🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Bluegrass Takes Over Chattanooga, a Lantern-Lit Cave and 5 More Day Trips From Dunlap

Or: A Folklore Festival for a Green-Eyed Legend, a Race That Ends With Pie, Apples in the Georgia Hills and Two Christmas Traditions Worth Saving the Date For. Here Are 7 New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Home

Howdy, neighbor. We’ve already sent you to cannon fire on Lookout Mountain, a Scarecrow Trail in Huntsville and a Bigfoot festival in Crossville. Here’s a fifth batch of Hundred-Mile Happenings. That’s our list of unusual, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap, laid out plain: when, where, how far, what it costs and who’ll love it. Same promise as always: no repeats. Every one of these is new to the list.

This round reaches from this weekend all the way to early December. You can shop hundreds of handmade crafts at Georgia’s big apple festival in Ellijay and meet the legend of “Old Green Eyes” at a free folklore festival in Chickamauga, Ga. Bluegrass music’s biggest week comes to Chattanooga, with a free day of picking in the park, and runners can earn a pumpkin pie on Signal Mountain the same morning. You can walk Cumberland Caverns by lantern light, just over the mountain from home. And for the holidays, mark down Fayetteville’s Host of Christmas Past and Sewanee’s beloved candlelit service of Lessons and Carols.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Sat. and Sun., Oct. 10 and 11, and Oct. 17 and 18: Georgia Apple Festival, Ellijay, Ga. Opens 9 a.m. Eastern. $10, kids under 12 free.
• Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. Eastern: Green Eyes Festival, downtown Chickamauga, Ga. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 8 a.m. Eastern: Signal Mountain Pie Run 10K, 50th year. $45 entry. Register by Sat., Oct. 17, to be sure of your pie.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern: Pickin’ in the Park, bluegrass in downtown Chattanooga. Free.
• Select Fridays, Sundays and Mondays through Sun., Nov. 1: Lanterns & Legends cave tour, Cumberland Caverns, near McMinnville. $38, ages 8 and up.
• Fri. and Sat., Nov. 13 and 14: Host of Christmas Past, downtown Fayetteville, Tenn.
• Sat., Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., or Sun., Dec. 6, at 4 p.m.: Lessons and Carols, All Saints’ Chapel, Sewanee. No tickets needed for these two services.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: the time line. This batch is split right down the middle. Ellijay, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Signal Mountain are on Eastern Time, one hour ahead of us. So a 10 a.m. start is 9 a.m. our time. Cumberland Caverns, Fayetteville and Sewanee are on Central Time, same as Dunlap. And remember, clocks fall back on Sunday, Nov. 1.

🍎 Two Weekends of Apples and Handmade Crafts in Ellijay, Ga.

For 55 years, the little mountain town of Ellijay has thrown a party when its apples come in. The Georgia Apple Festival runs two weekends at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, with hundreds of vendors selling handmade and homegrown goods, on-site demonstrations, live music and fair food. Organizers call it “a big show with a small-town feel.” On the way home, stop at one of the orchards around Ellijay for a bag of apples, cider or something sweet.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 10, and Sat., Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, and Sun., Oct. 11, and Sun., Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. That’s 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturdays) and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sundays) our time.
• Where: Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, Ga. Questions: (706) 635-7400.
• How far: About 97 miles from Dunlap, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. It’s the longest drive on this list, so leave early.
• Cost: $10 for ages 12 and older. Kids under 12 get in free, according to Georgia’s state tourism listing. Bring cash for booths, just in case.
• Who’ll love it: Christmas shoppers, apple lovers, crafters and anyone who likes a classic, old-fashioned fair.
• Good to know: No pets on the fairgrounds (service animals are welcome). There’s no shuttle bus this year. A separate, pet-friendly Apple Arts festival runs downtown on the same days.
• Weather heads-up: Rain from Tropical Storm Isaias is likely this weekend, Oct. 10 and 11. The festival says it’s on rain or shine, but the second weekend, Oct. 17 and 18, may be the drier pick.

