🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Sgt. York's Farm Field Day, an 1850 Doughnut Recipe, Halloween in the Campground, a Costumed Dog Hike, a Walk to Kings Chapel Cemetery, Frozen Head's Old Homeplace and Cryptid Campfire, a Fireside Chat at DeSoto and a Christmas Day Hike

Or: Watch a Blacksmith at Sgt. York’s Farm, Taste a Doughnut From an 1850 Recipe, Trick-or-Treat Through a Lakeside Campground, Hike With Your Dog in a Costume, Visit an 1800s Cemetery in the Woods, Tour a Mountain Homeplace, Toast S’mores by a Frog Pond and Walk Ancient Mounds on Christmas Day — Eight New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Good afternoon, neighbor. Set this one by the coffee pot for tomorrow morning. Here’s batch number fifty-seven 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.

The big news is this weekend, and most of it is free. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the boyhood home of World War I hero Sgt. Alvin C. York holds a free Farm Field Day with blacksmithing, hayrides and old-time music; Edgar Evins State Park throws its 11th annual Halloween in the Campground; Monte Sano leads a costumed dog hike; and Lake Guntersville walks folks out to an 1800s cemetery in the woods. On Sunday, Oct. 25, Cordell Hull’s birthplace fries up doughnuts from an 1850 recipe. Frozen Head State Park offers an old homeplace tour on Friday, Oct. 23, and a cryptid campfire on Halloween night. DeSoto State Park hosts a free fireside chat by its frog pond on Friday, Oct. 30. And for later, mark the calendar: a free Christmas Day hike around the 2,000-year-old walls at Old Stone Fort.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri., Oct. 23, 2–3 p.m. Eastern (1–2 p.m. OUR time): Stonecipher-Kelly Homeplace Tour, Frozen Head State Park, Wartburg. Free; sign up first.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central — our time): York Farm Field Day, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park, Pall Mall. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. (Central — our time): Monte Sano Is for the Dogs Hike: Howloween Edition, Huntsville. $5.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 3–7:30 p.m. (Central — our time): 11th Annual Halloween in the Campground, Edgar Evins State Park, Silver Point. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 4 p.m. (Central — our time): History Hike: Kings Chapel Cemetery, Lake Guntersville State Park. $5.
• Sun., Oct. 25, 10–11:30 a.m. (Central — our time): Appalachian Test Kitchen: Coffee and Donuts, Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Byrdstown. Free (donation optional); sign up first.
• Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m. (Central — our time): Park After Dark Fireside Chat, DeSoto State Park, Fort Payne, Ala. Free; no sign-up needed.
• Sat., Oct. 31, 6:30–8 p.m. Eastern (5:30–7 p.m. OUR time): Cryptids and Campfires, Frozen Head State Park. $2; sign up first.
• Fri., Dec. 25, 1–2:30 p.m. (Central — our time): Christmas Day Hike, Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park, Manchester. Free (donation optional); sign up first.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Frozen Head is on EASTERN time. Everything else on this list is CENTRAL, same as us. Frozen Head State Park, near Wartburg in Morgan County, runs one hour ahead, so subtract an hour: the homeplace tour at 2 p.m. Eastern is 1 p.m. our time, and the cryptid campfire at 6:30 p.m. Eastern is 5:30 p.m. our time. Pall Mall, Byrdstown, Edgar Evins, Manchester and all the Alabama parks are on Central, so their times are our times. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 — set the clocks back Saturday night after the Halloween campfire.

🌾 Watch a Blacksmith, Ride a Hay Wagon and Hear Old-Time Music at Sgt. York’s Farm

Up in the Wolf River Valley, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park keeps the farm and gristmill of one of World War I’s most decorated soldiers, a Fentress County farm boy who came home a hero. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the park throws a free, all-day York Farm Field Day: guided farm tours, corn husk dolls, lye soap making, sewing, historic cooking, old-time music, hayrides and blacksmithing. It’s the kind of day Grandma and Grandpa can explain better than any textbook.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Guided farm tours are listed at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park, 2609 North York Hwy., Pall Mall, TN 38577. Event host: (931) 879-6456.
• How far: About 94 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes, north across the Plateau. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free.
• Who’ll love it: Veterans, history buffs, grandparents with grandkids, and anybody who likes watching sparks fly off an anvil.
• Good to know: The farm tours have their own listings on the state parks site; check before you go whether you need to sign up for a tour time. Make a weekend of it: Cordell Hull’s birthplace (next story) is up the road in Byrdstown on Sunday morning.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — York Farm Field Day)

