🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: A Storytelling Festival, a Ghost Walk Underground and 6 More Day Trips From Dunlap

Or: Glowing Trails, a Mountain-Town Hat Contest, Oompah Music by the River, a Spooky Little Market and a Royal Faire for November. Here Are 8 New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Home

Howdy, neighbor. Here’s batch number six of Hundred-Mile Happenings, our running list of unusual, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap. As always, we lay it out plain: when, where, how far, what it costs and who’ll love it. And as always, no repeats. Every one of these is new to the list.

This round stays close to home. Every trip on it is under 50 miles from Dunlap. You can walk a glowing trail at Enterprise South this Friday night, or head up the mountain to Altamont for a hat contest, a car show and a petting zoo on Saturday. Ruby Falls offers a lantern-lit ghost walk on select October nights. Dayton holds its very first storytelling festival, and later in the month its 20th PumpkinFest. On Oct. 17, Chattanooga’s free Oktoberfest and a spooky pop-up market in Monteagle share the same Saturday. And in mid-November, knights and minstrels take over Coolidge Park for the Chattanooga Renaissance Faire.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri. and Sat., Oct. 9 and 10, 6 to 11 p.m. Eastern: Halloween Trail Fest, Enterprise South Nature Park, Chattanooga. $15, ages 4 to 12 $7, 3 and under free. Friday looks drier.
• Sat., Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. Central: Fannie Moffitt Autumn Stomp and Car Show, Altamont.
• Thu., Oct. 15; Thu., Oct. 22; Sun., Oct. 25; and Sat., Oct. 31: Lantern Tour: Ghost Walk Edition, Ruby Falls. $42.95, ages 12 and up. Book online.
• Fri. and Sat., Oct. 16 and 17: Tales Among the Oaks Storytelling Festival, downtown Dayton. Limited tickets.
• Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern: Chattanooga Oktoberfest, First Horizon Pavilion. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central: Spooky Pop-Up Market, Hannah Pickett Park, Monteagle.
• Fri. and Sat., Oct. 30 and 31, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern: PumpkinFest, Rhea County Courthouse square, Dayton.
• Sat. and Sun., Nov. 14 and 15: Chattanooga Renaissance Faire, Coolidge and Renaissance parks. $20 Saturday, $15 Sunday, $30 both days, under 10 free.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: the time line. Chattanooga and Dayton are on Eastern Time, one hour ahead of us. So a 10 a.m. start there is 9 a.m. our time. Altamont and Monteagle are on Central Time, same as Dunlap. And remember, clocks fall back on Sunday, Nov. 1.

🎃 Glow Trails, Trick-or-Treat Booths and a Bonfire at Enterprise South

Hamilton County kicks off spooky season with Halloween Trail Fest at Enterprise South Nature Park, and there’s a trail for every kind of brave. The Haunted Trail is a two-mile walk through the woods with costumed actors and special effects. The Glow Trail is a not-so-scary stroll lit by thousands of Halloween lights. And the Too Cute to Spook Trick-or-Treat Trail is just for kids 12 and under, with decorated, family-friendly booths. Add food trucks, face painting, inflatables, a maze, read-alouds and a bonfire, and you’ve got a whole evening.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Oct. 9, and Sat., Oct. 10, 6 to 11 p.m. Eastern, which is 5 to 10 p.m. our time. The ticket booth closes at 10 p.m. Eastern, so plan to park by 9:30 p.m. Eastern (8:30 our time).
• Where: Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop, Chattanooga. Organizers say parking is at Volkswagen, with free rides over to the park.
• How far: About 48 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Cost: $15 for ages 13 and up, $7 for ages 4 to 12, free for 3 and under. Cash or card at the park. No refunds.
• Who’ll love it: Families with little trick-or-treaters (Glow Trail and Trick-or-Treat Trail) and teenagers who want a good scare (Haunted Trail).
• Good to know: There’s a clear-bag policy with bag checks. The Haunted Trail is the scary one, so little ones may be happier on the Glow Trail.
• Weather heads-up: Rain from Isaias is expected to move in late Friday night into Saturday. Friday evening looks like the better bet.