👉 Read more (Georgia Apple Festival)

👀 Meet “Old Green Eyes” at a Free Folklore Festival in Chickamauga

Every small town has a ghost story, and Chickamauga, Ga., has one of the best. Folks have told tales for generations about “Old Green Eyes,” a mysterious figure tied to the nearby battlefield. Some say it’s a ghostly soldier. Others say something stranger. The Green Eyes Festival turns that legend into a fun, family-friendly day downtown, with more than 50 craft and food vendors, live music, a ranger show, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest and trolley tours of the Chickamauga Battlefield. A “Speaker Hall” at the town library features talks about local history, wildlife and, yes, the author of a book called Bigfoot in Georgia. It’s spooky in name only. Organizers say it’s “all in good fun.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 17. Opening remarks are at 10 a.m. Eastern, which is 9 a.m. our time. An event listing shows it running until 6 p.m. Eastern (5 p.m. our time). Check before you go for the closing time.
• Where: Gordon Street in downtown Chickamauga, Ga. Park along Cove Road or at Lee Circle in front of Gordon Lee High School. The Speaker Hall is at the Chickamauga Public Library, about a five-minute walk.
• How far: About 45 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Cost: Free to attend. Bring money for food and vendors.
• Who’ll love it: Kids in costume, folklore fans, Civil War history buffs and anybody who enjoyed a good campfire story growing up.
• Good to know: It’s planned rain or shine. Costumes are encouraged.

👉 Read more (Green Eyes Festival)

🥧 Run 10K at Sunrise on Signal Mountain, and Finish With a Pumpkin Pie

Here’s a race with a reward everybody understands. For half a century, the Signal Mountain Pie Run has kept it simple: run along the brow of the mountain at sunrise, then take home a pumpkin pie. This is the 50th running, so finishers get a commemorative medal for the first and only time. There are homemade biscuits at the finish, neighbors ringing cowbells along East Brow Road, a raptor rescue visitor in the race village and a fun “predict your finish time” contest with small cash prizes. The Chattanooga Track Club says it’s “more county fair than finish line.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24. The race starts at 8 a.m. Eastern, which is 7 a.m. our time. Race-morning packet pickup is 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Eastern (5:30 to 6:30 a.m. our time). Pies are handed out around 9 a.m. and awards are at 9:45 a.m. Eastern.
• Where: Starts and finishes at Pruett’s Market, 1210 Taft Highway, Signal Mountain, Tenn.
• How far: About 20 miles from Dunlap, roughly 35 minutes. It’s the closest trip on this list.
• Cost: $45 to run right now, with the price set to rise to $49 soon. Special pricing is offered for youth 21 and under. Online registration only, closing at 7:15 a.m. Eastern on race day.
• The thing to remember: Register by Sat., Oct. 17, to be sure of a pie. If you sign up after that, you go into a drawing for a few extra pies.
• Who’ll love it: Runners and walkers of every speed, early risers (that’s us!) and families who want to cheer someone on and grab coffee at Pruett’s, which opens at 7 a.m. Eastern.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Track Club: Signal Mountain Pie Run)

🪕 Bluegrass Music’s Biggest Week Comes to Chattanooga, With a Free Day of Pickin’

This is a big one for our part of the world. IBMA World of Bluegrass, the most important week of the year in bluegrass music, is in Chattanooga Oct. 20 to 24. The ticketed concerts feature names like Sierra Ferrell, Larry Sparks and Michael Cleveland. But the best deal for families is Pickin’ in the Park, a free, all-day outdoor celebration in downtown Chattanooga. Two stages will feature Kids on Bluegrass bands, a college bluegrass band showcase with groups from UT, ETSU, Virginia Tech, Berklee and more, and local favorites like Blue Cumberland and Randy Steele & High Cold Wind. The Chattanooga Ballet will even dance to live bluegrass. Add in craft vendors and food, and it’s a whole Saturday of front-porch music in the middle of the city.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern. That’s 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. our time. The ballet’s “High Lonesome” performance is 3:10 to 3:40 p.m. Eastern.
• Where: Miller Park and Miller Plaza, downtown Chattanooga, with the ballet at Waterhouse Pavilion.
• How far: About 30 miles from Dunlap, roughly 45 minutes, plus time to park downtown.
• Cost: Free. No tickets needed. The World of Bluegrass Exhibit Hall inside the Chattanooga Convention Center is also free to the public on Fri., Oct. 23, and Sat., Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. The evening concerts need a paid weekend pass.
• Who’ll love it: Pickers and grinners, grandparents who grew up on bluegrass, kids who play an instrument (or want to) and anyone who loves good music outdoors.
• Bonus, same weekend: Between the Bridges, a free festival of about 50 local artists, is across the river at Coolidge Park on Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 25, noon to 5 p.m. Eastern.
• Good to know: Downtown will be crowded that weekend, with a marathon and a jazz festival happening too. Leave early and plan on paid parking.

