 works by 12 local artists), or the Tullahoma Kiwanis Kraft Show, complete with a Methodist women’s bake sale. On Saturday, Nov. 21, a ranger leads a small-group sunset hike to the Pogue Creek gorge near Jamestown, and Burritt on the Mountain teaches a crochet snowflake class. Then on Saturday, Nov. 28, Burritt sets up plein air easels with pencils and pastels for anyone who wants to sketch. What it means for you: several of these are cheap or free to browse, there’s something for shoppers, music lovers, hikers and crafters, and every one of them is on Central time, same as your kitchen clock.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri., Nov. 20, gates 5:15 p.m., music 6 p.m.: Rocket Sessions with Josh Allison, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville. Listed free to $5.
• Fri., Nov. 20, 4–8 p.m. & Sat., Nov. 21, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.: Gingerbread Marketplace, Alabama A&M Agribition Center, Huntsville. $5; kids 12 and under free.
• Fri., Nov. 20, 5–8 p.m. & Sat., Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.: Townsend Atelier Holiday Art Show and Sale, Chattanooga. Browsing is open to the public.
• Fri., Nov. 20, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. & Sat., Nov. 21, 9 a.m.–about 4 p.m.: Tullahoma Kiwanis Kraft Show and bake sale, Tullahoma.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 3:30 p.m. sharp: Pogue Creek Sunset Hike, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park area, near Jamestown. $5; only 10 spots.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Crochet Snowflakes class, Burritt on the Mountain, Huntsville. $100; register by Nov. 14.
• Sat., Nov. 28, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.: Makers Plein Air sketching, Burritt on the Mountain. Cost not listed.

📝 The one thing to remember: two of these need a spot saved ahead. The Pogue Creek hike is capped at 10 people, and the crochet class closes registration Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. Everything else you can just show up for. And the clock is easy: all seven are on Central time, same as Dunlap.

🚀 Picnic Under the Rockets at Rocket Sessions in Huntsville

Here’s a Friday night you won’t find anywhere else: live music in an outdoor amphitheater with the rockets of Rocket Park standing tall around you. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Rocket Sessions invites folks to bring their own picnic and listen to local artist Josh Allison. Beer and wine are sold on site.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Nov. 20. Gates open at 5:15 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m., and the listing runs until 9 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: Rocket Park amphitheater, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Choose Huntsville lists it at free to $5. Check before you go for the exact price.
• Who’ll love it: Space fans, couples looking for a different kind of date night and families who’d enjoy a picnic supper with a view of real rockets.
• Good to know: It’s outdoors after dark in late November, so bring blankets, a jacket and a lawn chair. Museum questions: 1-800-637-7223. It’s a long drive home at night, so plan a rested driver.

👉 Read more (U.S. Space & Rocket Center — Rocket Sessions)

🍪 Shop 100-Plus Crafters and Get a Free Santa Photo at the Gingerbread Marketplace

The Gingerbread Marketplace turns 12 this year, and it’s built for folks who like to buy local and find gifts nobody else will have. Organizers promise more than 100 crafters and local vendors: on-site monogramming, handmade jewelry, candles, soaps, home decor, boutique clothing, children’s clothes, yard art and specialty foods, plus food trucks and a photo booth.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Nov. 20, 4–8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Central.
• Where: Alabama A&M University Agribition Center, 4925 Moores Mill Road, Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5 admission; children 12 and under free; free parking.
• Who’ll love it: Christmas list makers, grandparents shopping for grandkids and anyone who loves a big craft show.
• Good to know: Free photos with Santa, so bring your own camera or phone. Pair Friday’s market with Rocket Sessions the same evening and you’ve got a full Huntsville day.

👉 Read more (event listing — 2026 Gingerbread Marketplace)

🎨 Walk Into a Working Artists’ Studio for Chattanooga’s Townsend Atelier Holiday Sale

Ever wanted to own a real painting by a Chattanooga artist? Once a year, Townsend Atelier opens its doors for a holiday art show and sale. Twelve well-known local artists pull treasures from their studios, sketchbooks and portfolios: more than 350 works, including sketches, drawings, paintings, collages, etchings, monotypes and small sculptures. Organizers say the work is priced for every wallet, large and small, framed and unframed.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Nov. 20, 5–8 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Central.
• Where: Townsend Atelier, 301 E. 11th St., Chattanooga.
• How far: About 40 miles, roughly 50 minutes to 1 hour down the valley. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: The public is invited; no admission fee was mentioned. Art prices vary. Check before you go if that matters to you.
• Who’ll love it: Art lovers, anyone hunting for a one-of-a-kind gift and folks who’d enjoy chatting with the artists who made the work.
• Good to know: Participating artists include Timur Akhriev, Mia Bergeron, Hollie Chastain, Ann Currey, Cindy Procious, Stan Townsend and others. The Saturday morning hours make it an easy half-day trip.