🍩 Taste a Doughnut Made From an 1850 Recipe at Cordell Hull’s Birthplace

Cordell Hull was a sharecropper’s son from these hills who became Secretary of State and won the Nobel Peace Prize. His log-cabin birthplace in Byrdstown runs a little program called the Appalachian Test Kitchen, where rangers cook old recipes the old way. On Sunday, Oct. 25, they’re testing an 1850 recipe for doughnuts. You’ll taste the difference from a modern doughnut, hear how cooking has changed and take the recipe home to try in your own kitchen.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sun., Oct. 25, 2026, 10–11:30 a.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Meet at the Outdoor Kitchen, Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, 1300 Cordell Hull Memorial Drive, Byrdstown, TN 38549. Host: (931) 864-3247.
• How far: About 99 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. To be there by 10, leave Dunlap by about 7:30 a.m. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free, with an optional donation when you register. Registration is required.
• Who’ll love it: Home cooks, recipe collectors, and anybody who remembers a grandmother frying dough on a Sunday morning.
• Good to know: Good for all ages; children under 15 need an adult. The program is canceled in bad weather, so check the forecast. The park also has a log cabin, a museum and the Bunkum Cave Trail to round out the morning.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Appalachian Test Kitchen: Coffee and Donuts)

🎃 Trick-or-Treat Through a Lakeside Campground at Edgar Evins

Every year on the fourth Saturday in October, the campers at Edgar Evins State Park on Center Hill Lake turn their sites into a Halloween village, and everyone is welcome — not just campers. This is the 11th annual Halloween in the Campground: a pie-iron cooking demonstration, a pet costume contest, a kids’ costume contest, trick-or-treating through the decorated campsites, and campfires to finish the night.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 2026, 3–7:30 p.m. Pie-iron demo 3 p.m.; pet costume contest 4 p.m.; kids’ costume contest 4:30 p.m.; trick-or-treating 5:30 p.m.; campsite decorating winner announced by the playground 7:30 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: The campground at Edgar Evins State Park, 1630 Edgar Evins State Park Rd., Silver Point, TN 38582. Host: (931) 265-6550.
• How far: About 84 miles, roughly 1 hour 50 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free to attend. To make your own pie-iron treat or taste the flavors, it’s a $10 donation to the park’s Friends Group.
• Who’ll love it: Little trick-or-treaters, dog owners with a costume idea, and folks who’d rather do Halloween around a campfire than in a crowded parking lot.
• Good to know: Not camping? Decorate your car for a trunk-or-treat, and a ranger will help you find a spot. Trick-or-treating starts near dark, so you’ll drive home after dark — bring a co-pilot.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — 11th Annual Halloween in the Campground)

🐕 Hike Monte Sano With Your Dog in a Costume

Put a pumpkin bandana on the pup. Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville leads a relaxed group walk for dogs and their people, the Howloween Edition of its “Monte Sano Is for the Dogs” hike. It’s a casual hike around the Monte Sano plateau, and dogs are encouraged to wear costumes — the park says the best costume wins a prize.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 2026, 10 a.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Monte Sano State Park, 5105 Nolen Ave. SE, Huntsville, AL 35801. A Huntsville event listing says the group meets at the Main Hikers Parking Lot.
• How far: About 105 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. Leave Dunlap by about 7:30 a.m. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5 on the Alabama State Parks registration page. Monte Sano also charges a day-use entrance fee; check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Dog lovers, costume makers and anybody whose best hiking buddy has four legs.
• Good to know: Dogs must be friendly with other dogs and people, and owners clean up after them. When we checked, the registration page showed 19 spots open. ⚠️ Check before you go: an earlier listing had this hike on Oct. 10; the park’s sign-up page now shows Oct. 24. The park hasn’t posted the hike’s length.

👉 Read more (Alabama State Parks — Monte Sano Is for the Dogs Hike: Howloween Edition)

🪦 Walk Back 100 Years to Kings Chapel Cemetery at Lake Guntersville

Long before Lake Guntersville State Park existed, families farmed these ridges, and some of them still rest in small 1800s cemeteries tucked in the woods. Naturalist Anna Crow leads a History Hike to Kings Chapel Cemetery, telling the stories of the people who lived here about 100 years before the park was created. It’s a quiet, respectful walk, not a spooky one.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 2026, 4 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Meet at the Trailhead Parking Lot at Lake Guntersville State Park, Guntersville, Ala. (GPS 34.38480 N, 86.20628 W). Host: (256) 673-6137.
• How far: About 99 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5. Register on the Alabama State Parks page.
• Who’ll love it: Genealogy fans, cemetery-walkers, history readers and folks who like a story with their hike.
• Good to know: About 1.5 miles out and back over moderate ground; wear sturdy shoes and bring water, bug spray and a snack. You’ll head home after dark. Can’t make it? The park lists a Home Site Hike on Nov. 7 and a Terrell/Kings Chapel Loop hike on Nov. 21 (both $5).

