🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Free Music on Red Bank Front Porches, a Christmas Open House With Santa in Chatsworth, a Dolly Parton "Hard Candy Christmas" in Smithville, a Frontier Homeschool Day at Harrison Bay, Oak Ridge's 49th Pilot Club Craft Fair, Wreath-Making at an 1859 Manor, Turkey Day in Murfreesboro and a New Year's Day Polar Plunge

Or: Pull Up a Lawn Chair for Porch Music, Visit Santa, Shop a Dolly-Themed Christmas, Let the Kids Try Cherokee Crafts, Browse a Giant Craft Fair, Make Your Own Wreath, Hunt Turkeys at a Museum and Jump Into Tellico Lake — Eight New Outings Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Howdy, neighbor. Pour the coffee and grab a pencil. Here’s batch number sixty-nine 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 stretches from early November all the way to New Year’s Day. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Red Bank turns its front porches into stages for the free Red Bank Porchfest. On Nov. 13 and 14, there are two Christmas open houses: Crown Craft Market in Chatsworth, Ga., with Santa and more than 90 vendors, and The Vintage Owl’s “A Hard Candy Christmas” in Smithville, with a Dolly Parton theme. On Thursday, Nov. 19, homeschoolers can try Cherokee and frontier crafts at Harrison Bay State Park, and Oak Ridge’s 49th Pilot Club Arts & Crafts Fair opens its three-day run. On Saturday, Nov. 21, Whistlestop Manor in Sweetwater teaches wreath-making. The day after Thanksgiving, Turkey Day fills Murfreesboro’s Discovery Center. And on Jan. 1, the brave among us can take the East TN Polar Plunge.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Sat., Nov. 7, music starts 10 a.m. Eastern (9 a.m. OUR time): Red Bank Porchfest, front porches between Memorial Dr. and Midvale Ave., Red Bank, TN. Free.
• Fri., Nov. 13, from 5 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): “A Hard Candy Christmas”, The Vintage Owl, Smithville, TN. Cost not listed: check before you go.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–5 p.m. OUR time): Crown Craft Market Christmas Open House, 110 N. 2nd Ave., Chatsworth, GA. Free.
• Thu., Nov. 19, 9–11 a.m. Eastern (8–10 a.m. OUR time): Homeschool Day: Early Life in Tennessee, Harrison Bay State Park. $5; 25 students max.
• Thu.–Sat., Nov. 19–21 (Eastern): Pilot Club Arts & Crafts Fair, Oak Ridge Civic Center. Hours and cost not posted yet: check before you go.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or 2–4 p.m. Eastern (10–noon or 1–3 p.m. OUR time): Wreath-Making Workshop, Whistlestop Manor, Sweetwater, TN. $100; $140 adult with child helper.
• Fri., Nov. 27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Turkey Day, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Murfreesboro, TN. Included with museum admission.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 2027, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m.–noon OUR time): East TN Polar Plunge, Vonore Recreational Boat Ramp, Tellico Lake. $30 adults, $20 kids if you register ahead.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Only Smithville and Murfreesboro are on CENTRAL time like us. Red Bank, Chatsworth, Harrison Bay, Oak Ridge, Sweetwater and Vonore are all EASTERN, one hour ahead. For those six, subtract an hour. And remember, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, before any of these. Set the clocks back one hour on Halloween night. The one-hour difference between us and Chattanooga stays the same.

🎸 Pull Up a Lawn Chair and Hear Free Music on Red Bank’s Front Porches

Picture a whole neighborhood where the front porches turn into little stages. That’s a porchfest. Red Bank, just north of downtown Chattanooga, is holding its second annual Red Bank Porchfest, with 11 sets of original music by local artists on porches you can walk between. Organizers call it “free, family-friendly, walkable, and all about the people who live here.” The lineup includes acts like the Possum Creek Pickers and Pan-O-Ram Club, and an artist will paint a mural live.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 7, 2026. Music starts at 10 a.m. Eastern (9 a.m. OUR time) and runs into the evening, with a headliner stage at night.
• Where: Front porches in Red Bank, TN, between Memorial Drive and Midvale Avenue. The event website has a map, plus extra parking at White Oak UMC and the White Oak Ballfields.
• How far: About 36 miles, roughly 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free admission. Food and drinks are for sale, and food trucks will be on hand.
• Who’ll love it: Music lovers, young families, folks who like a good neighborhood stroll and anybody who enjoys hearing local pickers up close.
• Good to know: Organizers say to bring your own chair and a cooler. Port-a-potties are set up. They also ask folks to tip the musicians if you can, or give to the Red Bank Food Pantry, and to please not litter.

