🧺 The Last Regular Dunlap Farmers Market Is This Morning, Pikeville Pumpkins Start at $2, and The Butter Dish Fires Up Friday Steak Night

Or: Pup Cups in Jasper, a Free Tree-Planting Class in Dunlap, Kitchen Jobs in Dayton and a Fiddle That Found a Home in Spencer

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Saturday, October 31, 2026

Happy Halloween, and good Saturday morning. Tonight the clocks fall back, so you get an extra hour. That’s handy, because this week’s Main Street news is like a well-stocked pantry shelf: a little something for supper, a little something for Christmas, and a jar or two set back for later.

Here’s the roundup. The Dunlap Farmers Market holds its last regular market of the season today, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Harris Park, with Country Boys Laser And Engraving bringing custom Christmas gifts. Gary Swafford Farms in Pikeville still has pumpkins from $2. The Butter Dish in Pikeville serves Steak Night every Friday, 4 to 8. Zombie Ice Cream in Jasper has a dog-friendly Halloween today with $1 pup cups. A free tree-planting class comes to Dunlap on Thursday, Nov. 19. A Dayton restaurant is hiring line and prep cooks. And the Van Buren County museum in Spencer welcomed a donated fiddle. One small find and a checklist are at the end.

A quick note on where things are: Dunlap, Pikeville, Jasper and Spencer are Valley and Plateau news on Central time. The kitchen jobs are just up the road in Dayton, Rhea County, which runs on Eastern time, an hour ahead of Dunlap.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Today, Dunlap: Last regular Farmers Market of the season, Harris Park, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central. Kids get candy.
• Pumpkins, Pikeville: Gary Swafford Farms, 489 Summer City Rd., most pumpkins $3, some $2. Call 423-447-7480.
• Supper, Pikeville: The Butter Dish Steak Night, Fridays 4 to 8 p.m. Ribeye $32, sirloin $26.
• Today, Jasper: Zombie Ice Cream, $1 pup cups, $3 kids’ hot dogs, $100 zombie costume prize.
• Free class, Dunlap: Tree planting basics, Thursday, Nov. 19, 4:30 p.m., Fair Building, 103 Heard St.
• Job lead, Dayton: Line and prep cooks. Apply in person 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday (Eastern time).
• Don’t forget: Clocks fall back tonight, at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

🧺 One Last Market Morning: The Dunlap Farmers Market Wraps Its Regular Season Today at Harris Park

The Dunlap Farmers Market holds its final regular market of the season today, Saturday, Oct. 31. Local growers, makers and small businesses will be set up at Harris Park for one more Saturday before winter.

• When: Today, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern)
• Where: Harris Park, Dunlap
• Featured vendor: Country Boys Laser And Engraving, with custom engraved gifts, ornaments and keepsakes
• Custom orders: Bring your gift idea and talk it over at the booth
• For the kids: Children will get candy at the market

What it means for you: Think of today as the last biscuit in the pan. Once it’s gone, you wait for the next batch. If you’ve got a name on your Christmas list that’s hard to shop for, an engraved ornament or keepsake ordered now beats a rush in December. Bring the kids in their costumes, pick up something local for the table, and say thanks to the vendors who showed up all season.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today

🎃 The Patch Isn’t Picked Over Yet: Gary Swafford Farms Still Has Pumpkins From $2

Gary Swafford Farms on Dayton Mountain in Pikeville is still well stocked with pumpkins for carving and for cooking. Most are $3 each, and some are $2.

• Where: 489 Summer City Road, Pikeville, about half a mile off Highway 30
• Hours as posted: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday noon–5 p.m. (the post lists these as Eastern time, so call to be sure)
• Phone: 423-447-7480

What it means for you: Halloween may be tonight, but a pie pumpkin keeps going right through Thanksgiving. Pick up a couple for the porch and one for the kitchen. At two or three dollars, that’s a cheap way to make the house look like fall and still get a pie out of it.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today · Gary Swafford Farms on Dunlap.Directory

🥩 A Cast-Iron Sear Without the City Drive: Steak Night at The Butter Dish in Pikeville

The Butter Dish at Creekside Plaza in Pikeville serves Steak Night every Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

• 10 oz. Tender Sirloin: $26
• 13–14 oz. Hand-Cut Ribeye: $32, finished with a cast-iron sear
• Surf ‘n’ Turf: Add $5 to either steak
• Also: Seafood Night every Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m., and breakfast on weekends (Saturday 7–11 a.m., Sunday 8–11 a.m.)
• Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
• Where and contact: 160 Creekside Plaza, Pikeville. (423) 447-3663 or thebutterdishTN.com

What it means for you: If there’s a birthday, an anniversary or just a long week to celebrate, you don’t have to drive to Chattanooga for a good steak. Write “Friday 4 to 8” on a sticky note and put it on the fridge. If you’re more of a fish person, Thursday is your night.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today · The Butter Dish on Dunlap.Directory

🐶 Bring the Dog in a Costume: A Pup-Friendly Halloween at Zombie Ice Cream in Jasper

Zombie Ice Cream and Bite House in Jasper is throwing a Halloween party today, Saturday, Oct. 31, and the dogs are invited.

