🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Cosplay at Huntsville's Comic Expo, Stroll the 4 Bridges Arts Festival, Pick Up Strawberry Fun in Crossville, Wander Knoxville's Dogwood Arts Festival and Eat Your Fill at the National Cornbread Festival

Or: Meet Superheroes, Shop Art by the River, Pet a Pony, See the Dogwoods Bloom and Taste All the Cornbread — Five New April 2027 Outings Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Howdy, neighbor. Afternoon coffee is a fine time to circle a few dates on next year’s calendar. Here’s batch number eighty-one 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.

Earlier today we looked at summer. Now we circle back to April 2027, when two weekends are packed full. On April 16–18, the Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo fills the Von Braun Center, the 4 Bridges Arts Festival brings more than 140 artists to Chattanooga, and the Cumberland Strawberry Festival sets up at the Crossville Fairgrounds. Then on April 23–25, Knoxville’s free Dogwood Arts Festival turns 66, and right down the road in South Pittsburg, our Marion County neighbors throw the National Cornbread Festival.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri.–Sun., April 16–18 (Central — our time): Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo, Von Braun Center, Huntsville. Ticket prices not posted on the pages we checked: check before you go.
• Sat.–Sun., April 17–18 (Eastern time): 4 Bridges Arts Festival, First Horizon Pavilion, Chattanooga. $6; under 18 free.
• Sat.–Sun., April 17–18 (Central — our time): Cumberland Strawberry Festival, Crossville Fairgrounds. Admission not posted: check before you go.
• Fri.–Sun., April 23–25 (Eastern time): Dogwood Arts Festival, World’s Fair Park, Knoxville. Free.
• Fri.–Sun., April 23–25 (Central — our time): National Cornbread Festival, downtown South Pittsburg. Admission: check before you go. Parking is free.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Chattanooga and Knoxville are on EASTERN time, one hour ahead of us. Huntsville, Crossville and South Pittsburg are on CENTRAL time, same as us. For the 4 Bridges and Dogwood Arts festivals, subtract an hour. And one clock change is coming up soon: daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 1, so set clocks back one hour on Halloween night.

🦸 Meet Superheroes and Spot Cosplay at Huntsville’s Comic & Pop Culture Expo

You don’t have to know a single comic book to enjoy this one. The Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo, now in its 12th year, bills itself as Alabama’s largest celebration of “all things geek.” Picture 200-plus vendors, an Artists and Authors Alley, a gaming room, special celebrity guests and cosplay contests where folks dress as their favorite movie and cartoon characters. It’s a local, family-run show, and part of the money goes to Kids To Love, a North Alabama charity that helps children in foster care.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri.–Sun., April 16–18, 2027. Friday 3–8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Huntsville is on Central time, same as us.
• Where: Von Braun Center, 700 Monroe St. SW, downtown Huntsville, AL.
• How far: About 105 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes, by way of Jasper and U.S. 72. That’s at the edge of our 100-mile circle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Ticket prices weren’t listed on the pages we checked: check before you go. The Expo says weekend and VIP tickets are on sale, and tickets are sold only at HSVEXPO.com, not at the Von Braun Center box office.
• Who’ll love it: Grandkids who love superheroes, teens who draw, board-game and video-game fans, and grandparents who remember the first Star Wars.
• Good to know: Buy tickets online before you leave home. Saturday is usually the busiest day, so Sunday can be easier for a first visit.

