🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Step Into Civil War Days at Fort Dickerson, Build a Glowing Lantern Puppet, Walk Through Smoky Mountain Lights, Toast the Season at the Aquarium, Meet Reptiles in Huntsville, Shop a Misfit Toys Craft Show and See Chattanooga's Own Nutcracker

Or: Seven Fresh Outings From a Living History Weekend Tomorrow to a Hometown Nutcracker the Week Before Christmas, Plus One Thing to Remember: Knoxville and Chattanooga Run an Hour Ahead of Us

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Friday, November 13, 2026

Good afternoon, neighbor. Here are seven outings we haven’t told you about before. Tomorrow and Sunday, Nov. 14–15, Civil War living historians camp out at Fort Dickerson in South Knoxville. On Sunday, Nov. 15, the Knoxville Museum of Art hosts a Cattywampus Lantern Puppet Workshop where you make a little glowing puppet to take home. Starting tonight and running on select nights all winter, Zoo Knoxville’s Smoky Night Lights tells Appalachian stories with lights and music along a boardwalk. On Friday, Nov. 20, grown-ups can enjoy Holiday Cheers after hours at the Tennessee Aquarium. On Nov. 21–22, Repticon brings snakes, lizards and turtles to Huntsville. On Saturday, Dec. 12, the Return of the Misfits Christmas Craft Show comes to Manchester. And from Dec. 18–20, Nooga Nutcracker sets the old ballet in present-day Chattanooga. What it means for you: there’s history, crafts, lights, critters and dance here; two are free or pay-what-you-can, and Manchester is barely over an hour away.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Sat.–Sun., Nov. 14–15 (Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern): Fort Dickerson Living History Weekend, South Knoxville. Cost: check before you go (it has been free in past years).
• Sun., Nov. 15, 1–4 p.m. Eastern (noon–3 our time): Cattywampus Lantern Puppet Workshop, Knoxville Museum of Art. Pay what you can, $0–$25. Ages 10 and up; register ahead.
• Select nights, Nov. 13–March 28, 6–9 p.m. Eastern in Nov. and Dec.: Smoky Night Lights, Zoo Knoxville. $15.95–$22.95, plus $5 parking.
• Fri., Nov. 20, 6–9 p.m. Eastern (5–8 our time): Holiday Cheers (21+), Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga. $45; $35 designated driver.
• Sat.–Sun., Nov. 21–22, Central time: Repticon Huntsville, Jaycee Community Building. $12 adults, $6 ages 5–12, online only.
• Sat., Dec. 12, starts 10 a.m. Central: Return of the Misfits Christmas Craft Show, Ada Wright Center, Manchester. Cost: check before you go.
• Fri.–Sun., Dec. 18–20, Eastern times: Nooga Nutcracker, UTC Fine Arts Center, Chattanooga. $29–$44.

📝 The one thing to remember: Knoxville and Chattanooga are on Eastern time, an hour ahead of us. If a sign says 10 a.m. there, it’s 9 a.m. on your kitchen clock. Huntsville and Manchester are on Central, same as Dunlap. And if you want a lantern puppet spot on Sunday, fill out the museum’s registration form today or tomorrow.

⚔️ Step Into Civil War Days at Fort Dickerson’s Living History Weekend

High on a ridge above the Tennessee River in South Knoxville sit the earthen walls of Fort Dickerson, a Union fort from the 1863 fight for Knoxville. Each November, the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable and living historians set up camp there for a weekend of Civil War history you can see and hear. In past years, that has meant soldiers’ camps, rifle and cannon demonstrations, a field-medicine display and tours of the fort. This year’s exact program isn’t posted, so take that as a good guess, not a promise.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.–3 p.m. our time), and Sunday, Nov. 15, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m.–3 p.m. our time).
• Where: Fort Dickerson Park, off Chapman Highway (U.S. 441) just south of the river in South Knoxville. Parking and shuttle details: check before you go.
• How far: About 105 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not listed for 2026. The Roundtable has run it free in past years, so check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: History buffs, Scouts, homeschool families and anyone who likes to hear a cannon up close.
• Good to know: It’s outdoors on a hilltop. Wear sturdy shoes and a warm coat; November mornings on a ridge can be chilly.

