Dillsboro's annual holiday festival to begin this weekend

By Lynn Hotaling

For almost 20 years, shopkeepers in the tiny village have decorated their stores, lined the town's sidewalks with candles, prepared yuletide refreshments and invited the community to join their celebration.

This year's event will be spread over two Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14. Candles will be lit at 5 p.m. each of the four evenings, and all the stores will stay open late to participate.

More than 2,500 candle-filled white paper bags will line Dillsboro's historic streets to guide visitors into the town's more than 50 specialty shops, restaurants and inns. In addition to the luminaries, the village's late-1800s-style buildings will be outlined with tiny, white lights to create what one festival organizer described as a "picture-perfect postcard of a fairy-tale town."

A variety of music will fill the air as shoppers and visitors make their rounds. Individuals and groups will perform from almost a dozen locations around town.

New to this year's festival is an "Open Mike" night on Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the Cannon Building next to First Choice Real Estate.

"Individual musicians, choral groups, duets, vocalists, instrumentalists are all invited to share some Christmas cheer with the community," said Lera Chitwood, who organized the entertainment for this year's festival.

The Celtic band, Bein Sidhe (pronounced "banshees"), will play at the Cannon Building all evening Saturday, Dec. 14.

Other musical performers will include children and adult choirs, bluegrass and gospel, dulcimers, calliope, French horns, recorders, marching band, bagpipes, a bell choir, cloggers and a jazz ensemble.

Another of this year's highlights is the publication of "Dogwood Crafters: A Success Story," which will be available at the craft store on Webster Street. Author Susie Ray of Cullowhee will sign copies Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. both nights.

As always, Santa Claus will set up shop in Dillsboro's Town Hall, where he will be on hand to hear children's wish lists.

The Festival of Lights and Luminaries is the second of Dillsboro's annual downtown festivals and always occurs during the first two weekends in December. Town merchants also sponsor an all-day heritage crafts festival on the second Saturday in June.

"The atmosphere on these two special December weekends is like something out of a Christmas story book," said Julie Spiro, director of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce." The brisk weather nips at your nose, and Dillsboro puts you in the holiday spirit."

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