👉 Read more (Chattanooga Porchfests — Red Bank Porchfest 2026)

🍬 Shop a Dolly Parton-Themed “Hard Candy Christmas” in Smithville

If you can hum “Hard Candy Christmas,” you already know the mood for this one. The Vintage Owl in Smithville is throwing a two-day Christmas open house called “A Hard Candy Christmas,” with a theme inspired by Dolly Parton. It’s a good excuse to start Christmas shopping early, take a pretty drive through the hills and see Smithville’s square dressing up for the holidays.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Nov. 13, 2026, opening at 5 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central (our time). A closing time for Friday wasn’t listed.
• Where: The Vintage Owl, Smithville, TN (DeKalb County). The street address wasn’t in the listings we found; check before you go.
• How far: About 56 miles, roughly 1 hour 25 minutes by way of McMinnville. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed. Open houses are usually free to walk through, but check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Dolly fans, vintage and antique lovers, early Christmas shoppers and anybody who wants a slow Saturday in a small town.
• Good to know: Smithville is on our time, so no clock math. A local roundup says DeKalb County Florist holds its own Christmas open house the same two days, so you can make a little loop of it.

👉 Read more (Visit DeKalb County Tennessee — Calendar of Events)

🎅 Meet Santa and Shop 90-Plus Local Makers at the Crown Craft Market Christmas Open House in Chatsworth

Downtown Chatsworth, Ga., calls itself the place to “Hurry to Murray,” and on this Saturday, Crown Craft Market gives you a good reason. Its Christmas Open House brings Santa, festive sips and snacks, free kids’ activities, prizes and giveaways and holiday shopping from more than 90 local vendors. The market calls it “one of our favorite events of the year.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 14, 2026, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. OUR time).
• Where: Crown Craft Market, 110 N. 2nd Ave., Chatsworth, GA (Murray County).
• How far: About 74 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free admission. Bring money for gifts.
• Who’ll love it: Kids with a list for Santa, grandparents, crafters and anybody who likes buying handmade gifts.
• Good to know: Santa’s hours weren’t posted yet; the market says it will share Santa details on its event page. Check before you go if seeing Santa is the main reason for your trip.

👉 Read more (Crown Craft Market Christmas Open House listing)

🏹 Let the Kids Try Cherokee Crafts and See a Blowgun Demo at Harrison Bay’s Homeschool Day

Long before Chickamauga Lake was there, East Tennessee was home to big Mississippian and Cherokee towns. At this morning program, students get their hands busy learning how folks lived back then. They’ll make a Mississippian-style clay gorget, learn Cherokee fishing techniques, handle animal pelts from the frontier days, plant a Three Sisters garden (corn, beans and squash) and watch a blowgun demonstration. It’s held indoors, so weather won’t spoil it.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Nov. 19, 2026, 9 to 11 a.m. Eastern (8 to 10 a.m. OUR time).
• Where: The Rec Hall at Harrison Bay State Park, 8411 Harrison Bay Rd., Harrison, TN. When you enter the park, keep right on Campground Road and follow signs for the Rec Hall.
• How far: About 48 miles, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app. Leave Dunlap by about 6:45 a.m. our time.
• Cost: $5. Registration is limited to 25 students. Children ages 0 to 4 can come along without registering.
• Who’ll love it: Homeschool families, grandparents who help with lessons and any young history buff.
• Good to know: With only 25 spots, register early. Questions go to the event host, Dani O’Brien, danielle.obrien@tn.gov, 931-224-7652. The listing we found is on a Tennessee State Parks event page; confirm with the park before you go.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Homeschool Day: Early Life in Tennessee)

🧶 Browse Three Days of Handmade Gifts at Oak Ridge’s 49th Pilot Club Arts & Crafts Fair

