DILLSBORO — The Dillsboro Festival of Lights and Luminaries will illuminate the mountain village the first two Fridays and Saturdays in December.

Dillsboro's 29th annual celebration sets the town aglow Dec. 7 through 8 and Dec. 14 through 15 with more than 2,500 candles in white bags lining the streets. The luminaries are adapted from an old Scandinavian tradition.

Meanwhile, the festival starts a new tradition this year by providing snow. Cullowhee-based weather guru Preston Jacobsen plans to blow snow for the festival via his new company, Whee Make Snow.

Weather permitting, Jacobsen will create a winter wonderland at the corner of Front and Webster streets where children of all ages can make snowmen and play in the snow.

In addition to the luminaries and snow, the town's merchant "elves" ...