Easter Hat Parade
Easter Saturday
2:00 pm
April 3, 2010
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 and makes two circles around the two-city-block area to make sure everyone gets a good look! 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!

Appalachian Growers Market
Third Saturday in April
April 17, 2010
10 am - 5 pm
A unique fair celebrating farmers and growers. There will be an open-air plant and produce market. Crafters and artisans will be demonstrating and selling. And there will be plenty of music, local food, beer and wine too. This all-day event is a fund-raiser for the Monteith Farmstead Restoraton Project, our community effort to restore the historic Monteith farmhouse as the Appalchian Women's Museum and Monteith Community Park. More info

Dillsboro Arts & Music Festival
Third Saturday in June
10 am - 5 pm
June 19, 2010
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.

Western North Carolina
Pottery Festival
First Saturday in November
November 6, 2010
10 am to 4 pm
The annual festival celebrating the pottery of Western North Carolina 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 3-4 & 10-11, 2010
5:00 pm to 9:00 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 accommodate holiday shoppers. Even Santa Clause fits a trip to Dillsboro into his busy schedule to listen to the children's gift requests.