🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A Jingle-Bell Night Run in Dalton, Athens’ “Jolly Dolly” Christmas Parade, Candlelit Cannonsburgh Village, Scottsboro’s Art Society Christmas Market, Cookeville’s Holly Jolly Parade and Knoxville’s Tour de Lights Bike Ride

Or: Jingle Through Dalton, Wave at a Dolly-Themed Parade, Stroll a Candlelit Village, Shop an Artists’ Market, Cheer On Cookeville’s Floats and Watch Glowing Bikes Roll Through Knoxville — Six New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, October 25, 2026

Evening, neighbor. Pour a cup and find a pencil. Here’s batch number seventy-four 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 whole batch lands in December. On Friday, Dec. 4, Dalton’s Silver Bell Sprint sends runners and walkers through downtown with bells tied on their shoes. Starting that same night, Murfreesboro’s Cannonsburgh Village opens its old buildings by candlelight on Friday and Saturday evenings through Dec. 19. On Monday, Dec. 7, Athens holds its Jimmy Liner Christmas Parade, themed “A Jolly Dolly Christmas.” Then Saturday, Dec. 12 is a three-way choice: the Art Society of Jackson County’s Christmas Market in Scottsboro, Cookeville’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” parade and Knoxville’s free Tour de Lights bike ride.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri., Dec. 4, 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. OUR time): Silver Bell Sprint 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk, downtown Dalton, Ga. Entry price not posted yet: check before you go.
• Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 4–19, 4–8 p.m. (Central — our time): A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village, Murfreesboro. $5; ages 5 and under free.
• Mon., Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. OUR time): Jimmy Liner Christmas Parade, Athens. No admission listed.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 13, noon–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Art Society of Jackson County Christmas Market, Scottsboro, Ala. No admission listed.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 6 p.m. (Central — our time): Cookeville Christmas Parade, “Holly Jolly Christmas.” No admission listed.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 3:30–7:30 p.m. Eastern (2:30–6:30 p.m. OUR time): Tour de Lights, Covenant Health Park, Knoxville. Free.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Murfreesboro, Scottsboro and Cookeville are on CENTRAL time like us. Dalton, Athens and Knoxville are all EASTERN, one hour ahead. For those, subtract an hour. And remember, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Set the clocks back one hour on Halloween night. By December it’s dark around 5 p.m., so most of these mean driving home after dark.

🔔 Run (or Walk) With Bells on Your Shoes at Dalton’s Silver Bell Sprint

You’ll hear this one before you see it. Every runner in the Silver Bell Sprint gets a set of silver bells for their shoes, so the whole crowd jingles down the streets of downtown Dalton after dark. There’s a 5K night race and a 1-mile fun run/walk, and plenty of folks run it in holiday costumes. Everybody gets a long-sleeved T-shirt. It raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Northwest Georgia Mountains, which pairs kids with mentors.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Dec. 4, 2026, 6–9 p.m. Eastern (5–8 p.m. OUR time). Exact start times for each race aren’t posted yet: check before you go.
• Where: Downtown Dalton, Ga. The exact start line isn’t posted yet: check the Big Brothers Big Sisters page before you go.
• How far: About 62 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, by way of Chattanooga and I-75 south. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Entry price not posted yet: check before you go. No ticket is mentioned for folks who just come to cheer.
• Who’ll love it: Walkers, runners, school and church groups (there are team awards) and anybody who likes a little jingle in December.
• Good to know: Awards go to the top overall man and woman and the top three in each age group. The night before, Dec. 3, Dalton holds its downtown Christmas parade, if you want to make a weekend of it. Visit Dalton: 706-270-9960.

👉 Read more (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Northwest Georgia Mountains — Silver Bell Sprint)

🕯️ Stroll a Candlelit Pioneer Village at Cannonsburgh’s Charming Christmas

Cannonsburgh Village is Murfreesboro’s re-created pioneer town, full of old log homes, a schoolhouse, a church and shops. For its Charming Christmas, the village stays open late with candlelit rooms dressed in rustic holiday decor, the kind of Christmas folks knew many years ago. Take a slow walk through the light displays and listen for carolers and live music. Kids can write letters to Santa and make holiday crafts, and the city says there will be demonstrations and a few special guests, too.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 4–19, 2026, 4–8 p.m. (Central — our time). That’s Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19.
• Where: Cannonsburgh Village, 312 S. Front St., Murfreesboro, TN.
• How far: About 76 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5 per person; ages 5 and under free. Tickets are non-refundable and sold online or at the gate.
• Who’ll love it: Grandparents who remember simpler Christmases, history lovers and young kids with a letter for Santa.
• Good to know: If you’d rather go in daylight, the village is free Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., though the evening activities are only on the late nights. It’s a walking event on village paths, so wear good shoes. Questions: 615-890-0355.