👉 Read more (IBMA World of Bluegrass: Pickin’ in the Park)

🏮 Walk Cumberland Caverns by Lantern Light Only

Just over the mountain from Dunlap sits Cumberland Caverns, a gigantic show cave, and for a few more weeks it’s offering a special treat. On the Lanterns & Legends tour, there are no electric lights, only lanterns. Guides tell spine-tingling tales of early cave explorers, explain the science of the dark and let you experience true, total darkness. You’ll pass through the famous 10 Acre Room and see how the Volcano Room got its name. Since the cave is so big, the staff suggests pairing it with one of their regular walking tours if it’s your first visit.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Select Fridays, Sundays and Mondays through Sun., Nov. 1, as the last tour of the day (Central Time, same as home). One listing shows Fri., Oct. 30, 5 to 7 p.m. Exact days and times vary, so check the booking calendar. The tour lasts about 90 minutes.
• Where: Cumberland Caverns, 1437 Cumberland Caverns Road, McMinnville, Tenn. Call (931) 668-4396.
• How far: About 32 miles from Dunlap, roughly 50 minutes on winding mountain roads. Allow an hour.
• Cost: $38 for ages 13 and up and $30 for ages 8 to 12.
• The thing to remember: Book online at least 2 hours ahead. Spots are limited, and a recent listing said only about a dozen of these tours remained. Check in at least 15 minutes early.
• Who’ll love it: Older kids, teens and grown-ups who like a good ghost story and a little adventure. Ages 8 and up only. It’s dim, rocky and has stairs, so it’s not a fit for anyone with mobility or vision limits.

👉 Read more (Cumberland Caverns: Lanterns & Legends)

🎄 Save the Date: Host of Christmas Past in Fayetteville

Here’s one to put on the calendar now. Every second weekend in November, downtown Fayetteville, Tenn., turns into an old-fashioned Christmas card. It started nearly 50 years ago as one flower shop’s Christmas open house, and it’s grown into the Host of Christmas Past, now in its 34th year. Plans include a Christmas tree lighting, carols, photos with Santa, a handbell concert, live music, vendors, family activities and something called Mrs. Claus’s Reindeer Training Camp, which sounds like a must for the little ones.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Nov. 13, and Sat., Nov. 14 (Central Time, same as home). The 2026 schedule says “coming soon,” so check before you go for exact times.
• Where: Downtown Fayetteville, Tenn., around 112 Main Ave. South. Questions: (931) 433-1234.
• How far: About 98 miles from Dunlap, roughly 2 hours.
• Cost: Not posted yet for 2026. Last year, admission was listed as free with some events priced separately, and advance tickets are sold for many events. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Families with young kids, Christmas shoppers and anybody who loves a lit-up small-town square.

👉 Read more (Host of Christmas Past)

🕯️ Save the Date: Lessons and Carols at Sewanee’s All Saints’ Chapel

For more than 60 years, the University of the South at Sewanee has welcomed neighbors from all over the mountain to its Festival Service of Lessons and Carols. It’s a Christmas tradition that started in England in 1918, weaving Bible readings together with seasonal choir music, held in a grand stone chapel that feels straight out of an old storybook. For many folks, it’s the moment the Christmas season truly begins. This is the 67th year.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) and Sun., Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. (doors open at 3 p.m.). These are on Central Time, same as home. A third service, Sat., Dec. 5, at 4 p.m., needs a ticket, and those go first to university students and employees.
• Where: All Saints’ Chapel, 735 University Ave., Sewanee, Tenn. The university suggests parking at Fulford Hall, the duPont Library or the Mississippi Avenue lots.
• How far: About 55 miles from Dunlap, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Cost: No tickets are required for the Saturday 7 p.m. and Sunday 4 p.m. services, and we didn’t see any charge listed.
• The thing to remember: Arrive early. Doors close 15 minutes before each service, and large bags and backpacks aren’t allowed. Can’t make the drive? All services are livestreamed.
• Who’ll love it: Choir and music lovers, church families, grandparents and anyone who wants a quiet, beautiful start to Christmas. You can also help decorate, or “green,” the chapel on Fri., Dec. 4, starting at 9 a.m.

