Southern Highland Reader

DILLSBORO-The town of Dillsboro celebrates a quarter century of holiday fun with the 25th annual Festival of Lights & Luminaries the first two Fridays and Saturdays in December - Dec. 5-6 and 12-13.

Each evening at dusk, town merchants line the streets with 2,500 candles in white bags and invite folks to stroll the sidewalks of this walkabout village of shops, studios, restaurants and inns. Shopkeepers provide live music and serve holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa, while Santa visits with children at Town Hall.

Carolers add to the atmosphere by filling the crisp mountain air with holiday songs.

This year’s festival wraps up with a bang at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13. In honor of the 25th anniversary of Luminaries, a holiday fireworks display will light the night sky. Fireworks will be silver and white, with touches of red and green for the season.

Also new this year is a Christmas tree exhibit in the building beside Bradley’s General Store. Approximately one dozen trees will be on display decorated by local kindergarten and first-grade students.

There is no admission charge for the Festival of Lights & Luminaries. Accommodations are plentiful with more than half of Jackson’s County guest rooms located in Dillsboro or within 15 minutes.