👉 Read more (Visit Knoxville — Fort Dickerson Living History Weekend)

🏮 Make a Little Glowing Lantern Puppet at the Knoxville Museum of Art

Cattywampus, a Knoxville puppet group, is teaching folks how to build lantern puppets, the kind that glow from the inside like paper moons. Everyone makes and takes home a small lantern puppet, and you’ll see how the giant ones are built from willow, rattan, coffee filters, fabric and lights. The puppets are for Cattywampus’s first Winter Solstice Lantern Parade on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Seven Islands State Birding Park, if you want to come back and march.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sunday, Nov. 15, 1–4 p.m. Eastern (noon–3 p.m. our time).
• Where: Knoxville Museum of Art, Regal Commons on the Garden Level, 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, Tenn.
• How far: About 110 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Pay what you can, $0–$25. Materials are provided.
• Who’ll love it: Crafty grandparents, artsy kids 10 and up, and anyone who loves a cozy winter project.
• Good to know: You must be 10 or older, anyone under 18 needs an adult, and the museum asks for a registration form for each person.

👉 Read more (Knoxville Museum of Art — Cattywampus Lantern Puppet Workshop)

✨ Walk Through the Smoky Mountains in Lights at Zoo Knoxville

Smoky Night Lights is back for its second season. It’s a slow, 45-minute walk along a boardwalk where lights, music and stories celebrate the Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachian lore. Musicians play along the way, and there are fire pits and rocking chairs to warm up before or after. The show runs on a loop, so if you’re running late, you won’t miss anything.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Select nights from Friday, Nov. 13, through March 28. In November and December, shows run 6–9 p.m. Eastern (5–8 p.m. our time), and gates open an hour early. November nights: Nov. 13–15, Nov. 20–25 and Nov. 27–29. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Where: Zoo Knoxville, 3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville, Tenn., on the Boyd Foundation Boardwalk at Clayton Timber Loop.
• How far: About 110–115 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $15.95–$22.95, depending on the night (members pay less). Parking is $5.
• Who’ll love it: Families, couples and anyone who grew up on mountain stories.
• Good to know: Buy online; the zoo adds a $2 fee per ticket bought in person. It’s a long drive home after dark, so an early show and a full tank are smart.

👉 Read more (Zoo Knoxville — Smoky Night Lights)

🎄 Toast the Season After Hours at the Tennessee Aquarium

For one night, the Aquarium’s River Journey building is just for grown-ups. Holiday Cheers lets you walk the river galleries after closing time, with holiday lights and decorations, a hot chocolate bar, a mulled cider bar, a mac-and-cheese bar and holiday crafts. The Chattanooga Elf keeps folks company until Santa shows up.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Nov. 20, 6–9 p.m. Eastern (5–8 p.m. our time).
• Where: Tennessee Aquarium, River Journey, 1 Broad St., Chattanooga, Tenn.
• How far: About 45 miles, roughly 55 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $45 ($40 for members). A designated-driver ticket is $35.
• Who’ll love it: Couples, friends planning a night out and office holiday groups.
• Good to know: It’s 21 and up, and IDs are checked. Each regular ticket includes two drink tickets. Bring a sober driver for the mountain ride home.

👉 Read more (NoogaFinder — Holiday Cheers (21+) at the Tennessee Aquarium)

🦎 Meet Snakes, Lizards and Turtles at Repticon in Huntsville

Repticon is a traveling reptile show, and it’s a little like a county fair for critters with scales. Vendors bring snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and the supplies to care for them. Even if you’d never keep one at home, kids love seeing them up close and asking questions.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Central, our time.
• Where: Jaycee Community Building, 2200 Jaycee Way, Huntsville, Ala.
• How far: About 100 miles, roughly 1 hour 55 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $12 adults, $6 ages 5–12, free for 4 and under for one day. A two-day ticket is $15 for adults. After 1 p.m. Saturday, adults pay $10. Tickets are sold online only.
• Who’ll love it: Animal-loving kids, 4-H families and anyone thinking about a pet turtle.
• Good to know: Ask the venue about parking. Buy your tickets on your phone before you leave home.

👉 Read more (Repticon — Huntsville show details)

🧸 Shop a Misfit Toys Christmas Craft Show in Manchester

Remember the Island of Misfit Toys from the old Rudolph TV special? Oliver’s Wood & Fabric built a whole craft show around it. The Return of the Misfits Christmas Craft Show has handmade gifts from local makers, Misfit-themed games and crafts, a “Search for the Misfits” scavenger hunt and a Letters to Santa mailbox.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Saturday, Dec. 12, starting at 10 a.m. Central, our time. Closing time isn’t listed, so check before you go.
• Where: Ada Wright Center, 328 N. Woodland St., Manchester, Tenn.
• How far: About 60–65 miles, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Admission isn’t listed, so check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Gift shoppers, little ones who still write to Santa and anyone who’s a bit of a misfit at heart.
• Good to know: Bring cash and a card, since vendors vary. It’s the closest outing in this batch and on our own clock.

