🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A New Year's Eve Lunch Train in Chattanooga, Three First Day Hikes (One Right Here in Dunlap), a Mountain Film Festival and a Crossville Winter Craft Fair

Or: Toast the Year on a Vintage Train, Start 2027 on a Ranger Hike Up the Ridge, Walk a Cave-Country Trail or a CCC Quarry, Catch Wild Adventure Films and Shop a Winter Craft Fair — Six New 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-five 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 looks ahead to the turn of the year, so you can mark the calendar early. On New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum serves a three-course lunch on a vintage train, and you’re done by mid-afternoon. On New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, park rangers lead First Day Hikes: one at North Chickamauga Creek Gorge that meets at a Dunlap address up on Walden Ridge, one at Cathedral Caverns and one at DeSoto State Park in Alabama. Then the Lookout Wild Film Festival brings outdoor adventure films to Chattanooga Jan. 14–17, and Crossville’s FACS holds a winter craft fair on Jan. 23.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Thu., Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m.–1:45 p.m. Eastern (10:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. OUR time): New Year’s Eve Lunch Train, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Chattanooga. $240 per table for up to 4; $290 for a table for 2.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.: First Day Hike, North Chickamauga Creek Gorge, meeting on Barker Camp Road, Dunlap. Free (donations welcome). Time zone not stated: check before you go.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 9–10:45 a.m. (Central — our time): First Day Hike, Yellow Trail, Cathedral Caverns State Park, Woodville, Ala. $5 per person.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 9:30–11 a.m. (Central — our time): First Day Hike, CCC Quarry, DeSoto State Park, Fort Payne, Ala. Free.
• Thu.–Sun., Jan. 14–17, evening and afternoon shows, Eastern: Lookout Wild Film Festival, UTC Fine Arts Center, Chattanooga. $43 per ticket, fees included.
• Sat., Jan. 23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Downtown Crossville Winter Craft Fair, FACS. No admission listed. Not yet confirmed by FACS: check before you go.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: the Alabama hikes and Crossville are on CENTRAL time like us. Chattanooga (the train and the film festival) is 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.

🚂 Toast the New Year Over Lunch on a Vintage Train

Here’s a New Year’s Eve for folks who’d rather be home in their slippers by dark. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum runs a New Year’s Eve Lunch Train with a three-course lunch served aboard its vintage railcars, with Dining Car tables and Pullman tables for two. It’s a midday celebration, so you can toast the year and still be home well before the fireworks.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Dec. 31, 2026, 11:30 a.m.–1:45 p.m. Eastern (10:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. OUR time). One spot on the museum’s page also mentions a 12:45 p.m. departure, so confirm your boarding time when you book.
• Where: Grand Junction Depot, 4119 Cromwell Road, Chattanooga, TN.
• How far: About 40 miles, roughly 1 hour. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $240 per Dining Car table (seats up to 4); $290 for a Pullman table for 2; $2,400 for a private car seating 8. Water, coffee, lemonade and tea are included. Gratuity and alcohol are not.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, grandparents and train lovers who want a festive meal without a late night.
• Good to know: The museum doesn’t recommend it for children under 8. Questions about booking or dietary needs: 423-894-8028.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum — New Year’s Eve Lunch Train)

🥾 Start 2027 on a Ranger Hike Right Up the Ridge

You don’t have to leave home to start the year outdoors. North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park is hosting a free First Day Hike, part of a nationwide New Year’s Day tradition at state parks. A park ranger leads a walk of about 2 miles on the Barker Camp trail, up on the plateau, up on Walden Ridge. The park calls it a moderate hike.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Jan. 1, 2027, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. The listing doesn’t say Central or Eastern. The meeting spot has a Dunlap address, but the park’s office is in Hamilton County, on Eastern time. Call the host at 423-668-7701 to be sure.
• Where: Meet at 3767 Barker Camp Road, Dunlap, TN.
• How far: In our own backyard, up on Walden Ridge. Check your map app for the drive from your house.
• Cost: Free. You can add an optional donation when you sign up.
• Who’ll love it: Families, walkers and anybody with a New Year’s resolution to get outside more.
• Good to know: Wear closed-toe shoes, dress warm and bring water. The hike may be canceled for bad weather, so check the listing that morning.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — First Day Hike 2027, North Chickamauga Creek Gorge)

🌲 Walk a Winter Forest Loop at Cathedral Caverns

Cathedral Caverns is famous for its giant cave, but on New Year’s morning the rangers take you out into the woods instead. The First Day Hike on the Yellow Trail is a loop of about 1.6 miles, so you end up right back where you started. Every hiker gets a commemorative First Day Hike sticker.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Jan. 1, 2027, 9–10:45 a.m. (Central — our time).
• Where: Meet at the trail parking, Cathedral Caverns State Park, 637 Cave Road, Woodville, AL.
• How far: About 83 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes, by way of South Pittsburg and Scottsboro. Approximate; check your map app. To be there by 9, leave the Valley by about 7 a.m.
• Cost: $5 per person. That does not include cave admission, if you want to tour the cavern afterward.
• Who’ll love it: Steady walkers and families with school-age kids. The trail has about 260 feet of climbing, rated moderate.
• Good to know: Bring good hiking shoes, warm layers and a water bottle.

