🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Antique Tractors in Dunlap, Boo at the Zoo and Chili in Chickamauga

Or: Underwater Pumpkins at the Aquarium, Flat Top Farm Hayrides, a Manchester Winery Market, Fort O Fright and Dunlap’s Own Great Pumpkin Festival. Eight New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

Howdy, neighbor. Here’s batch number eight 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 and fans out from there: free antique tractors right downtown in Dunlap, candy and costumes at the Chattanooga Zoo, divers carving jack-o’-lanterns underwater at the Aquarium, hayrides on Flat Top Mountain, a cozy fall market at Beans Creek Winery in Manchester, a haunted Friday-night trio in Fort Oglethorpe, Dunlap’s own Great Pumpkin Festival and a chili cook-off that funds a high-school band in Chickamauga, Georgia.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri./Sat. nights through Oct. 31 (next: tonight and Sat.), 4–8 p.m. Eastern: Boo in the Zoo, Chattanooga Zoo. Online tickets only; kids 2 and under free.
• Saturdays through Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. Eastern: Oddtober underwater pumpkin carving, Tennessee Aquarium. Included with Aquarium admission.
• Sat., Oct. 10, noon–5 p.m. Central: Fall Market, Beans Creek Winery, Manchester. Vendors, cider, wine deals, photo booth.
• Fri./Sat./Sun. through Nov. 1: Flat Top Mountain Farm Fall Festival, Soddy-Daisy area. $12 includes a pumpkin and hayride.
• Fri. and Sat. nights through Oct. 31, 7–10 p.m. Eastern: Fort O Fright, Stable 41, Fort Oglethorpe. $10 / $17 / $22 for 1–3 activities.
• Sat. and Sun., Oct. 17–18, gates 8 a.m. Central: Days of Yesteryear antique tractor show, Coops Creek Commons, Dunlap. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 3–5 p.m. Central: Great Pumpkin Festival, Dunlap United Methodist Church. Hayrides, games, caramel apples.
• Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern: Chilimauga chili cook-off & street fair, downtown Chickamauga, GA. Free to enter; $10 tasting ticket.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: the time line. Chattanooga, Soddy-Daisy (Flat Top’s ticket page), Fort Oglethorpe and Chickamauga are on Eastern Time, one hour ahead of us. So a 4 p.m. start there is 3 p.m. our time. Dunlap and Manchester are on Central Time, same as home. And remember, clocks fall back on Sunday, Nov. 1.

🚜 Free Antique Tractors Right Downtown: Days of Yesteryear

You don’t even need a full tank for this one. The 21st Annual Days of Yesteryear Antique Tractor Show fills Coops Creek Commons in historic downtown Dunlap with antique tractors, heritage farm demos, classic cars, crafts, children’s activities and food. Gates open at 8 a.m. both days. Admission and parking are free — just show up and wander.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat. and Sun., Oct. 17 and 18. Gates open 8 a.m. Central both days (our time).
• Where: Coops Creek Commons, 287 Pine Street, Dunlap. Club contact: (423) 949-6537 · daysofyesteryear.org. Chamber: (423) 949-7608.
• How far: About 1 mile or less from most of town — walk, bike or a short hop.
• Cost: Free admission and free parking. Bring cash or a card for food and crafts.
• Who’ll love it: Tractor fans, grandparents with grandkids, classic-car folks and anyone who wants a Valley heritage day without leaving Sequatchie County.
• Good to know: Collectors are welcome to bring antique equipment to display. Confirm hours and any RV details on the club site before you go.

👉 Read more (Days of Yesteryear, Chamber listing) · daysofyesteryear.org

👻 Candy, Costumes and Critters at Boo in the Zoo

Chattanooga Zoo closes at 3:30 p.m. on event nights, then reopens for Boo in the Zoo — a family Halloween walk with candy stations (bring a bag), character meet-and-greets, a scavenger hunt, costume shows, a bounce house and “creepy crawly” animal chats. It’s rain or shine, with a rain plan posted for this Saturday’s wet forecast.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 31, 4–8 p.m. Eastern (that’s 3–7 p.m. our time). Timed entry slots: 4–5, 5–6 or 6–7 p.m. Eastern; stay until 8.
• Where: Chattanooga Zoo, 301 North Holtzclaw Avenue, Chattanooga. (423) 697-1322.
• How far: About 35 miles, roughly 55 minutes.
• Cost: $11.95 members; $17.95 non-member kids ages 3–12; $20.95 non-member adults; ages 2 and under free (still reserve a ticket). Online only — no gate sales. Sells out.
• Who’ll love it: Families with littles who want Halloween fun without a haunted house, and anyone who likes animals after dark.
• Good to know: General Zoo admission does not get you into Boo. Adults: skip scary masks. Train and carousel cost extra.

