🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A Huntsville Boat Show, Harry Potter With a Live Orchestra, Mardi Gras in Chattanooga, a Pop-Culture Con, Mark Chesnutt in McMinnville, a Fiber Festival and a Waterfall Race

Or: Dream About Summer on the Lake, Hear a Symphony Play the Wizarding World, Eat King Cake by the Choo Choo, Dress Up for Con Nooga, Sing Along With a Country Classic, Shop Yarn All Weekend and Run Past Cummins Falls — Seven New Winter Outings Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Monday, October 26, 2026

Morning, neighbor. Pour a cup and find a pencil. Here’s batch number seventy-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 reaches into January and February, the gray months when a day trip does the most good. Huntsville hosts the Huntsville Boat Show Jan. 15–17 and a big-screen Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with the Huntsville Symphony playing the music live Jan. 22–23. Chattanooga throws a family Mardi Gras at WanderLinger by the Choo Choo on Feb. 6 and fills The Chattanoogan hotel with Con Nooga Feb. 12–14. Mark Chesnutt plays McMinnville’s Park Theater Feb. 19. And on the last weekend of February there’s the Scenic Stitches Fiber Festival in East Ridge and the Cummins Falls races along the river near Cookeville.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri.–Sun., Jan. 15–17 (Central — our time): Huntsville Boat Show, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Ala. $12 a day; $10 seniors, military and first responders; $5 ages 6–12.
• Fri., Jan. 22, 8 p.m., or Sat., Jan. 23, 2 p.m. (Central — our time): Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert, Huntsville Symphony, Von Braun Center. Price not posted: check before you go.
• Sat., Feb. 6, 2–9 p.m. Eastern (1–8 p.m. OUR time): Mardi Gras at WanderLinger, Chattanooga Choo Choo grounds. Admission not posted: check before you go.
• Fri.–Sun., Feb. 12–14, Eastern: Con Nooga 2027, The Chattanoogan Hotel. $10–$30 a day, $40 for all three. CASH ONLY.
• Fri., Feb. 19, 7 p.m. (Central — our time): An Evening with Mark Chesnutt, The Park Theater, McMinnville. Price not posted: call 615-663-6560.
• Sat.–Sun., Feb. 27–28, Eastern: Scenic Stitches Fiber Festival, Camp Jordan Arena, East Ridge. $8–$10 a day. Hours not posted yet.
• Sat., Feb. 27, 8 or 9 a.m. (Central — our time): Cummins Falls Marathon, Half, 10K and 5K, near Cookeville. 5K is $38.10.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Huntsville, McMinnville and Cookeville are on CENTRAL time like us. Chattanooga and East Ridge (Mardi Gras, Con Nooga and the fiber festival) are EASTERN, one hour ahead. For those, subtract an hour. And closer to home: daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 1. Set the clocks back one hour on Halloween night.

🚤 Dream About Summer on the Lake at the Huntsville Boat Show

Mid-January is when lake season feels farthest away, which makes it the perfect time to walk among a few hundred boats. The Huntsville Boat Show fills the Von Braun Center’s South Hall with boats from local dealers plus area boating vendors. You can climb aboard, compare models side by side and chat with dealers, all indoors and out of the cold. You don’t have to buy a thing to enjoy it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Jan. 15, and Sat., Jan. 16, 2027, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 17, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: Von Braun Center, South Hall, 700 Monroe St. SW, Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 105 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. It sits just past our 100-mile line. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $12 single day; $10 for military, seniors and first responders; $5 for kids 6–12; $20 weekend pass. Little ones ride free, but listings differ on whether that’s “under 5” or “5 and under.”
• Who’ll love it: Lake folks, fishermen, dreamers and grandkids who like to climb on things.
• Good to know: The show’s own website was showing an error when we checked, so these details come from dealer and show listings. Check before you go.

👉 Read more (Russell Marine — 2027 Huntsville Boat Show details)

🪄 Hear the Huntsville Symphony Play Harry Potter Live

Picture the whole movie up on a big screen while a full orchestra plays every note of the score in the room with you. That’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert, the fourth Harry Potter film, with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra playing along live. It’s the one with the dragons, the underwater challenge and the Yule Ball. Fans dress up for these, and even folks who’ve never seen the films come away impressed by the music.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Jan. 22, 2027, 8 p.m., or Sat., Jan. 23, 2 p.m. Central, our time. The Saturday afternoon show gets you home before dark.
• Where: Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St. SW, Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 105 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Ticket prices aren’t posted on the symphony’s page. Check before you go. It’s produced by the Von Braun Center and is not part of the symphony’s Subscribe & Save package.
• Who’ll love it: Harry Potter fans of every age, music lovers and families with kids old enough to sit through a long movie.
• Good to know: The film runs well over two hours plus an intermission. Symphony box office: 256-539-4818.