👉 Read more (Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo — Info)

🎨 Shop Art by the River at Chattanooga’s 4 Bridges Arts Festival

This is one of the big ones. The 4 Bridges Arts Festival, put on by the Association for Visual Arts, has been ranked among the top 30 fine art festivals in the country. More than 140 artists from across the nation fill the covered First Horizon Pavilion with paintings, pottery, jewelry, glass, woodwork and photography. Many of them are standing right there in their booth, happy to tell you how they made it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., April 17, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sun., April 18, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Eastern time. That’s 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. our time. (A ticketed Preview Party opens the weekend on Friday evening, April 16.)
• Where: First Horizon Pavilion, 1801 Reggie White Blvd., Chattanooga, the open-air pavilion near the Chattanooga Choo Choo side of downtown.
• How far: About 30 to 35 miles, roughly 1 hour, down Signal Mountain or by way of Jasper and I-24. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $6 at the gate. Students and children under 18 get in free.
• Who’ll love it: Art lovers, crafters, anyone shopping for a one-of-a-kind gift, and folks who like a gentle stroll under a roof.
• Good to know: The pavilion is covered, so a spring shower won’t spoil it. Bring a tote bag for small purchases.

👉 Read more (Association for Visual Arts — 4 Bridges Arts Festival)

🍓 Pony Rides and Strawberry Fun at the Cumberland Strawberry Festival

Up on the Plateau, the Cumberland Strawberry Festival is the kind of spring weekend little ones remember. The listing promises live music, handcrafted artisans, boutiques, a petting zoo, pony rides, train rides and food trucks at the Crossville Fairgrounds. It’s an easy, low-key outing about an hour and a quarter up the road.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., April 17, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sun., April 18, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Crossville is on Central time, same as us.
• Where: Crossville Fairgrounds, 1398 Livingston Rd., Crossville, TN.
• How far: About 51 miles, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes, by way of Pikeville and Hwy. 127 north. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Admission isn’t posted: check before you go. Bring a little cash for pony rides and food.
• Who’ll love it: Young families, grandparents with grandkids in tow, and anyone who likes a country-fair kind of day.
• Good to know: These dates and hours come from a third-party festival listing, not an organizer’s page, so check before you go. This is a different event from the Chattanooga Strawberry Festival we listed in May.

👉 Read more (Cumberland Strawberry Festival 2027 listing)

🌸 See the Dogwoods Bloom at Knoxville’s Free Dogwood Arts Festival

When the dogwoods bloom in East Tennessee, Knoxville throws a party. The Dogwood Arts Festival, now in its 66th year, fills World’s Fair Park, home of the golden Sunsphere, with about 100 juried artists, live music on two stages, a local Maker Market, hands-on activities and demos. USA TODAY readers have named it one of the best art festivals in the country. Best of all, it’s free.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri.–Sun., April 23–25, 2027. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Eastern time. That’s 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. our time.
• Where: World’s Fair Park, 963 World’s Fair Park Dr., downtown Knoxville.
• How far: About 115 miles, roughly 2 hours 20 minutes, by way of Pikeville, Spring City and I-75 or by way of I-40. That’s a little past our 100-mile circle, so make it a full day. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. No tickets needed. Downtown parking garages vary; many are free on weekends, according to the festival.
• Who’ll love it: Garden lovers, art shoppers, families, and folks who’d enjoy a springtime walk around the Sunsphere.
• Good to know: Pets are welcome, according to the festival. The festival says World’s Fair Park Drive stays open for drop-offs near the gate, which helps if someone in your group can’t walk far.

👉 Read more (Dogwood Arts — Dogwood Arts Festival)

🌽 Taste All the Cornbread at the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg

This one is practically in our backyard. Every spring, South Pittsburg, the home of Lodge cast iron, celebrates the dish that’s on every Valley supper table. The National Cornbread Festival brings a cornbread cook-off, Cornbread Alley tastings, music, arts and crafts, food and a carnival to the historic downtown. Next spring marks the 29th annual festival. As one happy visitor put it: “So. Much. Cornbread.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: The festival is held the last full weekend in April, which is Sat.–Sun., April 24–25, 2027, and festival listings show it opening Friday evening, April 23, with a street dance. The festival’s site lists Saturday 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Central time, same as us. Those hours appear to be from 2026, so check before you go.
• Where: Historic downtown South Pittsburg, TN (Cedar Avenue area), two miles south of I-24.
• How far: About 32 miles, roughly 45 minutes, straight down the Sequatchie Valley by way of Jasper. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Parking is free, with shuttle buses from the outer lots about every 15 minutes. A festival listing shows admission of about $10–$15, but the festival’s own 2027 price wasn’t posted yet: check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Everybody who’s ever buttered a hot wedge of cornbread. Home cooks, cast-iron collectors, families and anybody who wants a big festival without a long drive.
• Good to know: No pets, except service animals. It’s rain or shine. Arrive early, since the best parking fills fast.