Here’s a fair with staying power. The Pilot Club of Oak Ridge is holding its 49th annual Arts & Crafts Fair, a three-day run that’s long been a holiday-shopping tradition in the Secret City. It’s a good one for knocking out a Christmas list in a single day, all under one roof at the Civic Center.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Nov. 19, through Sat., Nov. 21, 2026 (Eastern time). Daily hours weren’t posted yet; the city says “more details to come.”
• Where: Oak Ridge Civic Center, 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN.
• How far: About 97 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Approximate; this one is at the far edge of our 100 miles, so check your map app.
• Cost: Not posted yet for 2026. Last year’s fair was free to attend, but check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Serious Christmas shoppers, crafters looking for ideas and anybody who enjoys a big indoor fair on a chilly day.
• Good to know: Last year the fair ran Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, but 2026 hours may differ. Call the Civic Center at 865-425-3450 before you make the long drive.

👉 Read more (City of Oak Ridge — OR Pilot Club Arts & Crafts Fair)

🎄 Make Your Own Christmas Wreath by the Bonfire at Sweetwater’s 1859 Whistlestop Manor

This one sold out every seating last year, so it’s worth knowing about early. Whistlestop Manor, a historic 1859 home on five acres in Sweetwater, is bringing back its live wreath-making workshops. Each ticket covers more than craft supplies: gourmet appetizers and holiday drinks from the manor’s in-house chef, small plates, photo props and costumes, door prizes, games, a bonfire and a hand-crafted wreath you take home.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 21, 2026. Pick one of two sessions: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. to noon OUR time) or 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern (1 to 3 p.m. OUR time).
• Where: Whistlestop Manor, 134 Head of Creek Rd., Sweetwater, TN (Monroe County).
• How far: About 75 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $100 per guest, or $140 for an adult with a child helper.
• Who’ll love it: A group of friends looking for a special day out, mothers and daughters, grandmas and grandkids, and anybody who wants a wreath on the door that they made themselves.
• Good to know: Book by calling or messaging the manor at (423) 271-6380. An overnight stay with homemade breakfast can be added. Groups of 10 or more can book a private wreath party on any date.

👉 Read more (Dunlap.Today — Live Wreath-Making Workshops Return to Whistlestop Manor)

🦃 Burn Off the Pie With a Turkey Scavenger Hunt at Murfreesboro’s Discovery Center

Got grandkids in the house the day after Thanksgiving? Here’s a cheerful way to get everybody out of the living room. The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, a hands-on children’s museum, is holding Turkey Day. Kids can take on a Turkey Day Scavenger Hunt through the museum for a chance at a prize, make turkey crafts and add a leaf to the Community Gratitude Tree saying what they’re thankful for.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Nov. 27, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 SE Broad St., Murfreesboro, TN.
• How far: About 76 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Included with general admission and free for members. The admission price wasn’t in the listing; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Little ones, grandparents with a houseful of holiday visitors and any family that wants a calm indoor outing.
• Good to know: Murfreesboro is on our time. Questions: the Discovery Center at (615) 890-2300. Expect holiday-weekend shopping traffic in Murfreesboro.

👉 Read more (Only in Murfreesboro — Turkey Day at the Discovery Center)

🧊 Start 2027 With a Splash at the East TN Polar Plunge on Tellico Lake

Here’s the notable later one, for the brave and the folks who like watching the brave. On New Year’s Day, people jump into the chilly waters of Tellico Lake for a good cause. Money raised supports T-BART, a volunteer nonprofit that helps stranded boaters on Tellico Lake for free. Everyone who registers gets a souvenir long-sleeve T-shirt and is entered in the “Ruler of the Ice” costume contest, where the winner is crowned Ice King or Queen.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Jan. 1, 2027, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. to noon OUR time). Day-of registration is 11 to 11:30 a.m. Eastern, and the costume contest starts around 11:40 a.m. Eastern.
• Where: Vonore Recreational Boat Ramp, Vonore, TN, on Tellico Lake (Monroe County).
• How far: About 88 miles, roughly 2 hours 5 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Register ahead: $30 adults, $20 kids 17 and under. Day-of: $35 adults, $25 kids. Watching from the shore wasn’t mentioned as costing anything, but check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Thrill-seekers, costume lovers, teenagers looking for a story and anybody who wants to start the year laughing.
• Good to know: Life jackets are required for children 12 and under. Wear water shoes, since the bottom is rocky in places, and bring warm blankets, towels and a change of clothes. Changing areas will be available. Questions: Visit Loudon County, (865) 986-6822.