👉 Read more (Halloween Trail Fest details) · Choose Chattanooga listing

🎩 Hats, Hot Rods and a Tea Party on the Porch at Altamont’s Autumn Stomp

Fannie Moffitt was one of Altamont’s most colorful citizens. Organizers say she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and was famous for her hats. Every fall, the little Grundy County seat throws a festival in her honor. The 12th annual Fannie Moffitt Autumn Stomp and Car Show fills Cumberland Street with crafts, music, dance and food. There’s a hat contest and a quilt show with cash prizes, and the Tracy City Street Rodders host the car show. For the kids, there’s a petting zoo, gold mining and a tea party on Socket Smith’s porch. The day ends with a living history program in the Florence Scruggs Auditorium, where “prominent members of Altamont from the past hundred years” come to visit as part of the South Cumberland Pioneers and Patriots Tennessee 250 series.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 10, starting at 10 a.m. Central (our time). The closing time isn’t posted.
• Where: Cumberland Street, Altamont. Questions: (931) 235-1012.
• How far: About 33 miles, roughly 50 minutes, up the mountain.
• Cost: Admission isn’t posted. Bring cash for food, crafts and contest entries, and call ahead if you want to be sure.
• Who’ll love it: Hat lovers, quilters, car buffs, history fans and grandkids who want to pet a goat.
• Weather heads-up: Isaias’s rain is expected Saturday, and the event pages don’t mention a rain plan. Call before you go. If it’s on, wear a hat, of course.

👉 Read more (Tennessee Home and Farm: Autumn Stomp) · Fannie Moffitt Autumn Stomp

🏮 Hear Ruby Falls’ Ghost Stories by Lantern Light

Most folks have seen Ruby Falls with the lights on. On a few nights this October, you can walk to the underground waterfall by hand-held lantern after hours while a guide shares ghost stories from the cave’s 98-year history and old Chattanooga legends. The tour stops at the sites of “peculiar encounters, mischievous mayhem, and tragedy.” It’s spooky in a campfire-story way, not a jump-scare way.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Remaining dates are Thu., Oct. 15; Thu., Oct. 22; Sun., Oct. 25; and Sat., Oct. 31. It’s an after-hours tour. Your start time is shown when you book.
• Where: Ruby Falls, 1720 S. Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain. (423) 821-2544.
• How far: About 33 miles, roughly 50 minutes.
• Cost: $42.95 per person. Buy tickets online ahead of time, since spots are limited.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, grown-up friends and teens who like a good ghost story. No one under 12 is allowed.
• Good to know: It’s about a 1-mile round-trip walk with uneven paths and 50 stairs, in low light, for up to two hours. It’s not a good fit for anyone who has trouble walking or standing.

👉 Read more (Ruby Falls: Lantern Tour, Ghost Walk Edition)

📖 Pull Up a Chair: Dayton’s First-Ever Storytelling Festival

Before there was TV, there was the front porch, and somebody’s uncle telling a tale that got a little bigger every year. Dayton is celebrating that tradition with its first storytelling festival, “Tales Among the Oaks,” hosted by the Clyde W. Roddy Public Library. The festival brings in professional storytellers, authors and folklorists for two days of performances under a tent and around downtown Dayton.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Oct. 16: ticket pickup starts at 5 p.m., and stories begin in the tent at 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 17: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with breaks for lunch and dinner. Dayton is on Eastern Time, so the Friday stories start at 6 p.m. our time.
• Where: Ticket pickup at Centennial Park, 391 2nd Ave., Dayton. You’ll get a map and a storyteller schedule. Questions: (423) 775-8406.
• How far: About 36 miles, roughly 45 minutes.
• Cost: Tickets are required and limited. The library sells them through a link on its festival page. The price isn’t listed on the page itself.
• Who’ll love it: Anyone who grew up on porch stories, homeschool families, readers and grandparents looking for a gentle outing with the grandkids.
• Good to know: There are folding chairs, but you’re welcome to bring a cushion or your own chair. Storytellers will have books and merchandise for sale.