• Pup cups: $1 at the drive-thru, and the staff plan to take photos of visiting pups
• Kids’ hot dogs: $3
• Zombie costume contest: $100 cash to the winner
• Pumpkin carving competition: with prizes
• Where: 904 Betsy Pack Dr., Jasper (from the directory listing). Phone (423) 939-9739

What it means for you: This is a cheap, easy outing for the whole family, four-legged members included. The post doesn’t list times, so give them a call before you load up the truck and the dog.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today · Zombie Ice Cream Jasper on Dunlap.Directory

🌳 Plant It Right the First Time: A Free Tree-Planting Class in Dunlap on Nov. 19

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and UT Extension Sequatchie County are teaming up for a free class on how to plant and care for young trees.

• When: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, 4:30 p.m. Central
• Where: Fair Building, 103 Heard Street, Dunlap
• Teacher: Tyler Meroney, Urban & Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator with the state Division of Forestry
• Cost: Free

What it means for you: A tree is a little like a new porch post: set it right and it stands for decades, set it crooked and you’ll fight it forever. Late fall and winter are good planting times in Tennessee, so this class lands at a good moment. If you’re thinking about shade for the south side of the house or a few trees along the fence line, this is free advice from people who know our soil.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today

🍳 Kitchen Jobs in Dayton: Line Cooks and Prep Cooks Wanted

A Dayton restaurant is hiring line cooks and prep cooks. The original post was shared on Screen Door Kitchen‘s Facebook page.

• Pay and hours: Open to negotiation, based on your experience and availability
• How to apply: In person, 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
• Time zone: Dayton is on Eastern time. 2 p.m. there is 1 p.m. in Dunlap
• Where (from the directory listing): Screen Door Kitchen, 449 Delaware Ave., Dayton. (423) 428-9493

What it means for you: If you’re the one who always ends up running the kitchen at family reunions, this could be a paycheck. Walking in face to face is an old-fashioned way to apply, and that’s good news. A firm handshake and showing up on time count for a lot. Call ahead to make sure you’ve got the right place before you make the drive.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today · Screen Door Kitchen on Dunlap.Directory

🎻 Coffee, Donuts and a Fiddle With a Story: Van Buren Chamber’s Breakfast Club

The Van Buren Chamber of Commerce held its monthly Breakfast Club at The Van Buren County Historical and Heritage Museum in Spencer, with fall specialty coffees and fresh donuts. Crain & Cup helped serve the coffee. Later that day, the museum drew a good crowd for a fiddle donation ceremony, with a fiddle donated by Joe Kuhn.

• Museum address (from the directory listing): 179 College Street, Spencer
• Museum phone: (931) 254-1326. Hours are by arrangement, so call first

What it means for you: A fiddle in a museum case is a piece of somebody’s front-porch Saturday nights, kept safe for the grandkids. If you own a business up on the Plateau, a monthly breakfast is an easy way to meet your neighbors in business. And if you have a family heirloom with a story, the museum is a good place to ask about it.

👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today · The Museum on Dunlap.Directory · Van Buren-Spencer Chamber on Dunlap.Directory

🎁 One Small Find

• 🍗 Plate prices at The Southern Pantry in Dunlap: This week’s posted menu lists a meat and two sides for $11, a meat and three sides for $13, a three-veggie plate for $9.75, and kids’ meals for $7.50. Desserts like banana pudding and Sundrop cake are $3. The specials change daily. Hours are listed as Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at 62 Jones Drive. 👉 Read more on Dunlap.Today · The Southern Pantry on Dunlap.Directory

📅 Dates to Write Down

• Today, Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Central: Last regular Dunlap Farmers Market of the season, Harris Park.
• Today, Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween. Dog-friendly party at Zombie Ice Cream, Jasper.
• Tonight, 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1: Clocks fall back one hour. Set the stove clock and the truck clock before bed.
• Every Tuesday–Friday, 2–4 p.m. Eastern: Apply in person for Dayton line and prep cook jobs.
• Every Thursday, 4–8 p.m.: Seafood Night at The Butter Dish, Pikeville.
• Every Friday, 4–8 p.m.: Steak Night at The Butter Dish, Pikeville. The next one is Friday, Nov. 6.
• Thursday, Nov. 19, 4:30 p.m. Central: Free tree-planting class, Fair Building, 103 Heard St., Dunlap.
• Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. Pie pumpkins from Pikeville will keep until then.