👉 Read more (Cathedral Caverns First Day Hike 2027: Yellow Trail)

🪨 See What the CCC Built at DeSoto’s First Day Hike

Back in the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the structures at DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain. On New Year’s morning, a park guide leads a hike to the CCC Quarry, where you’ll learn how those workers built what you still see in the park today. It’s a history lesson and a walk in the woods at the same time.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Jan. 1, 2027, 9:30–11 a.m. (Central — our time).
• Where: Meet at DeSoto’s Country Store on County Road 89, DeSoto State Park, Fort Payne, AL.
• How far: About 78 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes, by way of Chattanooga and I-59. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free.
• Who’ll love it: History buffs, grandparents with stories about the Depression years, and hikers who like a reason to walk.
• Good to know: Expect a rocky, mountain trail of about 2 miles round trip. Check the distance and difficulty with the park before you go.

👉 Read more (Alabama State Parks — First Day Hikes 2027)

🎬 Catch Wild Adventure Films at the Lookout Wild Film Festival

The Lookout Wild Film Festival celebrates “wild places and the people they inspire” with films about the outdoors and the folks who love it. This winter it fills the UTC Fine Arts Center for four days of screenings, so you can catch a mountain adventure from a comfortable theater seat.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Jan. 14, 2027, 6–10 p.m., and Fri.–Sun., Jan. 15–17, 1–4 p.m. and 7–10 p.m., all Eastern. That’s noon–3 p.m. and 6–9 p.m. OUR time on the weekend. Pick an afternoon show to drive home in daylight.
• Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, Chattanooga, TN.
• How far: About 30 miles, roughly 50 minutes, over Signal Mountain. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $40 plus a $3 fee, $43 per ticket, with free covered parking steps away.
• Who’ll love it: Hikers, armchair adventurers and teens who love the outdoors.
• Good to know: Check the festival website closer to January for the film lineup and which session suits you.

👉 Read more (Lookout Wild Film Festival)

🧶 Shop Handmade Winter Goods at the Crossville Craft Fair

FACS (that’s “For Art, Crafts & Sports”) in downtown Crossville is hosting a winter craft fair in January, according to an online fair calendar. It’s a good excuse to get off the couch after the holidays and browse handmade goods on the plateau.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Jan. 23, 2027, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time). This date comes from an online fair calendar, and the FACS website doesn’t list it yet: call before you go.
• Where: FACS, 65 W. 5th St., Crossville, TN.
• How far: About 49 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, up through Pikeville. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission listed.
• Who’ll love it: Crafters, gift shoppers getting a head start and anybody with cabin fever in January.
• Good to know: Questions: 931-210-5599.

👉 Read more (FairsAndFestivals.net — Downtown Crossville Winter Craft Fair)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Thu., Dec. 31, 10:30 a.m. OUR time (11:30 Eastern): New Year’s Eve Lunch Train, Chattanooga. Book ahead.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 10 a.m.: First Day Hike, Barker Camp Road, Dunlap. Free. Call 423-668-7701 about the time zone.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 9 a.m. (our time): First Day Hike, Cathedral Caverns. $5.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 9:30 a.m. (our time): First Day Hike, DeSoto State Park CCC Quarry. Free.
• Thu.–Sun., Jan. 14–17 (Eastern): Lookout Wild Film Festival, Chattanooga. $43.
• Sat., Jan. 23, 10 a.m. (our time): Crossville Winter Craft Fair at FACS. Call first.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Cathedral Caverns, DeSoto and Crossville are Central — our time. Chattanooga is Eastern — subtract an hour.
• ✅ Jan. 1 is a pick-one morning. The three hikes overlap. The Barker Camp hike is the closest by far.
• ✅ Book the lunch train early. It’s priced by the table, so bring a party of four to get the most from it.
• ✅ For winter hikes, bring layers, gloves, water and good shoes, and check the park’s page that morning for weather cancellations.
• ✅ 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 are new for article #75. We’ve covered other events at some of the same places, like the After Thanksgiving Day Hike at North Chickamauga Creek Gorge and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s holiday trains, but these are separate events.

What is a First Day Hike?

It’s a New Year’s Day tradition at state parks across the country: rangers lead guided walks on Jan. 1 so folks can start the year outside. Tennessee and Alabama state parks both take part, and their websites list more hikes than we have room for here.

Which ones are free?

The North Chickamauga Creek Gorge hike (donations welcome) and the DeSoto CCC Quarry hike are free. The Crossville craft fair lists no admission. The Cathedral Caverns hike is $5, the film festival is $43 a ticket and the lunch train starts at $240 a table.

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

The lunch train and the film festival are sit-down outings, and FACS is an indoor shop. All three hikes are rated moderate, about 1.6 to 2 miles, so call the park first if you have trouble with hills or rocky ground.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central, and so are Crossville and the Alabama parks. Chattanooga is on Eastern time, one hour ahead. The North Chickamauga Creek Gorge listing doesn’t say, so call 423-668-7701. 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

• Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum — New Year’s Eve Lunch Train
• Tennessee State Parks — First Day Hike 2027, North Chickamauga Creek Gorge
• Tennessee State Parks — All First Day Hikes
• Alabama State Parks — First Day Hikes 2027
• Lookout Wild Film Festival — Tickets
• FACS: For Art, Crafts & Sports — Crossville
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Start the New Year Easy

A new year doesn’t need fireworks to feel special. A warm lunch rolling down the rails, a quiet trail on a cold morning, a stone quarry with a story, a screen full of mountains and a table of handmade things are all a short drive from home. 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.