👉 Read more (National Cornbread Festival — Official site)

✅ 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.–Sun., April 16–18 (our time): Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo, Von Braun Center. Buy tickets online.
• Sat.–Sun., April 17–18 (Eastern — subtract an hour): 4 Bridges Arts Festival, Chattanooga. $6; under 18 free.
• Sat.–Sun., April 17–18 (our time): Cumberland Strawberry Festival, Crossville Fairgrounds.
• Fri.–Sun., April 23–25 (Eastern — subtract an hour): Dogwood Arts Festival, Knoxville. Free.
• Fri.–Sun., April 23–25 (our time): National Cornbread Festival, South Pittsburg. Free parking.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Chattanooga and Knoxville are Eastern — subtract an hour. Huntsville, Crossville and South Pittsburg are Central — our time.
• ✅ One is free (Dogwood Arts), and 4 Bridges is $6 with kids free. Watch for prices on the Comic Expo, the Strawberry Festival and the Cornbread Festival.
• ✅ Two double weekends. April 17–18 has three choices, and April 23–25 has two. Pick the one that fits your crew, or stack two close ones, like Cornbread on Saturday and a Sunday drive.
• ✅ Spring weather can turn. Pack a light jacket, an umbrella and comfortable walking shoes.
• ✅ Check the event page the week before. The Strawberry Festival dates come from a third-party listing, and the Cornbread Festival’s 2027 hours and admission still need to be confirmed.
• ✅ 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 five of these are new for article #81. We listed the Chattanooga Strawberry Festival and Huntsville’s Panoply Arts Festival earlier, but the Cumberland Strawberry Festival in Crossville and the 4 Bridges and Dogwood Arts festivals are separate events.

Why are you listing April events in October?

We’ve covered most of this fall and winter, and our recent lists have been looking ahead. These five have posted their 2027 dates or follow a set yearly pattern. Marking them now means you won’t miss them, and some, like the Comic Expo, already have early-bird tickets on sale.

Which ones are free?

The Dogwood Arts Festival is free, according to its organizers. The 4 Bridges Arts Festival is $6, and students and kids under 18 get in free. The Comic Expo, the Strawberry Festival and the Cornbread Festival haven’t posted 2027 prices on the pages we checked, though the Cornbread Festival’s parking is free.

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

The 4 Bridges Arts Festival is all under one covered pavilion, so it’s a manageable walk. The Cornbread Festival runs shuttles from its parking lots, and the Dogwood Arts Festival keeps a drop-off lane open near the gate. The Comic Expo is indoors but crowded, so pace yourself. The Strawberry Festival is on fairgrounds, so expect some grass and gravel.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central, and so are Huntsville, Crossville and South Pittsburg. Chattanooga and Knoxville are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, Nov. 1, but by April we’ll all be back on daylight time, and the one-hour difference stays the same.

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 tourism board or local news whenever we can. When a detail isn’t posted, or a date comes from a third-party listing, 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

• Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo — Official site and tickets
• Association for Visual Arts — 4 Bridges Arts Festival
• Cumberland Strawberry Festival 2027 — Event listing
• Dogwood Arts Festival — Official page and parking info
• National Cornbread Festival — Official site
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Give Spring Something to Look Forward To

The leaves are falling now, but the dogwoods and the strawberries always come back around. Superheroes in Huntsville, art by the river, pony rides on the Plateau, blossoms around the Sunsphere and a skillet of cornbread just down the Valley will all be waiting. 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.