👉 Read more (University of the South: Festival Service of Lessons and Carols)

🗓️ Put These on the Fridge

• Sat., Oct. 10, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, and Sun., Oct. 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern: Georgia Apple Festival, Ellijay. Rain likely.
• Sat., Oct. 17: Last day to sign up for the Pie Run and be sure of a pie.
• Sat., Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. Eastern: Green Eyes Festival, Chickamauga, Ga.
• Sat., Oct. 17, and Sun., Oct. 18: Georgia Apple Festival, second weekend.
• Fri., Oct. 23, and Sat., Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern: Free bluegrass Exhibit Hall, Chattanooga Convention Center.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 8 a.m. Eastern: Signal Mountain Pie Run 10K.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern: Pickin’ in the Park, Miller Park, Chattanooga.
• Sat. and Sun., Oct. 24 and 25: Between the Bridges art festival, Coolidge Park.
• Through Sun., Nov. 1 (select days): Lanterns & Legends, Cumberland Caverns. Book ahead.
• Sun., Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour.
• Fri. and Sat., Nov. 13 and 14: Host of Christmas Past, Fayetteville, Tenn.
• Sat., Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 6, at 4 p.m.: Lessons and Carols, Sewanee.

✅ Your Easy Day-Trip Checklist

• ✅ Check the clock. Ellijay, Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Signal Mountain are one hour ahead of Dunlap. Cumberland Caverns, Fayetteville and Sewanee are on our time.
• ✅ Watch this weekend’s weather. Rain from Tropical Storm Isaias is likely Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11. Check the event page before you leave.
• ✅ Book ahead where it counts. The cave tour needs an online booking at least 2 hours ahead, and the Pie Run needs registration by Oct. 17 for a guaranteed pie.
• ✅ Call ahead on the “check before you go” items. Green Eyes’ closing time and Host of Christmas Past’s 2026 schedule haven’t been fully posted.
• ✅ Bring cash, in small bills. Craft booths and food trucks often move faster with cash.
• ✅ Plan for downtown Chattanooga crowds on Oct. 24. Leave early and expect paid parking.
• ✅ Wear good walking shoes and bring a jacket. Caves, mountains and fall evenings all turn chilly.
• ✅ Fill the tank and pack water and snacks. Ellijay and Fayetteville are two-hour drives.
• ✅ 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 Pie Run on Signal Mountain is the shortest drive, about 20 miles. Pickin’ in the Park in downtown Chattanooga is about 30 miles, and Cumberland Caverns is about 32 miles over the mountain.

Which ones are free?

The Green Eyes Festival, Pickin’ in the Park, the bluegrass Exhibit Hall and Between the Bridges are all free. The Saturday-evening and Sunday-afternoon Lessons and Carols services need no tickets. The Georgia Apple Festival is $10 for ages 12 and up, the cave tour is $38 for ages 13 and up, and the Pie Run is $45 to enter. Host of Christmas Past hasn’t posted 2026 prices yet.

Which ones are on Eastern Time?

Four of them: Ellijay, Chickamauga, downtown Chattanooga and Signal Mountain. All are one hour ahead of us. Cumberland Caverns, Fayetteville and Sewanee are on Central Time, same as home.

Will the rain from Isaias affect this weekend?

As of Thursday morning, the Georgia Apple Festival says it’s going on as planned, rain or shine. Showers are likely Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11. If you’d rather stay dry, aim for the festival’s second weekend, Oct. 17 and 18.

Can I do the Pie Run and Pickin’ in the Park on the same day?

Yes. The race wraps up with awards around 9:45 a.m. Eastern on Signal Mountain, and Pickin’ in the Park runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern downtown. That makes for one full Chattanooga Saturday.

Are these good for little kids and older folks?

Mostly, yes. The Green Eyes Festival, Pickin’ in the Park and Host of Christmas Past are made for families. The Lanterns & Legends cave tour is for ages 8 and up and isn’t suited to anyone with trouble walking or seeing in low light. The Sewanee service involves sitting quietly for a while, and it’s livestreamed for anyone who can’t make the trip.

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

• IBMA World of Bluegrass: Full schedule and tickets
• Visit Chattanooga: World of Bluegrass in Chattanooga
• Association for Visual Arts: Between the Bridges
• Cumberland Caverns: Tours and booking
• Explore Georgia: 2026 Georgia Apple Festival
• Visit Fayetteville: The Host of Christmas Past
• National Weather Service: Check the forecast for your destination
• TDOT SmartWay: Road conditions before you drive
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, breakfast and supplies

🍂 Slow Down and Go See Something

The best memories of the season don’t come from big budgets. They come from a banjo ringing out in a city park, a lantern flickering in a cave, a warm pie after a cold morning run or a choir filling a stone chapel. Pick one outing, mark the date and the time zone, and go enjoy this beautiful corner of the world. We’ll be back with more Hundred-Mile Happenings soon, never the same event twice. Read Dunlap.Today for plain-English Valley news and things to do, and find local businesses on Dunlap.Directory.