👉 Read more (Huntsville Symphony Orchestra — Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert)

🎭 Eat King Cake at a Family Mardi Gras by the Choo Choo

You don’t have to drive to New Orleans for a taste of Carnival. Mardi Gras at WanderLinger is a brand-new, all-day festival across the WanderLinger and Chattanooga Choo Choo grounds, and organizers call it family-friendly. Expect a second line brass band marching through, a mini Mardi Gras parade on Station Street with decorated bikes, wagons and golf carts, a King Cake competition, an artisan market in the Choo Choo Gardens and food trucks with jambalaya, gumbo, po’boys, beignets and a crawfish boil.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Feb. 6, 2027, 2–9 p.m. Eastern (1–8 p.m. OUR time).
• Where: WanderLinger Brewing Company, 55 Station St., Chattanooga, TN, and the Choo Choo grounds.
• How far: About 35 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Admission isn’t posted yet. Check before you go. Bring money for food, King Cake and the market.
• Who’ll love it: Families, parade fans, sweet tooths and anyone who misses Louisiana cooking.
• Good to know: The brewery runs bars during the festival, so an afternoon visit is the calmest time for kids. More entertainment is still being announced.

👉 Read more (Eventbrite — Mardi Gras at WanderLinger)

🦸 Dress Up (or Just People-Watch) at Con Nooga

Con Nooga is Chattanooga’s long-running pop-culture convention: comics, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, games and costumes, all under one roof at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Wander the vendor hall, sit in on panels and enjoy the costumes. It’s a fun outing for a teenager who’s into this stuff, and grandparents tend to love the people-watching.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri.–Sun., Feb. 12–14, 2027, Eastern. Vendor hall: Fri. noon–7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastern. The convention itself runs late into the night Friday and Saturday.
• Where: The Chattanoogan Hotel, 1201 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN.
• How far: About 35 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: 3-day badge $40; kids 6–12 $20; under 6 free. Single day: Fri. $20, Sat. $30, Sun. $10. Badges are CASH ONLY.
• Who’ll love it: Comic and movie fans, gamers, costume makers and curious kids.
• Good to know: Sunday is the cheapest and quietest day for a first visit with young ones. Late-night programming is aimed at grown-ups.

👉 Read more (Eventeny — Con Nooga 2027)

🤠 Sing Along With Mark Chesnutt at the Park Theater

If “Too Cold at Home” and “Brother Jukebox” take you back, here’s your night. Texas honky-tonk singer Mark Chesnutt brings his traditional country hits to McMinnville’s historic Park Theater on Main Street. It’s a small, friendly room, so every seat feels close to the stage.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Feb. 19, 2027, 7–9 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: The Park Theater, 115 W. Main St., McMinnville, TN.
• How far: About 35 miles, roughly 50 minutes to an hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Ticket prices aren’t listed on the concert schedule. Call On Fire Concerts at 615-663-6560 before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Classic country fans, date-night couples and anybody who still knows the words.
• Good to know: Buy only from On Fire Concerts, the show’s only authorized seller, to avoid resale markups. Just down Highway 30, it’s one of the closest trips on this list.

👉 Read more (On Fire Concerts — Concert Schedule)

🧶 Shop Yarn All Weekend at the Scenic Stitches Fiber Festival

Knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers, this one’s for you. The Scenic Stitches Fiber Festival fills Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge with yarn, fiber, tools and handmade goods for a full weekend. It’s a cozy indoor outing at the tail end of winter, and a fine place to stock up for next year’s afghans and Christmas gifts.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat.–Sun., Feb. 27–28, 2027, Eastern. Hours aren’t posted yet: check before you go.
• Where: Camp Jordan Arena, East Ridge, TN, about 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. Free parking.
• How far: About 38 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Early tickets $8 a day or $12 for the weekend; at the door $10 a day or $15 for the weekend.
• Who’ll love it: Anyone who knits, crochets, quilts or spins, and the friends who tag along.
• Good to know: Buying early saves a couple of dollars. Bring a tote bag and a list of the projects you’re shopping for.

