🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A Holiday Canning Class, a Huntsville Harvest Hoedown, a Small-Town Veterans Day Parade and Thanksgiving Dinner on the Southern Belle

Or: Put Up a Jar of Apple Relish in Chattanooga, Line Dance Under the Dome in Huntsville, Salute Veterans in Charleston, Stroll Dayton’s Courthouse Square, Tour a Reborn Victorian Museum, Eat Turkey on the Tennessee River, Make a Wish at Ruby Falls and Ring In an Old-Fashioned Christmas in Athens — Eight New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, October 16, 2026

Howdy, neighbor. Here’s batch number thirty-eight 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 round carries you from Veterans Day right into Christmas. On Monday, Nov. 9, UT Extension teaches a beginner holiday canning class in Chattanooga, with a second class Nov. 17. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Huntsville’s free Orion Night Market becomes a Harvest Hoedown with line dancing. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, the little river town of Charleston, Tenn., holds its own parade. Thursday, Nov. 12 brings Dayton’s Holiday Stroll. Chattanooga’s Houston Museum of Decorative Arts reopens Nov. 14–17 after nearly two years of restoration. The Southern Belle serves Thanksgiving dinner on the river, Ruby Falls dresses up for the holidays starting Nov. 27, and Athens throws an Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas on Dec. 5.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Mon., Nov. 9, 10:30 a.m. & Tue., Nov. 17, 1 p.m. (Chattanooga — Eastern; check before you go): Holiday Canning Classes, UT Extension, Chattanooga. $25 per class; register ahead; adults only.
• Tue., Nov. 10, 5–9 p.m. Central (our time): Orion Night Market: Harvest Hoedown, Huntsville. Free.
• Wed., Nov. 11, 11 a.m. Eastern (10 a.m. our time): Veterans Day Parade, Charleston, Tenn. No admission listed.
• Thu., Nov. 12, 5–8 p.m. Eastern (4–7 p.m. our time): Holiday Stroll, Rhea County Courthouse, Dayton. Free to stroll.
• Sat., Nov. 14, noon–2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m.–1 p.m. our time): Houston Museum Grand Reopening, Chattanooga. Ticketed — price check before you go. Ribbon-cutting Tue., Nov. 17, 10 a.m. Eastern.
• Sat., Nov. 21 & Thu., Nov. 26 (Eastern): Thanksgiving on the River, Southern Belle Riverboat, Chattanooga. From $74.99; tickets required.
• Fri., Nov. 27–Thu., Dec. 24 (Eastern): Holidays at Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain. Café and plaza need no cave ticket.
• Sat., Dec. 5, noon–7 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m.–6 p.m. our time): Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas, Athens, Tenn.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: this time almost everything is on Eastern Time — Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Charleston, Dayton and Athens. Eastern runs one hour ahead of Dunlap, so subtract an hour: Charleston’s 11 a.m. parade is 10 a.m. OUR time. Only Huntsville is Central, same as us. And remember: daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Set the clocks back an hour Saturday night, Oct. 31. Every trip on this list comes after that, so it’ll be dark by about 5 p.m. our time — plan your drive home or bring a co-pilot.

🫙 Put Up a Jar of Holiday Apple Relish at a UT Extension Canning Class

Remember Grandma’s pantry shelves, lined with jars that caught the light? Here’s your chance to learn how she did it, the safe, modern way. University of Tennessee Extension is holding two beginner holiday canning classes in Chattanooga: apple relish one day and cranberry orange chutney the other. A homemade jar with a ribbon on it makes a fine Christmas gift. Here’s a hometown touch: Kailee Flowers, our own Sequatchie County Extension agent, is one of the co-teachers, along with Hamilton County agent June Puett and a Whitfield County, Ga., agent. They’ll even show a way to can if your glass-top stove can’t handle a canner.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Apple relish: Mon., Nov. 9, 2026, 10:30 a.m. Cranberry orange chutney: Tue., Nov. 17, 2026, 1 p.m. Take one or both. The announcement doesn’t name a time zone; the Hamilton County office runs on Eastern, so plan on 9:30 a.m. and noon our time — check before you go.
• Where: UT Extension, 6183 Adamson Circle, Chattanooga. Questions: (423) 209-8560.
• How far: About 50–55 miles, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes, across Signal Mountain or by way of US-27. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $25 per class. Register online at tiny.utk.edu/HolidayCanning, mail a check made out to University of Tennessee Extension (say which class), or pay in person at the Hamilton County office, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Who’ll love it: Gardeners with a bumper crop, folks who want to make handmade gifts, and anybody who always meant to learn canning but never had anyone to show them.
• Good to know: Seats are limited — sign up early. No children or extra guests. Wear your hair pulled back and closed-toe shoes.