👉 Read more (Boo in the Zoo)

🎃 Divers Carve Pumpkins Underwater at the Aquarium

As part of month-long Oddtober, Tennessee Aquarium divers turn pumpkins into aquatic jack-o’-lanterns while fish swim by. Shows run every Saturday in October at 2 p.m. and are included with regular admission. New this year: spotlight creatures in Scuttlebutt Reef, plus an optional Undersea Explorer VR add-on that started Oct. 9.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturdays Oct. 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. our time). Oct. 10 and 24 in River Giants; Oct. 17 and 31 in the TN River gallery. (Oct. 3 already happened.)
• Where: Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad Street, Chattanooga.
• How far: About 31 miles, roughly 50 minutes.
• Cost: Included with Aquarium admission (about $25.95–$39.95 depending on age/ticket type; ages 3 and under free — confirm current prices on tnaqua.org). VR add-on about $8 / $6 members.
• Who’ll love it: Kids who think ordinary pumpkin carving is too dry, aquarium regulars and anyone collecting Oddtober photos.
• Good to know: Buy Aquarium tickets ahead on busy Saturdays. Chattanooga is Eastern — leave Dunlap by about noon Central if you want a cushion before the 2 p.m. Eastern show.

👉 Read more (Underwater Pumpkin Carving) · Tennessee Aquarium visit

🍷 Vendors, Cider and Wine Deals at Beans Creek

Beans Creek Winery in Manchester hosts a Fall Market this Saturday with indoor and outdoor vendors, permanent jewelry, apple cider, a hay-bale pumpkin photo booth, kitchen food and wine deals. It’s a relaxed afternoon — shop local, sip something and stay awhile.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 10, noon to 5 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Beans Creek Winery, 426 Ragsdale Road, Manchester.
• How far: About 58 miles, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Cost: Admission isn’t clearly posted on the listing we found. Expect to pay for food, wine and shopping — check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, friend groups, craft shoppers and folks who want a quieter Saturday than a downtown street festival.
• Good to know: Details come from the organizer’s event listing. Confirm hours and any tasting fees on arrival. Designate a driver if you’re sampling wine.

👉 Read more (Beans Creek Fall Market listing) · Beans Creek Winery

🌽 Pumpkin, Hayride and Highland Cows on Flat Top

The Hughes family has farmed this mountain since 1824. Their Fall Festival runs through Nov. 1 with a corn maze, scenic hayrides, a complimentary homegrown pumpkin, Highland cows, mini donkeys, mountain views and a farm store. Season passes are available if you’ll go more than once.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Through Nov. 1, 2026 — Fridays 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern (one hour ahead of Dunlap). Special theme days (Vendor Weekend, Harvest Costume Day, etc.) are listed on their ticket page.
• Where: Flat Top Mountain Farm, 638 Bowman Cemetery Road, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379.
• How far: About 22 miles, roughly 30 minutes.
• Cost: $12 per person (includes one pumpkin + hayride + maze). Kids 3 and under free. Season pass $30 individual / $120 family (up to 4). Flower-bucket u-pick extra. Free parking.
• Who’ll love it: Families who want a classic pumpkin-patch day closer than Sweetwater, and anyone who likes cows with a view.
• Good to know: Outdoor event — dress for weather. Their ticket page lists Eastern hours; leave Dunlap about an hour early our time if you want the Friday open.

👉 Read more (Flat Top Fall Festival tickets) · Farm fall page

🦇 Haunted Stable, Black-Light Skating and a Ghost Tour

Fort Oglethorpe’s Fort O Fright packs three Halloween activities into Stable 41 on Friday and Saturday nights: a haunted stable walk, black-light skating and a guided ghost tour of Barnhardt Circle. Pick one, two or all three.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Every Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 31, 7–10 p.m. Eastern (6–9 p.m. our time). Next nights: tonight (Oct. 9) and Sat., Oct. 10.
• Where: Stable 41, 214 First Street / 1st Street, Fort Oglethorpe, GA. City Welcome Center: (706) 841-0339.
• How far: About 40 miles, roughly 1 hour.
• Cost: $10 for one activity, $17 for two, $22 for all three.
• Who’ll love it: Teens and grown-ups who want a short haunted night without a two-hour theme-park line; skating fans who like a glow-in-the-dark twist.
• Good to know: Milder scares than a big haunted house, but still Halloween — skip it with very little ones if jump-scares aren’t your family’s style. Confirm night-of hours if weather turns rough.

👉 Read more (Fort O Fright)

🎃 Hayrides and Caramel Apples at Dunlap’s Great Pumpkin Festival

Right on Main Street, Dunlap United Methodist Church hosts an afternoon Great Pumpkin Festival with hayrides, pumpkin rolling, games, caramel apples and more. It’s a short, sweet neighborhood outing — perfect if the kids still have energy after Saturday morning chores.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 3–5 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Dunlap United Methodist Church, 1958 Main Street, Dunlap.
• How far: In town — a few minutes from most addresses.
• Cost: Admission isn’t clearly posted on the Chamber listing. Bring a little cash for treats and check at the door.
• Who’ll love it: Families with preschoolers and grade-schoolers, church neighbors and anyone who wants Halloween-adjacent fun without leaving Dunlap.
• Good to know: Same Saturday as Boo in the Zoo’s evening block — you could do pumpkins at 3 and Zoo candy at 4 Eastern (3 our time) if you’re ambitious, or just stay local and call it a win.