👉 Read more (City of Murfreesboro — A Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village)

🎀 Wave at Athens’ “Jolly Dolly” Jimmy Liner Christmas Parade

Athens has picked a theme that fits East Tennessee just right: “A Jolly Dolly Christmas.” The Athens Area Chamber’s Jimmy Liner Memorial Christmas Parade brings festive floats, marching bands and Santa Claus himself. The rules keep it gentle and old-fashioned: Christmas music only on the floats, and no candy throwing.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Mon., Dec. 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m. Eastern (5:30 p.m. OUR time). Yes, it’s a Monday night.
• Where: Athens, TN. The chamber listing names the Athens City Middle School Auditorium, 200 Keith Lane, which may be where the parade lines up. The route isn’t posted yet: check before you go.
• How far: About 63 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission listed.
• Who’ll love it: Dolly fans, little ones waiting for Santa and anybody who loves a small-town parade.
• Good to know: Bring a folding chair and a warm coat. For the route and parking, call the Athens Area Chamber at 423-745-0334.

👉 Read more (Athens Area Chamber — Jimmy Liner Christmas Parade)

🎨 Shop Handmade Gifts at Scottsboro’s Art Society Christmas Market

If your Christmas list needs something you won’t find on a big-box shelf, the Art Society of Jackson County fills the fairgrounds with local makers. The vendor list includes handmade soaps, sweet treats and baked goods, woodcrafts, soft sculptures, photography and stitched goods, and more. It’s all indoors, so the weather can’t spoil it. The food trucks listed include Scooty’s Apples and Outlaw BBQ.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 13, noon–5 p.m. (Central — our time).
• Where: Jackson County Fairgrounds, 220 Cecil St., Scottsboro, AL.
• How far: About 64 miles, roughly 1 hour 25 minutes, down through South Pittsburg and Bridgeport. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission listed. Bring cash for vendors in case some don’t take cards.
• Who’ll love it: Gift shoppers, crafters and families who want a Santa visit without a long line at the mall.
• Good to know: Santa and Mrs. Claus are there Sunday, noon–3 p.m. Then from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, there’s live music from James Kuykendall, the Choral Academy and the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Choir. Saturday’s schedule hasn’t been announced yet.

👉 Read more (Art Society of Jackson County — Christmas Market)

🎄 Cheer On Cookeville’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” Parade

Around Cookeville, Darren Wilson is known as “Mr. Christmas,” and he and the parade committee want this year to feel like the Christmases you remember. The theme is “Holly Jolly Christmas,” with floats from businesses, churches, schools and clubs. Organizers say they want to keep “the reason for the season” at the heart of it, and some entries may tell the story of the Nativity. It’s a downtown parade past the historic Putnam County Courthouse.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, 6 p.m. (Central — our time). Rain date: Mon., Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Cookeville. The route starts at Sixth Street and Washington Avenue, heads south toward the courthouse, turns onto Broad Street and ends near the Cookeville Performing Arts Center at Walnut Avenue.
• How far: About 61 miles, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes, up through Spencer and Sparta. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission listed.
• Who’ll love it: Families, church groups and anybody who loves an old-fashioned hometown Christmas.
• Good to know: If the weather looks iffy, check CookevilleChristmasParade.net for postponement news. Can’t make the drive? Highlands Insider and Cookeville Now plan to livestream the parade. If you go, arrive early with a chair and a blanket.