👉 Read more (Chattanoogan.com — Townsend Atelier Holiday Art Show and Sale)

🧶 Browse Quilts, Leatherwork and a Church Bake Sale at the Tullahoma Kiwanis Kraft Show

This is the old-fashioned kind of craft show our mothers loved. The Tullahoma Kiwanis Kraft Show brings handmade work from craftsmen across Southern Middle Tennessee: jewelry, leather goods, clothing, quilts, handbags, plus canned goods, homemade baked goods and candy. The church’s Methodist Women’s Bake Sale runs right alongside it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to around 4 p.m. Central.
• Where: Tullahoma First Methodist Church Family Activity Center, 210 W. Lauderdale St., Tullahoma.
• How far: About 65 miles, roughly 1 hour 15–25 minutes by way of Altamont and Manchester. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Admission wasn’t mentioned in the announcement; check before you go. Bring cash for the bake sale.
• Who’ll love it: Quilt lovers, folks who’d rather buy a gift from the person who made it, and anybody who can’t pass a table of homemade pies.
• Good to know: Booth rentals and snack bar sales go to Kiwanis programs that help Tullahoma-area children. Questions: show chair Bob Barksdale, 931-581-3683.

👉 Read more (Tullahoma News — Kiwanis Kraft Show set for Nov. 20–21)

🌄 Watch the Sun Go Down Over the Pogue Creek Gorge With a Ranger

Up on the northern plateau near the Kentucky line, Ranger Hatton of Pickett CCC Memorial State Park leads a 1.9-mile round-trip hike to the edge of the Pogue Creek Canyon gorge to watch the sunset from the Pogue Creek Mesa overlook. Pickett is a designated Dark Sky park, so the walk out at dusk has its own quiet magic.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 3:30–6 p.m. Central. It starts promptly at 3:30, so arrive on time.
• Where: Meet at the Pogue Creek Overlook trailhead / Astronomy Field, about 2 miles south of the Pickett State Park office along Highway 154. The group shuttles from there to the Mesa Top trail on Black House Mountain Road. Park office: 4605 Pickett Park Hwy., Jamestown.
• How far: About 100–105 miles, roughly 2 hours by way of Crossville and Jamestown. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5.
• Who’ll love it: Photographers, sunset chasers and steady walkers who want a small-group outing.
• Good to know: Rated moderate; wear good shoes and bring water and a flashlight or headlamp for the walk back. Limited to 10 people, so register early. The park asks for volunteers with vehicles to help shuttle. Ranger contact: 931-879-5821. You’ll be driving home in the dark, about two hours.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Pogue Creek Sunset Hike)

❄️ Learn to Crochet Lace Snowflakes at Burritt on the Mountain

Here’s a keepsake class for the holidays. Huntsville author and fiber artist Amanda Banks, who learned traditional Irish crochet from her great-grandmother, teaches you to make crochet lace snowflakes out of cotton yarn. Beginners learn the five basic stitches, how to read a chart and how to block the snowflakes into shape; experienced folks can play with stitch patterns.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Central. Registration closes Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.
• Where: Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr., Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $100 ($80 tuition plus a $20 supply fee). All materials provided. When we checked, the site showed 8 spots left.
• Who’ll love it: Grandmothers who always meant to learn, crafters who want handmade ornaments and anyone who loves heritage skills.
• Good to know: Students must be 19 or older. A quarter of the ticket price is a non-refundable deposit, and there are no refunds within 30 days of class, so be sure before you sign up. Burritt: 256-536-2882.