👉 Read more (Alabama State Parks — History Hike: Kings Chapel Cemetery)

🏚️ Tour an Old Mountain Homeplace — Then Come Back for Cryptids by the Campfire at Frozen Head

Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg is 24,000 acres of rugged Cumberland Mountains, named for the 3,324-foot peak that’s often iced over in winter. Ranger Aubrey offers two very different outings. First, a guided tour of the Stonecipher-Kelly Homeplace, where you’ll learn what life was like for Morgan County families in the 1800s. Then on Halloween night, Cryptids and Campfires: s’mores, a story or two and the darker history of Frozen Head around the fire.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Homeplace tour Fri., Oct. 23, 2026, 2–3 p.m. EASTERN (1–2 p.m. our time). Cryptids and Campfires Sat., Oct. 31, 2026, 6:30–8 p.m. EASTERN (5:30–7 p.m. our time).
• Where: Homeplace tour: Stonecipher-Kelly Homeplace, 141 Beech Fork Rd., Wartburg, TN. Campfire: the fire ring across from the Visitor Center, Frozen Head State Park, 964 Flat Fork Road, Wartburg, TN 37887.
• How far: About 96–101 miles, roughly 2 hours 15 minutes, northeast past Crossville. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Homeplace tour free; Cryptids and Campfires $2. Registration is required for both.
• Who’ll love it: The homeplace tour suits history lovers and retirees with a free Friday; the campfire suits families with older kids who like a good campfire tale.
• Good to know: Dress for the weather. After the campfire, it’s a long drive home in the dark — about a 9:15 p.m. arrival our time. Bring a co-pilot and a flashlight.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Stonecipher-Kelly Homeplace Tour)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Cryptids and Campfires)

🔥 Toast S’mores by the Frog Pond at DeSoto’s Park After Dark

Here’s the easiest outing on the list. DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain near Fort Payne invites everybody to a laid-back Park After Dark Fireside Chat: s’mores, good conversation and the sounds of the night around a campfire. Explore the frog pond, swap stories and ask the staff about whatever critters you’re curious about.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Oct. 30, 2026, 7 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: The frog pond near DeSoto’s south entrance, Fort Payne, Ala. Turn down Blalock Drive toward the Lodge and park in the first gravel lot on the right; it’s a quick walk down a dirt path.
• How far: About 82 miles, roughly 1 hour 55 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free, and no pre-registration needed.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, families, campers and anybody who just wants to sit by a fire and listen to the woods.
• Good to know: Seating is on the ground or on rocks, so bring a camp chair or blanket (a hammock is fine too). Closed-toe shoes recommended. It’s weather-dependent: call the Lodge at (256) 845-5380 before you leave.

👉 Read more (Alabama State Parks — Park After Dark Fireside Chat)

🎄 Mark the Calendar: A Christmas Day Hike Around 2,000-Year-Old Walls at Old Stone Fort