👉 Read more (Holiday Canning Workshops — Chattanoogan.com)

🤠 Line Dance Under the Dome at Huntsville’s Free Harvest Hoedown

Once a month, The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville throws an evening Night Market, and November’s theme is a Harvest Hoedown. Shop handmade goods from local makers, grab supper from the food trucks, and then step out with Rocket City Line Dancing, who’ll lead line dances under the Orion’s dome all night. Never line danced? That’s half the fun — the whole crowd learns together.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Tue., Nov. 10, 2026, 5–9 p.m. Central — same as Dunlap time.
• Where: The Orion Amphitheater, 701 Amphitheater Dr. NW, Huntsville, AL 35806.
• How far: About 105–115 miles, roughly 2 hours, by way of Jasper, South Pittsburg and US-72 through Scottsboro. It’s at the far edge of our 100 miles. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free to get in. Bring money for the makers and the food trucks.
• Who’ll love it: Couples looking for a weeknight date, craft shoppers getting a head start on Christmas, and anybody who’s been wanting to try a boot-scootin’ boogie.
• Good to know: Central Time. It’s a Tuesday night and a two-hour drive each way, so you’ll be home late — bring a co-pilot or make it an overnight. The listing notes that times can change, so check before you go.

👉 Read more (Orion Night Market: Harvest Hoedown — Rocket City Mom) · The Orion Night Market page

🎖️ Salute Veterans at Charleston’s Small-Town Veterans Day Parade

Some of the best parades happen in the smallest towns. Charleston, a river town on the Hiwassee in Bradley County, will hold its Veterans Day Parade on Veterans Day itself. The Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution chapters sponsor it. The Walker Valley High School band marches, the school’s JROTC leads as honor guard, and the Bradley Central High School JROTC will wear uniforms dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Grand Marshal Hank Hayden, a U.S. Armed Forces veteran, may even wear his old uniform. The city calls it its “Honoring America’s 250th” Veterans Day Parade.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Wed., Nov. 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. Eastern (10 a.m. our time).
• Where: Starts at Charleston River Park / the boat ramp area on Water Street NE, Charleston, Tenn. It runs south on Market Street past Hoyt Berry Municipal Park, onto Worth Street, and ends at the Walter Goode Municipal Building. The whole route is 1.2 miles. City office: (423) 336-1483.
• How far: About 75–85 miles, roughly 1½ hours, by way of Chattanooga and I-75 north. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission is mentioned for folks watching from the curb.
• Who’ll love it: Veterans and their families, history buffs who’d like to see Revolutionary War-style uniforms, and grandkids who love a marching band.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. There’s no rain date, so check the weather and the city’s page that morning. No candy is thrown from the floats, so the little ones won’t be disappointed if you tell them ahead. It’s a weekday, so leave the Valley by about 8:15 a.m. our time.

👉 Read more (Cleveland Daily Banner) · City of Charleston parade page

✨ Stroll the Courthouse Square at Dayton’s Holiday Stroll

Just over the mountain, Main Street Dayton kicks off the Christmas shopping season with a Holiday Stroll around the historic Rhea County Courthouse. Organizers promise twinkling lights, festive cheer and local treats. Pick up a Stroll card, visit each store on it, and you’re entered to win prizes.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Nov. 12, 2026, 5–8 p.m. Eastern (4–7 p.m. our time).
• Where: Rhea County Courthouse and downtown Dayton, Tenn. Main Street Dayton: (423) 775-9847.
• How far: About 40 miles, roughly 55 minutes, by way of Pikeville and TN-30 over Walden Ridge. The closest trip on this list. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free to stroll. Bring your Christmas list.
• Who’ll love it: Shop-local folks, anybody who loves a lit-up courthouse square, and friends looking for an easy weeknight outing.
• Good to know: Rhea County is on Eastern Time, even though it’s right next door — subtract an hour. It’ll be dark, and TN-30 is a winding mountain road, so take it slow coming home.

