🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Pancakes Since 1959 in Dalton, Bluegrass Deep in a Cave, a Santa Train in Huntsville and a Battlefield Mansion by Candlelight

Or: Learn a Square Dance on the Mountain, Eat Pancakes for a Good Cause, Hear the SteelDrivers Underground, Tour Artists’ Studios in Sewanee, Ride With Santa and Shop 200 Local Makers Downtown — Seven New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Sunday, October 18, 2026

Howdy, neighbor. Here’s batch number forty-three 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 round leans close to home and cozy. Up the mountain in Tracy City, the Cumberland Community Dance teaches old-time square and contra dancing to live string music on Friday, Nov. 6 and Friday, Dec. 4. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Dalton’s Kiwanis Pancake Day serves up a breakfast tradition that started in 1959. On four nights in November, The SteelDrivers play bluegrass inside The Caverns at Pelham. In December, the Gordon-Lee Mansion in Chickamauga, Ga., glows for candlelight tours; Tennessee Craft–South opens artists’ studios in Sewanee and Monteagle; the North Alabama Railroad Museum runs its Santa Train; and the Chattanooga Market moves indoors for its free Holiday Market.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri., Nov. 6 and Fri., Dec. 4 (Central — our time): Cumberland Community Dance, Littell-Partin Center, Tracy City. Times not posted yet — check before you go.
• Sat., Nov. 7, 7–11 a.m. Eastern (6–10 a.m. our time): Kiwanis Pancake Day, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, Ga. $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
• Fri.–Sat., Nov. 13–14 and Nov. 20–21, 8 p.m. Central (our time): The SteelDrivers in The Caverns, Pelham. $59.50–$89.50 a night, plus tax and fees.
• Fri.–Sat., Dec. 4–5 and Dec. 11–12, 6–8 p.m. Eastern (5–7 p.m. our time): Candle Light Tours, Gordon-Lee Mansion, Chickamauga, Ga. $10 adults, $2 kids 12 and under.
• Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6 (Central — our time): Tennessee Craft–South Holiday Tour of artists’ studios, Sewanee and Monteagle. 2026 hours not posted yet.
• Sat., Dec. 5 and Sat., Dec. 12, noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. Central (our time): Santa Train, North Alabama Railroad Museum, Huntsville. From about $20 — book early.
• Dec. 12–13 and Dec. 19–20, Eastern (an hour ahead of us): Holiday Market, Chattanooga Convention Center. Free admission.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: three of these are on Eastern time. Dalton, Chickamauga and downtown Chattanooga are Eastern, one hour ahead of us, so subtract an hour: Pancake Day’s 7 a.m. start is 6 a.m. OUR time. Tracy City, Pelham, Sewanee, Monteagle and Huntsville are Central, same as Dunlap. And remember: daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Set the clocks back an hour Saturday night, Oct. 31. After that, it’s dark by about 5 p.m., so the evening trips mean driving home in the dark.

💃 Learn an Old-Time Square Dance on the Mountain at the Cumberland Community Dance

You don’t need a partner, and you don’t need to know a single step. The Cumberland Community Dance, run by the Grundy Area Arts Council, keeps Southern Appalachian dancing alive the old way: a live string band, a caller who teaches each dance before it starts, and a room full of neighbors doing the do-si-do. The organizers say plainly, “Your feet are never asked to do anything other than walk to the music,” and plenty of folks come alone and dance with lots of different partners through the evening.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Nov. 6, 2026 and Fri., Dec. 4, 2026. Central — our time. The arts council says “more details to come,” so start times aren’t posted yet — check before you go. (Its October dance in Sewanee ran 6–8 p.m., for comparison.)
• Where: Littell-Partin Center, Tracy City, TN (listed at 14399 U.S. Highway 41). Contact: grundyareaarts@gmail.com.
• How far: About 35–45 miles, roughly 50 minutes to an hour, up the mountain by way of Jasper and Monteagle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not posted yet — check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Grandparents who square-danced in school, teenagers who need to get off their phones, couples looking for a cheap date night and anyone who likes fiddle music.
• Good to know: Central Time — same as us. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in; the organizers say you’ll “sweat a little.”

