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Candles to shine in Dillsboro during annual holiday event
Dillsboro will once again glow in holiday splendor the first two weekends of December with the 22nd annual Dillsboro Festival of Lights and Luminaries.
The festival, which will be Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, and Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10, is the town’s merchants open house and allows visitors the opportunity to walk down streets lined with 2,500 luminaries. The candles are lit by volunteer merchants, who also coordinate the event, at 5 p.m. each evening. Many of the buildings in town will also be trimmed with white holiday lights.
“This is definitely my favorite event of the year,” said Karen Barnes, who is coordinating the entertainment for the festival. “The planning is going very well. We have some exciting new things and the same kinds of pleasant things we’ve had in the past.”
As in previous years, Santa Claus will set up shop in town hall, carolers and instrumentalists will fill the streets with music, and merchants will offer free holiday refreshments and cider.
“The pewter shop at Riverwood (the craft shops on the hill overlooking town) is empty, so we will be hosting musicians in that space,” Barnes said. “We will also have refreshments and a yule fire. Folks who visit the fire will be given marshmallows and hot dogs to roast.”
Entertainers will perform throughout the event at various locations around town. Also, Scott Dickson, author of “In Search of Mayberry,” will sign copies of his book on the festival’s first Saturday. Dickson will be at the Jarrett House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
“If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit, go to Dillsboro the first two weekends of December,” said Julie Spiro, director of the Chamber of Commerce. “The Lights and Luminaries Festival is unique, and reminiscent of the way the holiday season used to be.”
“We definitely put on a production,” Barnes said.
For more information, call the Visitors Center at 586-2155 or visit www.visitdillsboro.org or www.dillsboronc.info.
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