👉 Read more (Holiday Stroll — Main Street Dayton)

🏛️ See 15,000 Treasures Back on Display at Chattanooga’s Reopened Houston Museum

High on the bluff above the Tennessee River sits an 1892 Queen Anne-style house filled with one woman’s lifetime of collecting. Anna Safley Houston gathered glass, ceramics, metalwork, textiles and furniture — more than 15,000 pieces are in the museum’s collection. The house closed in 2024 for a $4 million restoration, and now the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts is reopening with five restored galleries, a glass Victorian-style conservatory and pieces that haven’t been on display for decades. Best of all, there’s a new elevator to every floor. The director says the museum has never been accessible to everyone before.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Grand Reopening celebration: Sat., Nov. 14, 2026, noon–2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m.–1 p.m. our time), with the Chattanooga Symphony playing. Ribbon-cutting: Tue., Nov. 17, 10 a.m. Eastern (9 a.m. our time), when the museum officially reopens to the public.
• Where: 201 High St., Bluff View Art District, Chattanooga.
• How far: About 40–45 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: The Nov. 14 celebration is ticketed through the Chattanooga Symphony; the price isn’t posted on the pages we found — check before you go. Regular admission after Nov. 17 — also check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Antique lovers, anybody who collects Depression glass or pitchers, and grandmas who’d like to show the grandkids what a fancy Victorian parlor looked like.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. If the ticketed party isn’t your thing, wait for the regular reopening after Nov. 17. Bluff View has coffee shops and gardens nearby, and the Walnut Street Bridge is a short walk away.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Times Free Press) · Grand Reopening tickets (Chattanooga Symphony)

🦃 Eat Thanksgiving Dinner on the Tennessee River Aboard the Southern Belle

Here’s a way to skip the dishes this year. The Southern Belle Riverboat serves Thanksgiving on the River: a two-hour cruise on the Tennessee with a buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner. Choose Chattanooga lists turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy among the holiday favorites. Watch the riverbanks slide by while somebody else handles the cooking.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Choose Chattanooga lists Sat., Nov. 21 and Thanksgiving Day, Thu., Nov. 26, 2026. Boarding times aren’t posted on the pages we found — check before you go.
• Where: Southern Belle Riverboat, 151 Riverfront Pkwy., Chattanooga, TN 37402. Phone: (423) 266-4488.
• How far: About 40–45 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: From $74.99 per person. Tickets are required — book ahead.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, empty nesters, small families who’d rather not cook a whole turkey for four, and anybody who’s never ridden a riverboat.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. The buffet is “one-time-through,” so fill your plate well the first trip. Thanksgiving Day cruises can sell out, so call early.

👉 Read more (Thanksgiving on the River — Southern Belle) · Choose Chattanooga November list

🎄 Make a Holiday Wish in the Forest of Wishes at Ruby Falls

Every Christmas season, Ruby Falls on Lookout Mountain turns its 1929 limestone castle and outdoor plaza into a holiday scene. Expect festive decorations inside the castle, twinkling lights around the plaza, and the Forest of Wishes, where you write a holiday wish by hand and hang it on the trees. Santa visits on select days. Afterward, warm up with hot cocoa by the café’s fireplace — or take the guided walk down to the tallest underground waterfall open to the public in the United States.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Nov. 27–Thu., Dec. 24, 2026. The 2026 Santa schedule isn’t posted yet — check before you go.
• Where: Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Hwy., Chattanooga, TN 37409, on Lookout Mountain. Phone: (423) 821-2544.
• How far: About 45–50 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Ruby Falls says you don’t need a cave ticket to visit the castle café. Cave tours are timed-entry tickets sold online; prices vary — check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Families with kids who want to tell Santa a wish, and anybody who’s never seen the falls.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. The cave stays about 60 degrees year-round, so a light jacket does fine underground. Buy cave tickets ahead; time slots sell out fast in December.

👉 Read more (Holidays at Ruby Falls) · Ruby Falls events calendar

🔔 Ring In an Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas in Athens

To wrap up the list, Main Street Athens invites everybody downtown for its yearly Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas, promising the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season in historic downtown Athens, Tenn. Think shop windows, holiday music and something warm in your hand while you walk.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 5, 2026, noon–7 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m.–6 p.m. our time). The full program isn’t posted yet — check before you go.
• Where: Historic downtown Athens, Tenn. Main Street Athens: (423) 333-0329.
• How far: About 80–95 miles, roughly 1¾ hours, by way of Dayton and Decatur or by way of Chattanooga and I-75. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not stated — check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Families starting a Christmas tradition, small-town-square fans and holiday shoppers.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. It gets dark early in December, so if you stay for the evening, plan the drive home.