👉 Read more (Cumberland Community Dance — Grundy Area Arts Council)

🥞 Eat Pancakes at a Dalton Tradition That Started in 1959: Kiwanis Pancake Day

Some traditions are simple and that’s the point. Since 1959, the Kiwanis Club of Dalton has spent the first Saturday in November serving thousands of plates of pancakes and sausage, and the money goes to area youth programs. It’s the club’s biggest fundraiser, and it has only missed one year (2020). They even sell “I survived Pancake Day” T-shirts.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Nov. 7, 2026, 7–11 a.m. Eastern — that’s 6–10 a.m. our time.
• Where: Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, GA.
• How far: About 65–75 miles, roughly 1¼–1½ hours, by way of Chattanooga and I-75 south. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $10 in advance (online or from any Kiwanis member) or $12 at the door. T-shirts are $15 that day, and a Mount Rachel Star Christmas ornament is $20.
• Who’ll love it: Early risers (that’s us), families with hungry kids and anyone who likes a breakfast that does some good.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. Online tickets are held at “Will Call,” so remember the name you bought them under. It’s the Saturday after the clocks fall back, so an early start will feel easy.

👉 Read more (Pancake Day — Kiwanis of Dalton)

🎻 Hear The SteelDrivers Play Bluegrass Deep Inside a Cave at The Caverns

Here’s a concert you’ll be telling people about for years. The Caverns at the foot of Monteagle Mountain has a real underground concert hall inside a cave, and it’s the home of the PBS series The Caverns Sessions (formerly Bluegrass Underground). This November, Grammy-winning bluegrass band The SteelDrivers, who played the very first Bluegrass Underground show back in 2008, come back for a rare four-night “Four of a Kind” residency. The venue says each night offers “something a little different.”

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri.–Sat., Nov. 13–14 and Fri.–Sat., Nov. 20–21, 2026. Shows at 8 p.m., doors at 7 p.m. Central (our time).
• Where: The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Rd., Pelham, TN 37366. Phone: (931) 516-9724.
• How far: About 40–50 miles, roughly 1 hour, by way of Jasper and I-24 over Monteagle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Single night: $59.50, $69.50 or $89.50 depending on seating tier, plus tax and fees. Two-night and four-night packages cost more. Seating is first-come, first-served within your tier. A Big Room Cave Tour add-on is $14.99 (it doesn’t include a concert ticket).
• Who’ll love it: Bluegrass fans, couples planning a special night out and anyone who’s always wanted to hear a fiddle echo off cave walls.
• Good to know: Central Time — same as us. Tickets went on sale in April, so check what’s left before you go. The venue’s page doesn’t list an age limit, so call ahead if you’re bringing kids. Caves stay cool, so bring a light jacket, and remember it’s a dark mountain drive home.

👉 Read more (The SteelDrivers in The Caverns — Four of a Kind Residency)

🕯️ Tour an 1840s Mansion by Candlelight at Chickamauga’s Gordon-Lee Mansion

Just across the Georgia line, the Gordon-Lee Mansion is one of the few buildings still standing that was used during the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863, when its parlor served as a headquarters and the house became a field hospital. Built between 1840 and 1847 and restored and furnished with museum-quality 18th- and 19th-century antiques, it’s a beautiful old house any time of year. For four December evenings, the Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion lead Candle Light Tours.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Dec. 4; Sat., Dec. 5; Fri., Dec. 11; and Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, 6–8 p.m. Eastern — that’s 5–7 p.m. our time.
• Where: Gordon-Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Rd., Chickamauga, GA 30707. Tour questions: (423) 488-0861.
• How far: About 50–55 miles, roughly 1 hour, by way of Chattanooga and U.S. 27 south. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $10 adults, $2 children 12 and under.
• Who’ll love it: History buffs, antique lovers, old-house fans and families who want a quiet, glowing start to the Christmas season.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. The Friends group says to call or check its Facebook page for the latest tour times and any changes.