👉 Read more (Highlands Insider — Holly Jolly Christmas Parade)

🚲 Watch Lit-Up Bikes Roll Through Knoxville at the Tour de Lights

Picture a whole parade of bicycles strung with Christmas lights, ridden by folks in holiday costumes, rolling through Knoxville’s Old City, the historic Fourth and Gill neighborhood and down Gay Street. That’s the Tour de Lights, put on by Visit Knoxville and Bike Walk Knoxville. You don’t have to ride. Before the ride there are carolers, firepits, marshmallow roasting, children’s activities and a mailbox for letters to Santa. The Knoxville Community Band plays classic holiday music while the riders are out.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, 3:30–7:30 p.m. Eastern (2:30–6:30 p.m. OUR time). Costume judging at 5 p.m. Eastern. Riders line up at 5:30 p.m. Eastern, and the ride of about five miles starts at 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. our time). It’s held rain or shine.
• Where: Covenant Health Park, 500 E. Jackson Ave., Knoxville, TN, home of the Knoxville Smokies baseball team.
• How far: About 115 miles, roughly 2 hours 30 minutes. This is the long drive of the batch, past our 100-mile line. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. Hot chocolate is for sale, and the ballpark’s eateries will be open. Riders are encouraged to register, and the costume contest requires registration.
• Who’ll love it: Bike riders, kids, costume lovers and anybody who wants a cheerful, free evening in the city.
• Good to know: There’s a free bike valet until 10 p.m. Eastern. Public parking is in downtown garages, lots and on the street. With a 2½-hour drive home in the dark, think about sharing the driving or staying the night.

👉 Read more (Visit Knoxville — Tour de Lights)

✅ 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., Dec. 4, 5 p.m. OUR time (6 Eastern): Silver Bell Sprint, Dalton.
• Fri. and Sat., Dec. 4–19, 4–8 p.m. (our time): Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh Village, Murfreesboro. $5.
• Mon., Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. OUR time (6:30 Eastern): Jimmy Liner Christmas Parade, Athens.
• Sat., Dec. 12, and Sun., Dec. 13 (our time): Art Society Christmas Market, Scottsboro. Santa Sunday noon–3.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 6 p.m. (our time): Cookeville Christmas Parade. Rain date Mon., Dec. 14, 7 p.m.
• Sat., Dec. 12, 2:30–6:30 p.m. OUR time: Tour de Lights, Knoxville. Free.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Murfreesboro, Scottsboro and Cookeville are Central — our time. Dalton, Athens and Knoxville are Eastern — subtract an hour.
• ✅ Dec. 12 is crowded. Pick one: shopping in Scottsboro, a parade in Cookeville or the bike lights in Knoxville. Or shop Scottsboro on Sunday instead.
• ✅ Make it a Murfreesboro evening: Cannonsburgh opens at 4 p.m., so leave the Valley by about 2 p.m. and you’ll walk in as the candles get lit.
• ✅ Most of these end after dark. Bring a buddy who’s comfortable driving the mountain at night.
• ✅ Bring gloves, a warm coat and a folding chair for the parades.
• ✅ Check the event page the morning you go in case of weather or changes.
• ✅ 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 outings are new for article #74. We’ve covered other events in some of the same towns, like Dalton’s downtown Christmas parade, Cannonsburgh Village After Dark and Scottsboro’s Jingle Bell Square, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

The Tour de Lights is free. The Athens and Cookeville parades and the Scottsboro market list no admission. Cannonsburgh’s evening Christmas costs $5, and kids 5 and under get in free. The Silver Bell Sprint hasn’t posted its entry price yet.

Which ones are best for kids?

Kids love a parade, and Athens promises Santa. Cannonsburgh has letters to Santa and holiday crafts, the Scottsboro market has Santa and Mrs. Claus on Sunday, and the Tour de Lights has marshmallow roasting and children’s activities. Older kids can run the Silver Bell Sprint’s 1-mile fun run.

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

The Scottsboro market is indoors at the fairgrounds. At the parades, bring a folding chair and park as close as you can. Cannonsburgh means walking village paths, so a daytime weekday visit may be easier. Call ahead about access.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central, and so are Murfreesboro, Scottsboro and Cookeville. Dalton, Athens and Knoxville are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, before all of these events.

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

• Visit Dalton — Silver Bell Sprint
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the NW Georgia Mountains — events
• City of Murfreesboro — Charming Christmas at Cannonsburgh
• Athens Area Chamber — Jimmy Liner Christmas Parade
• Art Society of Jackson County — Christmas Market
• Highlands Insider — Cookeville Christmas Parade
• Visit Knoxville — Tour de Lights
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Slow Down and Go See Something

December doesn’t have to be a rush. A crowd jingling down a Georgia street, a candle in a log-cabin window, a Dolly-themed float, a table of handmade gifts, a courthouse parade and a line of glowing bicycles are all within a drive of home. 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.