Looking for the ultimate mountain Christmas experience in North Carolina this year? Then gather your friends and family and head to the small town of Dillsboro. At Christmas time, this charming mountain location is home to the most enchanting main street in the country. With local shops joining in on all the fun and a spectacular show Christmas Lights Display spread across the city, this is a place you won’t want to miss. So if you need a little holiday cheer, then Christmas in Dillsboro, North Carolina is just what you need.

Filled with delightfully rustic galleries brimming with crafts, pottery, and other wonderful handmade creations, Dillsboro is a popular place to visit year-round.

But every year, for the first two weekends in December, Dillsboro has the most enchanting Main Street in America. During an event called Lights and Luminaries, Dillsboro becomes one of North Carolina’s most quintessential Christmas towns in the state.

This winter wonderland of sparkling lights is a way to celebrate not only Christmas, but also the city’s small businesses. Many restaurants, shops and galleries all participate in the event. Holiday cheer is everywhere as stores, restaurants, trees and streets are dripping with twinkling lights. But that’s not all…

More than 2,500 hand-lit luminaries line the sidewalks for the annual Lights and Luminaries event held Friday and Saturday evenings (the first two weekends in December, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening).

But you can also experience a wonderful vacation in Dillsboro during the day during the Christmas season. And you never know who you’ll meet on America’s Most Charming Christmas Main Street.

You might feel like a kid in a candy store as you stroll through this winter wonderland filled with boutiques, galleries, studios, and restaurants, all decorated for the holidays.

To make the most of this festive period, all businesses have special opening hours and stay open late so you can enjoy the event even longer.

While Christmas shopping in downtown Dillsboro, you’ll notice the town and merchants come together to completely decorate the hallways. It’s an experience we cherish every year.

Find artisanal chocolates at Dillsboro Chocolate Factory and handmade Christmas items in almost every store. Get ready to check a few people off your holiday shopping list after a visit to Dillsboro’s Main Street this season.

As mentioned, stores and studios are open all season, but if you would like to attend the special Lights and Luminaries Christmas Festival in Dillsboro, North Carolina, it will take place on December 6-7 and December 13-14, 2024 every evening. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Join the carolers as they wander the streets or take a horse-drawn carriage ride around town. Also keep an eye out for live music on Front Street during the event. You simply can’t go wrong when you surround yourself with holiday happiness in Dillsboro this year!

For a Christmas memory the whole family will cherish, head to Dillsboro, one of North Carolina’s most festive Christmas towns, and its enchanted Main Street this year.

Want to know more about Christmas in Dillsboro, NC? Next, make sure you go to the Dillsboro city ​​website for all the information on lights and luminaries and other fun events throughout the year.

Would you like to get a taste of the event before you leave? Watch this video from the Western Carolina University YouTube channel:



Just as a point of reference: Dillsboro is located 17 miles southeast of Bryson City, 64 miles southwest of Asheville, 134 miles southwest of Boone, and less than three hours from Charlotte and Winston-Salem. So if you’re looking to stay overnight, take a look at this house rental in Dillsboro.

Are you excited to celebrate the holidays in North Carolina? Share this article with a friend and plan to visit Dillsboro in December!