“ColorFest” Dillsboro’s Fine Arts & Crafts Fair Celebrates Dillsboro’s 135th Year as a Tourist Town

October 2, 2021 • 10am – 4pm

“ColorFest,” the 13th Annual Dillsboro’s Fine Arts & Crafts Fair, hits the streets October 2, 10-4 pm in the historic town of Dillsboro, NC. Located just a few miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the walk-about mountain town of Dillsboro has been a popular tourist location since 1886 when visitors arrived by train and spent several weeks.

Fast-forward, 135 years, the railroad tracks on Railroad Street are still in use by the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. The image of the historic town of Dillsboro has evolved into the place to come for appreciation of the arts. Dillsboro hosts daylong festivals to showcase the abundance of local handicrafts and musical talents to the enjoyment of today’s tourists. For the past 13-years in Dillsboro, the first Saturday of October has belonged to “ColorFest!”

Featured in this year’s festival are some of the best fine artists and fine crafters in Western North Carolina. Most artisans will be demonstrating their work and striving for the prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place in fine art and fine craft and one best of show winner sponsored by the Dillsboro Merchants Association.

Fine Arts & Crafts: David Ammons, renown chair caner, will demonstrate the historic fine art of Herringbone chair caning. Splint weaving (Herringbone) is the most common method of caning in the Appalachian Mountains. This artist learned to cane by watching his grandfather “bottom” chairs years ago on Cullowhee Mountain in Jackson County. He has been demonstrating this talent for over 30 years, and has always loved talking about caning as he weaves. Another popular type of weaving a chair bottom is the hand caned 7-step method. David will have both types of chairs—the Herringbone and the hand caned 7-step method—for festival goers to purchase. David’s sister, Appalachian storyteller Amy Ammons Garza, will be situated near her brother, with her books based on seven generations of mountain folk in their family, plus books for children. Jean Littlejohn will share her antique jewelry made from old china and silver; Mary Smith will again offer her handmade hats, knitted and felted just in time for winter; Jason Rizzo will have photography from the area, framed and ready for your walls; Lisa Kolk’s silk scarves would complete any outfit; James Mills will be there with his handmade fishing fly rods (demonstrations available); with an array of jewelry and soap makers.

Entertainment: 11am—The J. Creek Cloggers—a high-energy dance team based out of Haywood County NC, will dance on the street. This group of dancers are keeping alive the old mountain tradition of clogging, audience participation square dances, and broom dances. Members will demonstrate different styles of dance including buck dancing, flat-footing, and clogging. Director for the team is Kim Ross. 12 pm—Anna Victoria—Anna Victoria is a country singer and songwriter from Sylva. She plays a range of music from Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn to Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. She has been making music her whole life, but has pursued a career in music in the past year locally. 1 pm—Twelfth Fret—Husband and wife team featuring a acoustic duo with Craig Neidlinger on guitar and Kim Neidlinger on upright bass. Twelfth Fret performs original as well as pop and classic rock covers of music by John Prine, America, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Eagles, Elton John, Tom Petty and more. 2 pm—Anna Victoria—Once again Anna Victoria will take the stage. A visit to this small town is like stepping back in time. Its five square blocks of century-old stores, restaurants, galleries and inns are a nostalgic reminder of small town America the way our grandparents knew it. Dillsboro has an interesting array of mom-and-pop businesses specializing in delightful merchandise.

Within the vivid colors of autumn, you are invited to come and enjoy Dillsboro on Saturday, October 2, 2021, from 10am until 4pm at ColorFest! Come, stroll through the colorful fine arts and crafts, dance and sing to the music, feel the breeze of mountains and taste the foods of this welcoming town! For more information, call Brenda Anders at Dogwood Crafters, 828-506-8331.

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