Looking for a quiet way to stretch your legs after Christmas dinner prep? Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester protects an ancient Native American earthwork enclosure, about 2,000 years old, between the Duck and Little Duck rivers. On Christmas Day, Friends member Shawn Wolfe leads a hike around the Ancient Enclosure, past the mounds and the waterfalls.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Dec. 25, 2026, 1–2:30 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Meet at the Museum, Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park, 732 Stone Fort Drive, Manchester, TN 37355. Host: (629) 395-8781.
• How far: About 61 miles, roughly 1 hour 25 minutes — the closest trip on this list. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free, with an optional donation when you register. Registration is required.
• Who’ll love it: Families with visiting relatives, history lovers and anybody who wants a calm hour outdoors on the holiday.
• Good to know: It’s a 1.4-mile loop, and the park says the trail is very rooty and rocky. Wear closed-toe, closed-back shoes, bring water and dress for December weather.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Christmas Day Hike, Old Stone Fort)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Fri., Oct. 23, 1–2 p.m. OUR time (2–3 Eastern): Stonecipher-Kelly Homeplace Tour, Frozen Head. Free; sign up.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (Central — our time): York Farm Field Day, Pall Mall. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. (Central — our time): Monte Sano dog hike, Huntsville. $5.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 3–7:30 p.m. (Central — our time): Halloween in the Campground, Edgar Evins. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 4 p.m. (Central — our time): Kings Chapel Cemetery hike, Lake Guntersville. $5.
• Sun., Oct. 25, 10–11:30 a.m. (Central — our time): 1850 doughnuts, Cordell Hull Birthplace. Free; sign up.
• Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m. (Central — our time): Fireside Chat, DeSoto. Free; just show up.
• Sat., Oct. 31, 5:30–7 p.m. OUR time (6:30–8 Eastern): Cryptids and Campfires, Frozen Head. $2; sign up.
• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Fri., Dec. 25, 1–2:30 p.m. (Central — our time): Christmas Day Hike, Old Stone Fort. Free; sign up.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Frozen Head is Eastern — subtract an hour. Everything else here is Central — our time.
• ✅ Sign up this week for the programs that need it: the Frozen Head homeplace tour and campfire, the Cordell Hull doughnuts, the Monte Sano dog hike, the Kings Chapel hike and the Christmas Day hike.
• ✅ Saturday, Oct. 24, is crowded with good choices. Pick one. Pall Mall and Edgar Evins are north; Monte Sano and Guntersville are south. You can’t do both directions in one day.
• ✅ Call ahead on details that weren’t posted: the dog hike’s date and length, whether York’s farm tours need a sign-up, and Alabama park entrance fees.
• ✅ Most of these trips are about 2 hours each way, and several end after dark. Bring a co-pilot and a flashlight.
• ✅ Pack sturdy shoes, water and a jacket. For DeSoto, a camp chair or blanket. For Monte Sano, a leash, waste bags and a costume.
• ✅ Outdoor programs can be canceled for weather. Check the event page the morning you go.
• ✅ 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 eight outings are new for article #57. We’ve featured other programs at some of the same parks, like the fly-fishing class and fall cruises at Edgar Evins, Spookapalooza at DeSoto, the Black Light Night Hike at Lake Guntersville, the Stone Cuts hike at Monte Sano and the after-Thanksgiving hike at Old Stone Fort, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

York Farm Field Day, Halloween in the Campground, the Frozen Head homeplace tour, the DeSoto fireside chat, the Cordell Hull doughnut program and the Christmas Day hike are all free (the last two invite an optional donation). The Monte Sano dog hike and the Kings Chapel hike are $5 each, and Cryptids and Campfires is $2. The pie-iron treats at Edgar Evins are a $10 donation, and Alabama parks may charge an entrance fee, so check before you go.

Which ones are best for young kids?

Halloween in the Campground is made for them, with trick-or-treating and a kids’ costume contest. York Farm Field Day has hayrides and corn husk dolls. The DeSoto fireside chat is relaxed and short on walking. Kids under 15 need an adult at the Cordell Hull doughnut program.

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

The doughnut program, the campground Halloween and York Farm Field Day involve little hiking. The DeSoto fireside chat is a short walk on a dirt path, with seating on the ground or rocks. The Kings Chapel hike is about 1.5 miles of moderate ground, and the Christmas Day hike is a 1.4-mile loop that’s rooty and rocky. The park hasn’t posted the dog hike’s length.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. So are Pall Mall, Byrdstown, Edgar Evins, Manchester and all three Alabama parks. Frozen Head, near Wartburg in Morgan County, is on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Its 2 p.m. homeplace tour is 1 p.m. our time, and its 6:30 p.m. campfire is 5:30 p.m. our time.

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. 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

• Tennessee State Parks — York Farm Field Day, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park
• Tennessee State Parks — Appalachian Test Kitchen: Coffee and Donuts, Cordell Hull Birthplace
• Tennessee State Parks — 11th Annual Halloween in the Campground, Edgar Evins
• Alabama State Parks — Monte Sano Is for the Dogs Hike: Howloween Edition
• Alabama State Parks — History Hike: Kings Chapel Cemetery, Lake Guntersville
• Tennessee State Parks — Stonecipher-Kelly Homeplace Tour, Frozen Head
• Tennessee State Parks — Cryptids and Campfires, Frozen Head
• Alabama State Parks — Park After Dark Fireside Chat, DeSoto
• Tennessee State Parks — Christmas Day Hike, Old Stone Fort
• Alabama State Parks — Program 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 need a big trip to make a good memory. Sparks off a blacksmith’s anvil, a warm doughnut from a 175-year-old recipe, a lakeside campground full of tiny goblins, a dog in a pumpkin costume, a quiet old cemetery in the woods, a mountain homeplace, a crackling fire by a frog pond and a Christmas walk around walls older than anyone can remember 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.