👉 Read more (Clyde W. Roddy Library: Storytelling Festival)

🥨 Oompah Music, Brat Tosses and a Free Oktoberfest by the River

The Chattanooga Market is throwing its 25th annual Chattanooga Oktoberfest, and admission is free. Expect live oompah music all weekend under the main tent, German food, a beer garden for the grown-ups and a Kunstmarkt (that’s an artisans’ market) with local farms and craftspeople. There are silly contests, too, including the brat toss and stein hoisting, and kids’ activities usually include face painting, balloon animals and sweet snacks. German outfits are “highly recommended,” so dust off the lederhosen if you’ve got ’em.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, and Sun., Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. That’s 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. our time.
• Where: First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd., next to Finley Stadium, Chattanooga.
• How far: About 30 miles, roughly 45 minutes.
• Cost: Free to get in. Food and drinks cost extra. Oktoberfest merchandise and beer sales are card-only, though some farm and craft booths take cash.
• Who’ll love it: Families, polka fans, folks who never pass up a good bratwurst and anyone who likes a festival under a roof.
• Good to know: Parking near the pavilion is a pay lot. The brat toss is at noon both days.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Oktoberfest)

🕸️ Shop Small at Monteagle’s Spooky Pop-Up Market

For a smaller-scale Saturday on the same day as Oktoberfest, head west to Monteagle. Southern Arrow is bringing back its 4th annual Spooky Pop-Up Market at Hannah Pickett Park, with local vendors, food, treats and “spooky finds.” Kids are invited to come in costume and trick-or-treat at the booths. It’s a nice way to start your holiday shopping while supporting small businesses on the mountain.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Hannah Pickett Park, 16 Dixie Lee Highway, Monteagle.
• How far: About 49 miles, roughly 1 hour.
• Cost: Admission isn’t listed. Pop-up markets like this are usually free to walk around, so bring money for shopping and snacks.
• Who’ll love it: Shoppers, little trick-or-treaters and anyone driving through Monteagle that day.
• Good to know: Our details come from an event-listing site that reposts the organizer’s Facebook post. Check Southern Arrow’s page before you go.

👉 Read more (Event listing: Spooky Pop-Up Market)

🎃 Pumpkin Pie Contests and Radio Theater at Dayton’s 20th PumpkinFest

Downtown Dayton’s PumpkinFest turns 20 this year. It’s two days of old-fashioned fall fun around the historic Rhea County Courthouse: a costume contest, a pumpkin pie eating contest, pumpkin decorating, a petting zoo, food and craft vendors and shopping in the downtown stores. Upstairs in the courthouse’s second-floor courtroom, there’s a radio theater performance of The Time Machine. If you made it to the storytelling festival two weeks earlier, it’s a good excuse to come back.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Oct. 30, and Sat., Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, which is 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. our time.
• Where: Rhea County Courthouse, 1475 Market St., Dayton. Questions: Main Street Dayton, (423) 775-9847.
• How far: About 36 miles, roughly 45 minutes.
• Cost: Main Street Dayton’s page doesn’t list an admission fee, and a festival-listing site lists it as free. Bring money for food, crafts and contests.
• Who’ll love it: Families with costumed kids, pie lovers and anyone who wants a Halloween outing that isn’t scary.
• Good to know: For radio theater times, check rheaheritage.com.

👉 Read more (Main Street Dayton: PumpkinFest 2026)

⚔️ Knights, Blacksmiths and a Missing Royal Pet at the Chattanooga Renaissance Faire

After a successful first run in May, the Chattanooga Renaissance Faire returns bigger this fall, spreading across both Coolidge Park and Renaissance Park on the North Shore. Expect three stages of live entertainment, armored combat, roaming characters and demonstrations from a blacksmith, metalsmith, potter and other old-time craftspeople. There’s even a storyline: the king’s beloved companion, Reginald Rutherford III, has gone missing, and the whole “Kingdom of Aldston” is buzzing with rumors.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, and Sun., Nov. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. After the time change, that’s 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. our time.
• Where: Coolidge Park and Renaissance Park, 150 River St., Chattanooga.
• How far: About 29 miles, roughly 45 minutes.
• Cost: Local 3 News reports $20 for Saturday, $15 for Sunday or $30 for both days, with children under 10 free. The faire says advance pricing ends Oct. 31 and prices go up Nov. 1. All sales are final, so buy only from the faire’s own ticket page.
• Who’ll love it: Kids who love castles, teens who love costumes, craftspeople, history buffs and anyone who’s ever wanted to watch a sword fight by the river.
• Good to know: Organizers suggest arriving early, since parking and entry lines get busy.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Renaissance Faire) · Tickets · Local 3 News: Dates and prices