👉 Read more (Burritt on the Mountain — Crochet Snowflakes)

✏️ Sketch the View at Burritt’s Makers Plein Air the Saturday After Thanksgiving

“Plein air” just means drawing outdoors, and Burritt makes it easy. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, staff set up easels around the grounds stocked with pencils, pastels and paper, so you can sit down and sketch the old buildings and mountain views. No art skills needed; just curiosity.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Central.
• Where: Around the grounds at Burritt on the Mountain, 3101 Burritt Dr., Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed on the event page. Regular Burritt admission may apply; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Kids home for the holiday, grandparents who doodle and anyone wanting a calm afternoon after the Thanksgiving rush.
• Good to know: Burritt is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday noon–4 p.m. Dress warm; the easels are outside.

👉 Read more (Burritt on the Mountain — Makers Plein Air)

✅ Your Trip-Planning Checklist

• ✅ Clock check: All seven outings are on Central time, same as Dunlap. No math needed.
• ✅ By Sat., Nov. 14, 5 p.m.: Register for the crochet snowflake class if you want in ($100).
• ✅ Now: Register for the Pogue Creek Sunset Hike ($5). Only 10 spots.
• ✅ Fri., Nov. 20: Gingerbread Marketplace 4–8 p.m., then Rocket Sessions (gates 5:15, music 6) in Huntsville. Bring a blanket and lawn chair.
• ✅ Fri.–Sat., Nov. 20–21: Townsend Atelier art sale, Chattanooga, and the Kiwanis Kraft Show, Tullahoma. Bring cash for bake sales and small vendors.
• ✅ Sat., Nov. 21, 3:30 p.m. sharp: Pogue Creek hike. Pack a headlamp and water.
• ✅ Sat., Nov. 28, 11–2: Plein air sketching at Burritt. Confirm admission.
• ✅ Check the forecast for the two outdoor evenings, and call ahead if the weather turns.
• ✅ Fill up before you go. Need gas, a tire check or a good breakfast spot on the way? Look on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these are cheapest?

The Townsend Atelier sale and the Kiwanis Kraft Show mention no admission fee (check before you go). Rocket Sessions is listed at free to $5, the Gingerbread Marketplace is $5 with kids 12 and under free, and the Pogue Creek hike is $5.

Can I do several in one day?

Yes. On Friday, Nov. 20, the Gingerbread Marketplace (4–8 p.m.) and Rocket Sessions (gates 5:15) are both in Huntsville. Closer to home, you could pair the Townsend Atelier sale in Chattanooga on Saturday morning with a lazy lunch downtown.

Which is best for kids?

The Gingerbread Marketplace (kids 12 and under free, free Santa photos) and the plein air sketching at Burritt. The crochet class is for adults 19 and up.

How hard is the Pogue Creek hike?

The park rates it moderate: 1.9 miles round trip, ending near sunset, so you’ll walk back in dusk or dark. Bring a flashlight or headlamp and good shoes.

Why are so many of these in Huntsville?

Huntsville sits right at the edge of our 100-mile circle and keeps a busy calendar. It’s about a two-hour drive, so make a day of it, and remember it’s on Central time like us.

Do I need tickets ahead of time?

For the Pogue Creek hike and the crochet class, yes. For the markets and the art sale, just show up. For Rocket Sessions, check the Space & Rocket Center’s page before you go.

🔗 Other Resources

• U.S. Space & Rocket Center — Rocket Sessions
• Choose Huntsville — Rocket Sessions: Josh Allison
• 2026 Gingerbread Marketplace event listing
• Chattanoogan.com — Townsend Atelier Holiday Art Show and Sale
• Tullahoma News — Kiwanis Kraft Show
• Tennessee State Parks — Pogue Creek Sunset Hike
• Burritt on the Mountain — Crochet Snowflakes
• Burritt on the Mountain — Makers Plein Air
• Dunlap.Directory — local businesses and services

🌅 Take It Easy, and Pick the One That Fits

You don’t need to do all seven. If you’re starting your Christmas list, try the Gingerbread Marketplace, the Kiwanis Kraft Show or the Townsend Atelier art sale. If you want something different, picnic under the rockets at Rocket Sessions or watch the sun set over Pogue Creek. And if your hands like to stay busy, Burritt has snowflakes and sketching. Jot down three things: everything here is on our Central time; sign up early for the Pogue Creek hike and the crochet class; and check the weather and call before you go. For more calm, useful news from right here at home, keep reading Dunlap.Today and find local help on Dunlap.Directory.