👉 Read more (Great Pumpkin Festival, Chamber listing)

🌶️ Be the Judge at Chilimauga in Chickamauga

Looking ahead to early November, downtown Chickamauga throws Chilimauga — a family-friendly chili cook-off and street fair that benefits the Gordon Lee Marching Trojan Band. Free to wander the vendors and live music; buy a tasting ticket if you want to sample and vote. Breakfast with Santa is a separate ticketed add-on the organizers promote around the same weekend — check their site for the exact breakfast date.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–3 p.m. our time). Chili tasting/voting noon–2 p.m. Eastern; winners about 2:45 p.m. Eastern.
• Where: 200 Gordon Street, downtown Chickamauga, GA.
• How far: About 45 miles, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Cost: Free event admission. Chili tasting/voting ticket $10 online / $15 at the event. Free parking where available.
• Who’ll love it: Chili fans, craft shoppers, band boosters and families who want a street-fair Saturday after Halloween.
• Good to know: After clocks fall back Nov. 1, Eastern is still one hour ahead of Dunlap. Arrive before noon Eastern if you want a full tasting ballot.

👉 Read more (Chilimauga)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge

• Tonight / this weekend: Boo in the Zoo (Fri. and Sat.); Fort O Fright (Fri. and Sat.); Aquarium underwater pumpkins (Sat. 2 p.m. Eastern); Beans Creek Fall Market (Sat.); Flat Top Farm any Fri.–Sun.
• Sat.–Sun., Oct. 17–18: Days of Yesteryear, downtown Dunlap (free).
• Any remaining Fri./Sat. night in October: Boo in the Zoo and Fort O Fright.
• Sat., Oct. 24: Great Pumpkin Festival at Dunlap UMC (3–5 p.m.); also another Boo / Fort O night.
• Sun., Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour; Flat Top’s season ends that day.
• Sat., Nov. 7: Chilimauga chili cook-off, Chickamauga, GA.

✅ Your Easy Day-Trip Checklist

• ✅ Check the clock. Chattanooga, Flat Top (per their tickets), Fort Oglethorpe and Chickamauga are one hour ahead. Dunlap and Manchester match home.
• ✅ Buy Boo tickets online now. No gate sales, and nights sell out. Aquarium tickets move faster on Oddtober Saturdays too.
• ✅ Watch this weekend’s weather. Zoo has a rain plan for Saturday; Flat Top and Fort O are outdoors — pack layers and a backup plan.
• ✅ Bring a candy bag for Boo in the Zoo and a little cash for church treats and craft booths.
• ✅ Designate a driver if you’re tasting wine at Beans Creek or chili samples at Chilimauga.
• ✅ Wear good walking shoes. Zoo paths, farm fields and downtown Chickamauga all add up.
• ✅ 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?

Days of Yesteryear and the Great Pumpkin Festival are in town. Flat Top Mountain Farm is about 22 miles. The Aquarium is about 31 miles, the Zoo about 35, Fort Oglethorpe about 40 and Chilimauga about 45. Beans Creek in Manchester is the farthest on this list at about 58 miles — still well under our 100-mile line.

Which ones are free or nearly free?

Days of Yesteryear is free admission and free parking. Chilimauga is free to enter (tasting ticket optional at $10–$15). Flat Top is $12 with a pumpkin included. Boo in the Zoo runs about $12–$21. Fort O Fright starts at $10 for one activity. Aquarium Oddtober rides on regular admission. Beans Creek and the Great Pumpkin Festival haven’t posted clear admission — check before you go.

Which ones are on Eastern Time?

Chattanooga (Zoo and Aquarium), Flat Top Mountain Farm (per their ticket page), Fort Oglethorpe and Chickamauga. All are one hour ahead of Dunlap. Dunlap events and Manchester are on Central Time, same as home.

Which are best for little kids?

Days of Yesteryear, the Great Pumpkin Festival, Flat Top Farm (kids 3 and under free), Boo in the Zoo and the Aquarium pumpkin shows. Fort O Fright is better for older kids and teens who want a mild haunt. Chilimauga works for families who like street fairs and tasting.

Can I do more than one in a day?

Yes. A common pair: Flat Top in the afternoon, then Boo in the Zoo after 4 p.m. Eastern. Or Great Pumpkin Festival at 3 p.m. Central in Dunlap, then decide whether you’ve still got energy for an evening zoo or Fort O night. Don’t stack three — leave room for ice cream.

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

• Chattanooga Zoo: Boo in the Zoo
• Tennessee Aquarium: Visit / Oddtober
• Flat Top Mountain Farm Fall Festival tickets
• Chilimauga chili cook-off
• Fort O Fright (Fort Oglethorpe)
• Beans Creek Winery
• Days of Yesteryear Antique Tractor Club
• Sequatchie County / Dunlap Chamber events
• Choose Chattanooga: Events calendar
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🍂 Slow Down and Go See Something

You don’t have to drive far to make a memory this fall. From free tractors on Pine Street to candy at the Zoo and chili that helps a band in Chickamauga, every outing on this list is within about an hour and a half of home — and two of them are walking distance. Grab a buddy, check the clock and the sky, 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.