👉 Read more (Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion)

🏺 Wander Artists’ Studios in Sewanee and Monteagle on the Tennessee Craft–South Holiday Tour

Every first weekend of December, mountain artists open their studio doors. On the Tennessee Craft–South Holiday Tour of Artists’ Studios & Galleries, more than 35 craft artists show pottery, wood furniture, carvings, handmade books, jewelry, textiles, glass and sculpture in Sewanee and Monteagle. Bright yellow signs mark the route, and in past years most stops offered light refreshments. A group exhibition at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School is part of the tour.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6, 2026. Central — our time. The 2026 hours aren’t posted yet; last year’s tour ran 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday, so check before you go.
• Where: Studios and galleries around Sewanee and Monteagle, TN. Maps are usually at every tour stop, in the Sewanee Messenger and on the chapter’s web page.
• How far: About 35–45 miles, roughly 45 minutes to an hour, by way of Jasper and I-24 up Monteagle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: No admission fee is listed — bring money if you plan to buy gifts.
• Who’ll love it: Christmas shoppers who want one-of-a-kind gifts, crafty folks and anyone who enjoys a slow mountain drive with friendly stops.
• Good to know: Central Time — same as us. In past years, the Empty Tables booth sold donated art by pay-what-you-wish, with the money buying food for local families. A “Sneak Peek” reception for tour artists is planned at Frame Gallery in Sewanee, Fri., Nov. 13, 4:30 p.m. (after a short members’ meeting).

👉 Read more (Tennessee Craft–South Holiday Tour)

🎅 Meet Santa on the Platform and Ride the Santa Train at the North Alabama Railroad Museum

This one’s made for little ones. At the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Huntsville, Santa waits on the loading platform for hugs, photos and wish lists before everyone climbs aboard. Then the train rolls through the countryside for about 30 minutes in enclosed, heated coaches, and children 12 and under get a present as they step off. It’s a smaller, homespun cousin to the big Christmas trains, run by a working railroad museum.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Dec. 5 and Sat., Dec. 12, 2026, with departures at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Central (our time). Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
• Where: North Alabama Railroad Museum, 694 Chase Rd. NE, Huntsville, AL 35811. Ticket information: (256) 851-6276.
• How far: About 95–105 miles, roughly 2 hours, by way of Jasper, Scottsboro and U.S. 72. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: From about $20, according to a train-ride listing that cites the museum’s ticket page; First Class and VIP seats cost more. Every rider needs a ticket, so check prices before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Toddlers through grade-schoolers, train-loving grandparents and families who want Santa without the mall crowds.
• Good to know: Central Time — same as us. The rides sell out fast. Parking is free, and no outside food or drink is allowed on the train. The museum’s wheelchair-space car isn’t on the Santa Train, so call ahead if anyone in your group needs it. We featured this museum’s Punkin’ Pickin’ ride earlier; this is a separate Christmas event.

👉 Read more (Christmas Season Train Rides — North Alabama Railroad Museum)

🎁 Shop Around 200 Local Makers, Free, at the Chattanooga Market’s Indoor Holiday Market

When it gets cold, the Chattanooga Market moves inside the Chattanooga Convention Center for two weekends of Christmas shopping. Expect around 200 local and regional artists and makers — and the market says it’s “always producer only,” meaning the person behind the table made what’s on it. Think hand-crafted jewelry, woodworking, toys, bath and body goods and artisan foods for everyone on your list.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat.–Sun., Dec. 12–13 and Sat.–Sun., Dec. 19–20, 2026. Saturdays 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern — that’s 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sundays our time.
• Where: Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter St., Chattanooga, TN 37402.
• How far: About 35–40 miles, roughly 45–55 minutes, by way of U.S. 127 over Signal Mountain or around by I-24. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free admission. Parking is paid, including a garage with covered walkways to the building.
• Who’ll love it: Last-minute shoppers, folks who like meeting the person who made the gift and anyone who wants a warm, indoor outing in December.
• Good to know: Eastern Time — subtract an hour. Pets aren’t allowed indoors. We featured the market’s outdoor Thanksgiving Market before; this is the separate indoor Christmas event.