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge

• Fri., Oct. 9, 6 to 11 p.m. Eastern: Halloween Trail Fest, Enterprise South. The drier night.
• Sat., Oct. 10: Halloween Trail Fest (second night) and the Fannie Moffitt Autumn Stomp in Altamont from 10 a.m. Central. Rain likely, so call ahead.
• Thu., Oct. 15: Ruby Falls Lantern Ghost Walk (also Oct. 22, 25 and 31).
• Fri., Oct. 16, 7 p.m. Eastern, and Sat., Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern: Tales Among the Oaks Storytelling Festival, Dayton.
• Sat., Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central: Spooky Pop-Up Market, Monteagle.
• Sat. and Sun., Oct. 17 and 18: Chattanooga Oktoberfest, First Horizon Pavilion. Free.
• Fri. and Sat., Oct. 30 and 31, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern: PumpkinFest, Dayton.
• Sat., Oct. 31: Last day for advance Renaissance Faire prices.
• Sun., Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour.
• Sat. and Sun., Nov. 14 and 15: Chattanooga Renaissance Faire, Coolidge and Renaissance parks.

✅ Your Easy Day-Trip Checklist

• ✅ Check the clock. Chattanooga and Dayton are one hour ahead of Dunlap. Altamont and Monteagle are on our time.
• ✅ Watch this weekend’s weather. Isaias’s rain is expected Saturday, Oct. 10. Go to the Trail Fest on Friday if you can, and call before driving to Altamont.
• ✅ Book ahead where it counts. Ruby Falls’ ghost walk, the Dayton storytelling festival and the Renaissance Faire all sell tickets ahead of time.
• ✅ Bring both cash and a card. Oktoberfest beer and merchandise sales are card-only, and small-town booths often prefer cash.
• ✅ Pack a chair or cushion for the storytelling tent, and a clear bag for the Trail Fest.
• ✅ Wear good walking shoes and bring a jacket. Caves, trails and October evenings get chilly.
• ✅ Shop local on the way out. Grab breakfast or gas from a Valley business. Find one on Dunlap.Directory.
• ✅ Snap a photo of this page so the dates and times ride along with you.

Practical rule: Pick one trip, write it on the calendar tonight with the time zone beside it, and tell somebody you’re taking them along. A plan with a date and a buddy actually happens.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these trips is closest to Dunlap?

The Renaissance Faire at Coolidge Park is about 29 miles. Oktoberfest is about 30 miles, and Ruby Falls and Altamont are each about 33 miles. Every trip on this list is under 50 miles.

Which ones are free?

Chattanooga Oktoberfest is free to enter. PumpkinFest and the Monteagle pop-up market don’t list an admission fee. The Trail Fest is $15 for ages 13 and up and $7 for ages 4 to 12. The Ruby Falls ghost walk is $42.95, and the Renaissance Faire is $20 Saturday, $15 Sunday or $30 for both, with kids under 10 free. The Autumn Stomp and the storytelling festival haven’t posted prices on the pages we found.

Which ones are on Eastern Time?

Everything in Chattanooga (Trail Fest, Ruby Falls, Oktoberfest and the Renaissance Faire) and everything in Dayton (the storytelling festival and PumpkinFest). All are one hour ahead of us. Altamont and Monteagle are on Central Time, same as home.

Which are best for little kids?

The Glow Trail and Trick-or-Treat Trail at Enterprise South, the Autumn Stomp’s petting zoo and tea party, PumpkinFest’s petting zoo and costume contest, the Monteagle market’s trick-or-treating and the Renaissance Faire, where kids under 10 get in free. The Ruby Falls ghost walk is for ages 12 and up.

Will the rain from Isaias affect this weekend?

Rain and gusty wind are expected Saturday, Oct. 10. The Trail Fest runs Friday night too, and Friday looks drier. The Autumn Stomp pages don’t mention a rain plan, so call (931) 235-1012 before you go.

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 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

• Choose Chattanooga: Events calendar
• Rhea County Tourism: Events in Dayton and Rhea County
• Main Street Dayton
• Chattanooga Market: Year-round events
• Ruby Falls: Tours and tickets
• Tennessee Home and Farm: Statewide events calendar
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast

🍂 Slow Down and Go See Something

You don’t have to drive far to make a memory this fall. Every outing on this list is within an hour or so of home, close enough to get back for supper. Grab a buddy, check the clock and the sky, and go hear a story, eat a bratwurst or watch a knight take a tumble.

Keep exploring, keep it easy and keep reading. Read Dunlap.Today for more Hundred-Mile Happenings every few hours, and find the Valley businesses that’ll fuel your trip on Dunlap.Directory.