Beginning with the delightfully quirky Easter Hat Parade and ending with its famous Christmas Lights and Luminaries event, Dillsboro offers some of the Smokies' most colorful and entertaining outdoor festivals. Highlighting Dillsboro's festival season are special weekend events celebrating the Carolina mountains' arts, crafts, antiques and pottery. These are great times to visit Dillsboro and the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
COLORFEST!
Saturday, October 7, 2023
10 am - 4 pm
This unique historic town welcomes over 40 local demonstrating artists who will line Front Street with colorful art and demonstrate their work. Meet and talk with local artists, all the while surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the mountains. Sample festival foods, and enjoy indoor and outdoor dining and a brewery. Live entertainment throughout the afternoon. For more information, contact Brenda Anders 828-506-8331 or brendaanders@frontier.com. Vendor Application
DILLSBORO'S DOWNHOME HARVEST
Every day in October, 2023
To celebrate Fall, Dillsboro will showcase arts and crafts demonstrations on the streets, as well as local handcrafted items in shops. Also 'walking scarecrows', face painting, trick-or-treating and more. Enjoy the brewery, and a variety of restaurants, many with indoor and outdoor options.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
Thanksgiving Saturday
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Show your love for small businesses. Dillsboro is celebrating with sales and demonstrations; 8 great restaurants, over 10 shops, and a brewery.
DILLSBORO LIGHTS & LUMINARIES
Fridays & Saturdays
December, 1, 2, 8, 9, 2023
5 - 9 pm each night
Journey back to the days of yesteryear. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles, laughter and song! 2500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios. Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music on Front Street.
DILLSBORO EASTER HAT PARADE
Saturday of Easter Weekend
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Parade starts at 2 pm
Bring your Easter Bonnet to wear in the Easter Hat Parade! Meet the Easter Bunny and helpers who will be handing out Easter candies, and enjoy kid's activities. Egg Hunt at 11:00 am at Monteith Park with 4,000 eggs to find! Registration for the parade begins at Noon, and the parade starts from Dillsboro Town Hall at 2:00 pm. Calling all ladies, gentlemen, children and dogs. Grab your hat and join in the fun during Dillsboro’s delightfully unpretentious annual Easter Hat Parade!
View Our State Magazine's video of a favorite Easter Hat Parade here. Video by Jerry Wolford.
Plenty of prizes are are announced after the Parade. Ribbons are given for the Prettiest, Funniest, Largest, Smallest, Most Unusual, Most Easter-like, Best Smelling, Cutest, Most Outrageous, Best In Show and "Poofiest" hats among other unusual categories. There is even a ribbon awarded to the Best Animal in Show! Check us out on UNC TV, NC Weekend Show.
AIRING OF THE QUILTS
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Appalachian Women's Museum at Monteith Park
100 West Hometown Place
11 am - 3 pm
Airing of the quilts is a mountain tradition where women would take family quilts off the beds and hang them in the spring sunshine to freshen. Enjoy the beautiful display of quilts from quilters and quilt collectors. There will also be the popular fabric scrap exchange, a quilt pattern and book exchange, raffle and music.
FRONT STREET ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW
Third Saturday in July
Saturday, July 20, 2024
10 am - 4 pm
Just as summer hits its stride, the compact town of Dillsboro will glow with home spun talent, for Front Street will be filled with fine arts and crafts from local artisans. Strewn with vibrant colors, inviting festival aromas, and the warm sounds of guitars, banjos, and bass, Front Street Arts and Crafts Show will once again swing wide its welcome! As you stroll through the town, you can also slip into the shops where you will enjoy the many different items especially chosen with you, the visitor, in mind. There are many restaurants with dine-in and take-out available. Come and join others in sharing the ambiance of a small town festival! For more information, contact Brenda Anders 828-506-8331 or brendaanders@frontier.com. Vendor Application
YOUTH ARTS FESTIVAL
Third Saturday each September
Saturday, September 21, 2024
9 am - 3 pm
Free art activities for the whole family, such as sidewalk chalk, mural painting, weaving, tile mosaics, chalk pastel drawing, take-home art projects, and more. Professional artists will be demonstrating their crafts. Entertainment and food. No pets please. Parking is limited; carpooling recommended. Bring your imagination and creativity and have FUN! Held at Jackson County Green Energy Park. Come watch demonstrations of glassblowing, blacksmithing, pottery, printing, gem cutting, torchworking and raku kiln firing. We'll have live entertainment, good food and fun!
Check these local website calendars for more events:
DILLSBORO'S DOWNHOME HARVEST
DILLSBORO LIGHTS & LUMINARIES
