Full Spectrum Farms
Growers Market
Third Saturday in April
9 am - 4 pm

A unique fair celebrating farmers and growers with and open-air plant and produce market. A wonderful celebration to benefit the Autism Community. For more information contact Teresa Dowd, 828-586-5100 or iinfo@fullspectrumfarms.org.

Easter Hat Parade
Easter Saturday
April 7
2:00 pm
 
Led by a fleet of restored antique cars, followed by the many hat contestants and featuring the Easter Bunny, the parade begins in front of the Town Hall on Front Street. Get your face painted! Make a hat and come join the parade! Last-minute entrants very welcome.

Awards 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!

Come early at 10:30 am to Dogwood Crafters on Webster St. where you can fashion your own hat. Easter egg hunts (by age group) also start there beginning at 10:30 am. Registration for the parade starts at 11 am.

View Our State magazine's video of last year's Easter Hat Parade here. Video by Jerry Wolford.

Rafters & Crafters
Second Saturday in June
10 am - 5 pm
 
All the quaint shops are open and the streets are lined with tents featuring artisans demonstrating all kinds of traditional crafts including basketry, weaving, quilting, pewtering, and carving. It's a walk-about day with a gracious plenty of food available in the restaurants or from the street.

Independance Day Celebration
1 pm – dark
 
Enjoy a fun-filled Fourth in Dillsboro. Opening Ceremony and Carnival Rides beginning at 1 pm. Pie & Cake Bakeoff at 3 pm, Water Balloon Contest 2 - 3:30 pm, Horseshoe Challenge & Cornhole Challenge 5 pm. Music and entertainment begins at 4 pm on the main stage at the intersection of Church Street & Front Street. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the show. Fireworks will begin at dark from Harrison Quarry. There are plenty of good places to watch the fireworks, just ask a local.

The second annual Tuck River Derby and Tube Race, where tubes and homemade rafts drift down the Tuckasegee River, will be in the afternoon. Registration ends at 3:30 p.m. with the Tube Race beginning at 4:00 and the Raft Race at 4:30. Launch at Webster Street.

4th Annual Youth Arts Festival
Third Saturday in September
September 15
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. Over 25 professional artists will be demonstrating their crafts. Entertain and food. Free shuttle from Dillsboro. No pets please. Bring your imagination and creativity and have FUN! Held at Jackson County Green Energy Park. More info

Taste of North Carolina
Last Saturday in September
11 am - 6 pm

Come enjoy what North Carolina has to offer in food and beverages! We will have the street lined with NC food products, and arts and craft booths. We will have a "Beer Garden" area with two wineries and one brewery. To purchase alcohol, you must be of legal age to purchase a wristband for $2.00. The proceeds from the wristbands will go to disabled Veterans. There will be a juried section for professionals and a contest for amateur foodmakers to enter their own edibles. Entrants will be set up for you to sample them all and vote for People's Choice.

Costume Parade
Saturday before Halloween
4 pm - 7 pm; Parade at 6 pm
 
A family-oriented costume parade. The Parade starts at Town Hall on Front Street. Kids, parents and friends are encouraged to enter the costume contest – there will be prizes! Trick or Treat around downtown. Free movies, music and more. Vote for the spookiest shop. This event is a real treat!

Western North Carolina
Pottery Festival
First Saturday in November
10 am to 4 pm

Celebrating the pottery of Western North Carolina. This annual festival takes place along Front Street. This juried event features the works of more than 20 highly-skilled potters from across the region. Potters on hand to demonstrate throwing and raku firing. Website

Lights and Luminaries
First Two Fridays &
Saturdays in December
December 2-3 & 9-10, 2011
5 pm to 9 pm
 
Adapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations.

Shopkeepers hold "Open House" and serve coffee, warm cider, hot chocolate and home baked goodies and stay open late to ccommodate holiday shoppers. Horse and buggy rides available. Even Santa Clause fits a trip to Dillsboro into his busy schedule to listen to the children's gift requests.