👉 Read more (Monroe County Tourism — East TN Polar Plunge)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Sat., Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. OUR time (10 Eastern): Red Bank Porchfest. Free. Bring a chair.
• Fri., Nov. 13, from 5 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): “A Hard Candy Christmas,” The Vintage Owl, Smithville.
• Sat., Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. OUR time (10–6 Eastern): Crown Craft Market Christmas Open House, Chatsworth, Ga. Free; Santa.
• Thu., Nov. 19, 8–10 a.m. OUR time (9–11 Eastern): Homeschool Day, Harrison Bay State Park. $5; register early.
• Thu.–Sat., Nov. 19–21: Pilot Club Arts & Crafts Fair, Oak Ridge Civic Center. Call for hours.
• Sat., Nov. 21, 10–noon or 1–3 p.m. OUR time: Wreath-Making Workshop, Whistlestop Manor, Sweetwater. $100. Call (423) 271-6380.
• Fri., Nov. 27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Central — our time): Turkey Day, Discovery Center, Murfreesboro.
• Fri., Jan. 1, 2027, 10 a.m.–noon OUR time (11–1 Eastern): East TN Polar Plunge, Vonore. Register ahead to save $5.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Smithville and Murfreesboro are Central — our time. Red Bank, Chatsworth, Harrison Bay, Oak Ridge, Sweetwater and Vonore are Eastern — subtract an hour.
• ✅ Book early for the two that fill up: the Harrison Bay homeschool day (25 students) and the Whistlestop Manor wreath workshop (sold out last year).
• ✅ Nov. 14 is a pick-one Saturday: Chatsworth to the south or Smithville to the north. Or do Smithville Friday evening and Chatsworth Saturday.
• ✅ Call ahead on details that weren’t posted: Oak Ridge fair hours and cost, The Vintage Owl’s address and Santa’s hours in Chatsworth.
• ✅ For the polar plunge, pack towels, blankets, dry clothes and water shoes, and a life jacket for kids 12 and under.
• ✅ Bring cash for porch musicians’ tip jars, craft vendors and food trucks.
• ✅ Check the event page the morning you go in case plans change.
• ✅ 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 eight of these outings are new for article #69. We’ve covered other events in some of the same places, like Harrison Bay’s boat tour and star hike, Smithville’s Appalachian Center for Craft Holiday Festival and other Murfreesboro holiday events, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

Red Bank Porchfest and the Crown Craft Market Christmas Open House are free to attend. Last year’s Oak Ridge craft fair was free, but 2026 cost isn’t posted yet. The homeschool day is $5, Turkey Day comes with museum admission, the wreath workshop is $100 and the polar plunge is $30 for adults if you register ahead. The Vintage Owl didn’t list a cost.

Which ones are best for young kids?

Turkey Day at the Discovery Center is made for children. Crown Craft Market has Santa and free kids’ activities. The Harrison Bay homeschool day is built for students, and kids 4 and under can tag along. Porchfest is family-friendly and walkable.

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

The wreath workshop is a sit-down craft. The homeschool day is indoors at the park’s Rec Hall. The Oak Ridge fair is indoors at the Civic Center. Porchfest involves walking between porches, so bring a chair and take it at your own pace. At the polar plunge, you can stay on shore and cheer.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. So are Smithville and Murfreesboro. Red Bank, Harrison, Oak Ridge, Sweetwater and Vonore, Tenn., and Chatsworth, Ga., are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, before all of these events.

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, 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

• Chattanooga Porchfests — Red Bank Porchfest map and lineup
• Visit DeKalb County Tennessee — Calendar of Events
• Crown Craft Market — Christmas Open House listing
• Tennessee State Parks — Harrison Bay State Park
• City of Oak Ridge — Pilot Club Arts & Crafts Fair
• Dunlap.Today — Whistlestop Manor wreath-making workshops
• Only in Murfreesboro — Turkey Day at the Discovery Center
• Monroe County Tourism — East TN Polar Plunge registration
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Slow Down and Go See Something

You don’t need a big trip to make a good memory. Banjo music on a stranger’s porch, a visit with Santa, a Dolly song stuck in your head, a clay craft made by small hands, a wreath you built yourself, a turkey hunt with the grandkids and one icy splash to start the new year are all within a drive of home. Grab a buddy, check the clock and the weather, 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.