👉 Read more (Holiday Market — Chattanooga Market)

✅ 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., Nov. 6 (Central — our time): Cumberland Community Dance, Tracy City. Time TBA.
• Sat., Nov. 7, 7–11 a.m. (Eastern — 6–10 a.m. our time): Kiwanis Pancake Day, Dalton, Ga. $10–$12.
• Nov. 13–14 and Nov. 20–21, 8 p.m. (Central — our time): The SteelDrivers in The Caverns, Pelham.
• Fri., Dec. 4 (Central — our time): Cumberland Community Dance, Tracy City. Time TBA.
• Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12, 6–8 p.m. (Eastern — 5–7 p.m. our time): Candle Light Tours, Gordon-Lee Mansion, Chickamauga, Ga. $10 / $2.
• Sat.–Sun., Dec. 5–6 (Central — our time): Tennessee Craft–South Holiday Tour, Sewanee and Monteagle.
• Sat., Dec. 5 and Sat., Dec. 12, noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. (Central — our time): Santa Train, Huntsville. Book early.
• Dec. 12–13 and Dec. 19–20 (Eastern — subtract an hour): Holiday Market, Chattanooga Convention Center. Free.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Dalton, Chickamauga and Chattanooga are Eastern — subtract an hour. Tracy City, Pelham, Sewanee, Monteagle and Huntsville are Central — our time.
• ✅ Fall back Saturday night, Oct. 31. After that, it’s dark around 5 p.m.
• ✅ Book the Santa Train and SteelDrivers tickets early — both tend to sell out.
• ✅ Buy Pancake Day tickets ahead to save $2, and remember the name you used.
• ✅ Call ahead for details that aren’t posted yet: the Cumberland Community Dance times (grundyareaarts@gmail.com) and the Gordon-Lee Mansion tour times, (423) 488-0861.
• ✅ For the mountain and evening trips, bring a co-pilot, a warm coat and a full tank.
• ✅ Fill up and grab a snack 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 seven are new for article #43. We’ve featured other events at The Caverns, the North Alabama Railroad Museum, Sewanee and the Chattanooga Market before, including CaveFest, the Punkin’ Pickin’ train and the Thanksgiving Market, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

The Chattanooga Holiday Market is free to get in (parking costs extra). The Tennessee Craft–South studio tour lists no admission fee. Pancake Day is $10–$12, the Gordon-Lee candlelight tours are $10 for adults and $2 for kids, the Santa Train starts around $20, and SteelDrivers tickets start at $59.50 plus fees. The community dance hasn’t posted a price yet.

Which ones are best for young kids?

The Santa Train is made for them — a short, heated ride with Santa and a present at the end. Pancake Day and the Holiday Market are easy, kid-friendly outings too. Call The Caverns before bringing children to the concert.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. Tracy City, Pelham, Sewanee, Monteagle and Huntsville are Central too. Dalton, Chickamauga and downtown Chattanooga are Eastern, one hour ahead — subtract an hour.

What is a contra dance?

It’s an old social dance where couples line up in two long lines and a caller talks everyone through simple moves like “swing” and “do-si-do.” A square dance uses the same kinds of moves with four couples in a square. At the Cumberland Community Dance, each dance is taught first, so beginners fit right in.

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 or a trusted listing 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

• Grundy Area Arts Council — Cumberland Community Dance
• Kiwanis of Dalton — Pancake Day
• The Caverns — The SteelDrivers Four of a Kind Residency
• Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion — Candle Light Tours
• Tennessee Craft–South — Holiday Tour of Artists’ Studios & Galleries
• North Alabama Railroad Museum — Christmas Season Train Rides
• Spotatrain — Santa Train schedule and prices
• Chattanooga Market — Holiday Market
• 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 vacation to make a memory. A do-si-do on the mountain, a stack of pancakes for a good cause, a fiddle echoing in a cave, a candlelit parlor, a potter’s studio, a wave from Santa and a table of handmade gifts are all within a drive of the Valley. 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.