👉 Read more (Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas — Main Street Athens)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Mon., Nov. 9, 10:30 a.m. (Chattanooga — likely Eastern; confirm): Holiday Canning: Apple Relish, UT Extension. $25. Register ahead.
• Tue., Nov. 10, 5–9 p.m. (Central — our time): Orion Night Market: Harvest Hoedown, Huntsville. Free.
• Wed., Nov. 11, 11 a.m. (Eastern — 10 a.m. our time): Veterans Day Parade, Charleston, Tenn. No rain date.
• Thu., Nov. 12, 5–8 p.m. (Eastern — 4–7 p.m. our time): Holiday Stroll, Rhea County Courthouse, Dayton. Free.
• Sat., Nov. 14, noon–2 p.m. (Eastern — 11 a.m.–1 p.m. our time): Houston Museum Grand Reopening, Chattanooga. Ticketed.
• Tue., Nov. 17, 10 a.m. (Eastern): Houston Museum ribbon-cutting and public reopening.
• Tue., Nov. 17, 1 p.m. (Chattanooga — likely Eastern; confirm): Holiday Canning: Cranberry Orange Chutney, UT Extension. $25.
• Sat., Nov. 21 & Thu., Nov. 26 (Eastern — subtract an hour): Thanksgiving on the River, Southern Belle. From $74.99. Book ahead.
• Nov. 27–Dec. 24 (Eastern — subtract an hour): Holidays at Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain.
• Sat., Dec. 5, noon–7 p.m. (Eastern — 11 a.m.–6 p.m. our time): Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas, Athens, Tenn.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Charleston, Dayton and Athens are Eastern — subtract an hour. Only Huntsville is Central — our time.
• ✅ Fall back Saturday night, Oct. 31 — daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. After that, it’s dark around 5 p.m.
• ✅ Book ahead: canning classes (limited seats, $25), the Southern Belle Thanksgiving cruise and Ruby Falls cave tickets.
• ✅ For the canning class: hair pulled back, closed-toe shoes, no kids or extra guests.
• ✅ For Charleston’s parade: no rain date — check the weather, and bring a lawn chair and a jacket.
• ✅ For evening trips (Huntsville, Dayton): bring a co-pilot and take the mountain roads slow after dark.
• ✅ Fill up and grab a snack 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 eight are new for article #38. We’ve listed other Veterans Day parades before (Crossville, downtown Huntsville, the Murfreesboro VA and downtown Murfreesboro), but Charleston’s parade is a separate event. We’ve also featured the Southern Belle’s fall foliage cruise and Ruby Falls’ Halloween lantern tours; the Thanksgiving cruise and the Christmas season at Ruby Falls are different events.

Which ones are free?

The Orion Harvest Hoedown and Dayton’s Holiday Stroll are free to attend, and no admission is mentioned for watching Charleston’s parade. The canning classes are $25 each, and the Thanksgiving cruise starts at $74.99. The Houston Museum celebration is ticketed, and Ruby Falls cave tours cost extra (the café doesn’t need a cave ticket). Athens hasn’t posted costs. Check first.

Which ones are best for young kids?

Ruby Falls (Santa and the Forest of Wishes) and Charleston’s parade (marching band and JROTC in old-time uniforms) are great with little ones. Dayton’s stroll and Athens’ downtown Christmas work fine for families. The canning classes allow no children.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Charleston, Dayton (Rhea County) and Athens are Eastern, one hour ahead — subtract an hour. Huntsville is Central, same as us.

Do I need any canning equipment for the class?

The announcement doesn’t say you need to bring any. It says it’s a beginner class and that teachers will show a canning method for folks with glass-top stoves. Call UT Extension at (423) 209-8560 to ask what to bring.

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 or a trusted listing whenever we can. We keep a list so we never repeat an event. If you know a hidden gem, tell us at Dunlap.Today.

🔗 Other Resources

• Chattanoogan.com — UT Extension Holiday Canning Workshops
• Rocket City Mom — Orion Night Market: Harvest Hoedown
• The Orion Amphitheater — Night Market
• Cleveland Daily Banner — Charleston Veterans Day Parade
• City of Charleston — Veterans Day Parade
• Main Street Dayton — Holiday Stroll
• Times Free Press — Houston Museum of Decorative Arts to reopen
• Chattanooga Symphony — Houston Museum Grand Reopening tickets
• Southern Belle Riverboat — Thanksgiving on the River
• Choose Chattanooga — Things to Do in November
• Ruby Falls — Holidays at Ruby Falls
• Main Street Athens — Old Fashioned Downtown Christmas
• 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 vacation to make a memory. A jar of apple relish you made yourself, a line dance under the Huntsville dome, a wave to a veteran in Charleston, a lit-up courthouse square in Dayton, a Victorian parlor in Chattanooga, Thanksgiving turkey on the river, a wish hung at Ruby Falls and an old-fashioned Christmas in Athens are all within a drive of the Valley. 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.