Visiting Dogwood Crafters
Dillsboro’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries is a charming small-town tradition that fills residents and visitors alike with the Christmas spirit. On Friday, December 2, and Saturday, December 3, as well as Friday, December 9, and Saturday, December 10, from 5–9 p.m., the town will set its streets and historic buildings alight with more than 2,500 traditional candle luminaries and thousands of twinkling lights.
This year marks the 33rd anniversary of Dillsboro’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries. Each night, shops offering a variety of unique gifts, clothing, gourmet foods and wine will stay open late, serving free refreshments and hosting live performances by local musicians. Visitors will have the chance to enjoy horse and buggy rides, the cheerful sound of carolers and a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the Dillsboro town hall.
Friday, December 2, is a special community college night at the festival. Western Carolina University’s Dance Program coordinator will perform excerpts from The Nutcracker ballet and students from Southwestern Community College’s Spanish Club will sing carols in both English and Spanish.
Horse and buggy rides by Duane Franks
“New to our holiday lineup this year is ‘Letters to Santa,’” says David Marker, this year’s event planner and co-owner of Monkey Toes, a Front Street gift shop and novelty store. “Children will have help writing to Santa, and there will be a special mailbox to mail the letters so they’ll receive an answer. We’ll also have a window-decorating contest for each store in town.”
The Festival of Lights and Luminaries began in the ’80s as a way for Dillsboro merchants to say ‘thank you’ to the community for its support. Back then, the event lasted only one night, but now it’s grown into a four-night Christmas celebration and has become Dillsboro’s most popular event.
“The first time I came across the bridge to Dillsboro during the Festival of Lights and Luminaries, I thought the town was stunning,” says Madge Sala, a visitor to Dillsboro year after year during the holidays. “The luminaries made me think of how things used to be in the olden days. It was breathtaking!”
Dillsboro is located 45 minutes west of Asheville in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. The Festival of Lights and Luminaries is free and open to the public. There is free parking during the event and shuttle transportation from Monteith Park each night of the festival. For more information see facebook.com/dillsboronc.