👉 Read more (Happening Next — Return of the Misfit Crafts Show 2026)

🩰 See Chattanooga’s Own Hometown Nutcracker

Chattanooga Dance Theatre’s Nooga Nutcracker keeps Tchaikovsky’s music but moves the story to present-day Chattanooga. Clara gets help from the Chattanooga Mocs to beat a sassy mouse queen, then takes a magical night on the town. The second act brings out the Tennessee River, Aquarium fish, Mother Mountain and her gnomes and a Lookouts number, mixing ballet with jazz, modern dance and acrobatics.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Friday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 19, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. All Eastern, so subtract an hour for our time.
• Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St., Chattanooga, Tenn.
• How far: About 45 miles, roughly 55 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $29–$44.
• Who’ll love it: Young dancers, grandparents with granddaughters and anyone who knows a Mocs fan.
• Good to know: Tickets are on sale through the UTC Fine Arts Center box office. The Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. matinees are easiest for little ones and for driving home in daylight.

👉 Read more (UTC calendar — Chattanooga Dance Theatre presents Nooga Nutcracker 2026)

✅ Your Trip-Planning Checklist

• ✅ Clock check: Knoxville and Chattanooga are on Eastern time (10 a.m. there = 9 a.m. here). Huntsville and Manchester are Central.
• ✅ Sat.–Sun., Nov. 14–15: Fort Dickerson Living History Weekend. Call Visit Knoxville at 865-523-7263 to confirm cost and parking.
• ✅ Sun., Nov. 15: Lantern Puppet Workshop. Register each person on the museum’s page first.
• ✅ Any select night: Smoky Night Lights at Zoo Knoxville. Buy online to skip the $2 fee; bring $5 for parking.
• ✅ Fri., Nov. 20: Holiday Cheers at the Aquarium. Bring your ID and a designated driver.
• ✅ Nov. 21–22: Repticon in Huntsville. Tickets are online only.
• ✅ Sat., Dec. 12: Misfits Craft Show in Manchester from 10 a.m. Confirm closing time.
• ✅ Dec. 18–20: Nooga Nutcracker. Pick a matinee if you’d rather drive home before dark.
• ✅ Fill up before you go. Need gas, a tire check or a good breakfast spot on the way? Look on Dunlap.Directory.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these is closest to Dunlap?

The Holiday Cheers night at the Tennessee Aquarium and Nooga Nutcracker in Chattanooga (about 55 minutes each), then the Misfits Craft Show in Manchester (about 1 hour 15 minutes).

Which ones are free or cheap?

The lantern puppet workshop is pay what you can, from $0 to $25. Fort Dickerson has been free in past years, but 2026 pricing isn’t posted, so check first.

Is Repticon safe for little kids?

It’s a family show, and kids under 5 get in free. Teach little ones to look with their eyes and ask a vendor before touching any animal.

Can I bring my children to Holiday Cheers?

No. It’s 21 and up, and IDs are checked at the door. For a family outing, try Smoky Night Lights or Nooga Nutcracker instead.

Do I need to sign up for the lantern puppet workshop?

Yes. The museum asks for a registration form for each person, and you must be 10 or older.

Why do some times look an hour off?

Knoxville and Chattanooga are on Eastern time. Subtract one hour to get Dunlap’s Central time.

🔗 Other Resources

• Visit Knoxville — Fort Dickerson Living History Weekend
• 865 Daily — Knoxville weekend guide, Nov. 13–15
• Knoxville Museum of Art — Cattywampus Lantern Puppet Workshop
• Cattywampus — events and the Winter Solstice Lantern Parade
• Zoo Knoxville — Smoky Night Lights tickets and schedule
• Knoxville Local — Smoky Night Lights dates, hours and parking
• NoogaFinder — Holiday Cheers (21+)
• Tennessee Aquarium — events and programs
• Repticon — Huntsville show
• Happening Next — Return of the Misfit Crafts Show
• UTC — Nooga Nutcracker 2026
• Chattanooga Dance Theatre — Nooga Nutcracker
• Dunlap.Directory — local businesses and services

🌅 Take It Easy, and Pick the One That Fits

You don’t need to do all seven. If you want something close and on our own clock, the Misfits Craft Show in Manchester is a gentle Saturday out. If you love history, Fort Dickerson is this weekend only. If you want a winter family memory, Smoky Night Lights or the Nooga Nutcracker matinee will do it. Jot down three things: Knoxville and Chattanooga are an hour ahead; register ahead for the lantern puppets; and call before you go for anything we flagged. For more calm, useful news from right here at home, keep reading Dunlap.Today and find local help on Dunlap.Directory.