✅ Your Main Street Checklist for This Week

• ✅ Get to Harris Park before 1 p.m. today for the last regular market day.
• ✅ Take one hard-to-shop-for name off your Christmas list with a custom engraved gift.
• ✅ Grab a pie pumpkin along with the carving pumpkin. Call Gary Swafford Farms at 423-447-7480.
• ✅ Pick one Friday for Steak Night at The Butter Dish, 4 to 8 p.m.
• ✅ Put the dog’s costume on and get a $1 pup cup in Jasper.
• ✅ Write “Nov. 19, 4:30, Fair Building” on the calendar for the free tree class.
• ✅ Know a good cook looking for work? Tell them: Dayton, in person, 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern.
• ✅ Set your clocks back tonight before bed.

Practical rule: Catch the last-chance events first, write the weekly ones on the fridge, and call ahead any time a business is across a time line.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Main Street Glossary

• Regular season (farmers market): The stretch of weeks when a market meets on its usual schedule. Special holiday markets may still pop up later.
• Laser engraving: Using a laser to burn words or pictures into wood, metal, glass or leather for a lasting, personal gift.
• Pie pumpkin: A smaller, sweeter pumpkin grown for cooking rather than carving.
• Surf ‘n’ Turf: A steak served with seafood on the same plate.
• Cast-iron sear: Cooking a steak on a very hot iron skillet to give it a browned, flavorful crust.
• Pup cup: A small cup of whipped cream or soft serve made for dogs.
• UT Extension: The University of Tennessee’s local office in each county that gives free, research-based advice on farming, gardening, food and family life.
• Line cook / prep cook: A line cook cooks orders during service. A prep cook chops, measures and gets ingredients ready ahead of time.
• Chamber of Commerce: A local group of businesses that works together to help the community’s economy grow.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is today really the last Dunlap Farmers Market?

It’s the last regular market of the season. It runs today, Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central at Harris Park.

Can I order a custom gift from Country Boys Laser And Engraving?

Yes. The announcement says custom orders are welcome. Stop by their booth at today’s market and talk over your idea.

How much are pumpkins at Gary Swafford Farms?

Most are $3 each, and some are $2. The farm is at 489 Summer City Road in Pikeville. Call 423-447-7480 to check what’s left and confirm hours.

When is Steak Night at The Butter Dish?

Every Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at 160 Creekside Plaza in Pikeville. Sirloin is $26, ribeye is $32, and Surf ‘n’ Turf is $5 more. Seafood Night is Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m.

Can I bring my dog to Zombie Ice Cream today?

Yes. Dogs are invited to the drive-thru for a $1 pup cup on Saturday, Oct. 31. The post doesn’t list times, so call (423) 939-9739 first.

Do I need to sign up for the free tree class?

The announcement doesn’t mention registration. It’s Thursday, Nov. 19, at 4:30 p.m. Central at the Fair Building, 103 Heard St., Dunlap. Call UT Extension Sequatchie County if you’d like to check.

How do I apply for the Dayton kitchen jobs?

In person, from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. That’s Eastern time, which is 1 to 3 p.m. in Dunlap. Pay and hours are negotiable.

When do the clocks change?

Daylight saving time ends tonight, at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1. Clocks fall back one hour, so you get an extra hour of sleep.

🔗 Other Resources

• Dunlap.Today: Last regular Dunlap Farmers Market of the season
• Dunlap.Today: Pumpkin season at Gary Swafford Farms
• Dunlap.Today: Steak Night at The Butter Dish
• Dunlap.Today: Dog-friendly Halloween at Zombie Ice Cream
• Dunlap.Today: Free tree-planting class Nov. 19
• Dunlap.Today: Line and prep cook jobs in Dayton
• Dunlap.Today: Van Buren Chamber Breakfast Club and fiddle donation
• Dunlap.Today: The Southern Pantry menu
• Dunlap.Today: New Businesses
• Dunlap.Today: Jobs & Employment
• Dunlap.Directory: Find local businesses

🏡 Small Shops, Big Hearts: Keep Your Eyes on Main Street

Only one thing on this list is in a hurry: the market at Harris Park, which packs up at 1 o’clock. The rest will keep. There’s a pumpkin for the pie, a steak on a Friday, a free class to learn how to plant a tree, a job for a good cook and a fiddle safe in a museum. Pick one, enjoy Halloween, and enjoy that extra hour of sleep tonight.

For the next friendly look at who’s opening, hiring and giving back around the Valley, Read Dunlap.Today, and find local businesses anytime on Dunlap.Directory.