Traveling merchants or performers could have a small fair or market set up for an afternoon: perhaps villagers from nearby settlements, farms or towns know the traveling merchants always come at the same time of the month, season or year, so it's a good place to socialize, gossip, etc. Might be a good place for the party to use their "Gather Information" and social skills, or just roleplay. Perhaps a pickpocket pays the party a visit, they see an old ally or enemy as a merchant guard, or pick up a lead on an interesting side-trek style adventure?