👉 Read more (Scenic Stitches — Fiber Festival 2027)

🏃 Run (or Walk) a River Race at Cummins Falls

Cummins Falls is one of Tennessee’s prettiest waterfalls, and this race raises money for the state park. The Cummins Falls Marathon, Half, 10K and 5K follows the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River on quiet back roads. Fair warning: the course is hilly. The 5K is the easy way in for families, and cheering from the start line counts too.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Feb. 27, 2027. Marathon and half start at 8 a.m.; 10K and 5K start at 9 a.m. Central, our time.
• Where: 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, TN.
• How far: About 72 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app. That’s an early start, so leave by about 6:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. races.
• Cost: 5K $38.10; 10K $48.70; half marathon $91.10; marathon $101.70, fees included, as listed now. Prices have already gone up once, so check before you sign up.
• Who’ll love it: Runners, walkers, waterfall lovers and anyone with a spring fitness goal.
• Good to know: Online registration closes Fri., Feb. 26, at 3 p.m. Central. Dress in layers for a late-February morning.

👉 Read more (RunSignup — Cummins Falls Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K)

✅ 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.–Sun., Jan. 15–17 (our time): Huntsville Boat Show. $12 a day.
• Sat., Jan. 23, 2 p.m. (our time): Harry Potter in Concert matinee, Huntsville. Friday 8 p.m. show too.
• Sat., Feb. 6, 1 p.m. OUR time (2 Eastern): Mardi Gras at WanderLinger opens, Chattanooga.
• Fri.–Sun., Feb. 12–14 (Eastern): Con Nooga. Bring cash.
• Fri., Feb. 19, 7 p.m. (our time): Mark Chesnutt, McMinnville.
• Fri., Feb. 26, 3 p.m. (our time): Last call to register for the Cummins Falls races.
• Sat.–Sun., Feb. 27–28: Fiber festival in East Ridge (Eastern) and the Cummins Falls races Saturday (our time).

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Huntsville, McMinnville and Cookeville are Central — our time. Chattanooga and East Ridge are Eastern — subtract an hour.
• ✅ Bring cash for Con Nooga. Badges are cash only.
• ✅ Call ahead on prices for the Harry Potter concert, Mardi Gras and Mark Chesnutt. They haven’t been posted yet.
• ✅ Feb. 27 is a pick-one Saturday: yarn in East Ridge or a race near Cookeville. They’re in opposite directions.
• ✅ Winter roads over the mountain can ice up. Check the forecast and the event page the morning you go.
• ✅ 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 are new for article #76. We’ve covered other events at some of the same places, like the Park Theater and the Chattanooga Choo Choo, but these are separate events.

Why are you listing events in January and February already?

Fall is already well covered on our list, and winter tickets often sell out or go up in price early. Marking the calendar now gives you something to look forward to after the holidays.

Which ones are the cheapest?

The fiber festival is $8 to $10 a day, the boat show is $12 (less for seniors and kids), and a Sunday at Con Nooga is $10. Prices for the Harry Potter concert, Mardi Gras and Mark Chesnutt haven’t been posted yet, so call or check the event page.

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

The Harry Potter concert and Mark Chesnutt are sit-down shows. The boat show, Con Nooga and the fiber festival are indoors but involve walking a show floor. Mardi Gras is mostly outdoors on the Choo Choo grounds. The races are, well, races, though the 5K is a fine walk if you’re up for hills.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central, and so are Huntsville, McMinnville and Cookeville. Chattanooga and East Ridge are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1.

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, or two sources don’t agree, 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

• MarineWeb — Huntsville Boat Show dates, hours and admission
• Huntsville Boat Show — Official site
• Huntsville Symphony Orchestra — Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert
• Eventbrite — Mardi Gras at WanderLinger
• Eventeny — Con Nooga 2027
• On Fire Concerts — Park Theater concert schedule
• Scenic Stitches — Fiber Festival 2027
• RunSignup — Cummins Falls Marathon, Half, 10K, 5K
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Give Winter Something to Look Forward To

January and February can feel long out here. A boat to dream on, a wizard’s tune, a slice of King Cake, a costume parade, a country song you know by heart, a basket of new yarn or a run along a scenic river all make the gray days go by faster. 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.