Late fall in Hillsborough brings beautiful colors, leaf-strewn sidewalks and a bit of cooler weather. In my office, at the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, it also brings visitors, many of whom are struck by Hillsborough's resemblance to a quaint, New England village. With its rolling hills, tall hardwoods, beautiful architecture and many steeples, visitors often remark "it reminds me of a town in New Hampshire."

Hillsborough's population is fewer than 6,000 people. It includes folks who have been here since King George gave their families a land grant and folks who moved here last week from New Hampshire, Florida or even Chapel Hill. And while, compared to some small towns, 6,000 people is a lot, Hillsborough hasn't lost its small-town charms. If you've been planning to visit and just haven't made it up this way, now is the time to remedy that.

As you walk down the street, you may run into the mayor, a famous author, even an Emmy-winning screenwriter. You may run into a group of kids from the local elementary school on a field trip to visit historic sites. You may run into a group of jurors here for the first time on a traffic case, and destined to return for a more pleasant visit.

Another thing that folks who visit my office mention about Hillsborough is its friendliness. By the time they've made the decision to move to North Carolina, they've done some research. They've studied up on Asheville, Cary, Pinehurst. They may have visited those areas. And they always tell me that, of all the places, they've visited, Hillsborough made them feel the most at home.

The town of Hillsborough loves visitors. For a small town, there is always a lot going on, at every season of the year. Once the leaves have fallen and the days have gotten shorter, the thoughts of visitors and residents alike begin to turn to the holidays. And once again, it's happening in Hillsborough. The first weekend of December jump starts the season with a "flurry" of activities.

On Friday, the Burwell School Historic Site becomes a mecca for gingerbread architects from all over the region. Each structure, which has ranged from a "Yule Tide Double Wide" to an easily recognizable version of the historic Alexander Dickson House, is constructed entirely of edible materials. The ingenuity of the bakers is amazing -- chewing gum is transformed into siding and ice cream cones become angels -- and their pride in their creation is well-deserved. The entries remain on display at the Burwell School through Dec. 6, after which they will be donated to Carillon Assisted Living for their residents to enjoy. Entries are welcome in three categories: adults, adult professional and children.

On Saturday, the Daniel Boone Merchants Association will present Day One of its two-day 31st Annual Christmas Craft Show, held at the Big Barn Convention Center in Hillsborough. Craft spaces at the show, held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, are often sold out by summer. Crafters from across the state will offer holiday-themed goods and everyday items to the folks there. Admission is free, and there will be music and lots of fun. And if you get tired of shopping there, visit some of the other shops at Daniel Boone, or come downtown for the Hillsborough Holiday Parade.

The parade begins at 3 p.m. and meanders south down Churton Street from Corbin Street. Led by representatives of local law enforcement and including marching bands, cheerleaders, homecoming queens, local merchants, Boy and Girl Scouts, dancers, tumblers, dogs -- whew! You name it -- it's the perfect small-town parade. Afterward, gather on the lawn of the Old Courthouse to count down to the Lighting of the Town Tree.

On Dec. 6, some of Hillsborough's loveliest and most historic homes open their doors to visitors during the 23rd annual Hillsborough Candlelight Tour. This is a unique opportunity to get inside some of those lovely homes that one rides by and thinks "I would love to see inside that house." The tour is presented by the chamber and is one of its major fundraisers. Other members of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough help to make it a wonderful, wondrous experience for our many visitors. The Hillsborough Garden Club chooses a home each year to decorate; this year, you are invited to visit an "Art Imitating Art" installation at the recently renovated Eklund on West Margaret Lane. The home represents both Hillsborough's history and its future -- the front part is the original log cabin and the back is new structure overlooking the historic Eno River. The handiwork of the Hillsborough Garden Club can also be seen at the Burwell School Historic Site where tour visitors can vote for people's choice of the gingerbread structures.

The Alexander Dickson House, home of Hillsborough's Visitors Center, is the starting point at noon for the 23rd Annual Hillsborough Candlelight Tour. The tour includes Ayr Mount, Twin Chimneys, and Over the River, as well as five other private homes including bungalows, mill houses, and ranches. Churches and public spaces will also be open, ringing with song and commerce -- St. Matthews Episcopal Church will feature the Festival of the Society Tree (FeST), rooted in the heritage and history of St. Matthew's Ladies Sewing Society of 1867. In addition to the lively sounds, smells and overall holiday feeling produced by the Candlelight Tour, romantic (or kid-friendly, whichever you prefer) rides are available in a horse-drawn carriage around the historic district. Restaurants and shops will be open special hours to accommodate tour participants.

And at 7 p.m., when the candles are blown out the carriage and horse have ridden off, and the sounds of laughter and music are echoing through downtown Historic Hillsborough, remember its loveliness. And remember that it's there year-round and you can visit any time you like. While Hillsborough may seem like a world apart, thanks to its resemblance to quaint New England towns, or because it's where you go when you get a traffic ticket, or because it's on the other side of Interstate 40, remember that it's also a beautiful, friendly town just a few miles from where you live. We welcome you to come see us.

Margaret Wood Cannell is the executive director of the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the Happening Holiday Weekend in Hillsborough, visit www.candlelighttour.com or www.hillsboroughchamber.com.