While you prep your Turkey Day dinner and make a gift list for family and friends, our Triangle cities and towns are also hard at work planning the festive holiday activities we’ve come to enjoy year after year.
Lively parades and cheerful tree lighting celebrations will start taking place as soon as this weekend. We’ve made this list, now check it twice… to find out where you’ll usher in this spirit-filled season!
WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
Saturday, Nov. 19 at 9:40 a.m.
Downtown Raleig
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Presented by Shop Local Raleigh and sponsored by WRAL-TV, the Raleigh Christmas Parade is a tried-and-true Oak City tradition. Now in its 72nd year, the parade features holiday floats in all shapes and sizes, vintage vehicles, giant balloons, special performers, and Triangle area high school bands. Make sure to arrive early to score a good seat along the parade route and get ready to wave to Santa Claus as he passes by!
Chapel Hill Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, Nov. 27 from 6 to 7 p.m.
University Baptist Church Memorial Garden in Chapel Hill
Enjoy Christmas caroling, holiday cheer and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Community Tree Lighting in Chapel Hill.
Happy Holly Days Parade
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m.
Downtown Holly Springs
Get ready for a festive parade lineup in downtown Holly Springs with holiday floats, marching bands, decorated vehicles and performers. The show will go on rain or shine!
Wake Forest Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.
South White Street and South Brooks Street in downtown Wake Forest
Take part in Wake Forest’s largest community event as more than 100 community groups and local businesses parade through town to celebrate Christmas. Full of fun and festivity, the little ones will be delighted to spy Santa at the very end.
Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
Downtown Cary
The Cary Jaycees will host the 38th Christmas Parade complete with area bands, sports team mascots, and floats decorated by local business and community groups. Make sure to get to Chatham Street early to get a good seat to enjoy the merry marchers.
Fuquay-Varina Tree Lighting
Thursday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Downtown Fuquay
Santa Claus will arrive in Fuquay-Varina just in time for the town’s annual tree lighting event. Enjoy a festive setting with Christmas carols sung by local schools and choral groups.
Christmas on Salem Street
Friday, Dec. 2 starting at 5 p.m.
Downtown Apex
Apex’s annual Christmas on Salem Street celebration will offer caroling, horse drawn carriage rides (tickets needed), Santa’s Workshop crafts, cookie decorating, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Mayor Lance Olive will also usher in the special season with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree.
Christmas on First Avenue
Friday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater
The Town of Knightdale will present its annual Christmas Tree Lighting with a fun evening of festivities. Families will enjoy making holiday crafts, visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, dining on food truck fare and watching performances by local bands and singers.
Light Up Main
Friday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Downtown Garner
Bundle up the family and head to downtown Garner to see Main Street filled with twinkling lights. The town’s Christmas tree will be debuted, and there will be good food, fun crafts, and joyful holiday entertainment.
Lighting of Wake Forest
Friday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Wake Forest Town Hall
Wake Forest will don its Christmas best and light up a 30-foot tree to usher in the holiday season. Guests will enjoy musical performances and free photos will Santa.
Morrisville Annual Tree Lighting
Friday, Dec. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Morrisville Town Hall
Kick off the holiday season with the Morrisville Tree Lighting. There will be Christmas crafts, musical entertainment, tasty treats, and a visit from the big guy himself!
Wendell Wonderland
Friday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.
Corner of Third and Cypress Streets in downtown Wendell
Be dazzled by more than 400,000 lights, enjoy holiday entertainment, ride on a trolley and visit with Santa at Wendell Wonderland.
Town of Garner Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.
Downtown Garner
Christmas cheer will be abundant on Main Street as the Garner Christmas Parade marches by. Look forward to seeing community floats, high school bands, classic cars, young musicians and dancers, and Santa Claus.
Town of Knightdale Christmas Parade
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.
Begins at Knightdale Elementary School
Get in the holiday spirit with a Christmas parade celebration in Knightdale. The kids will love to see the floats, local performers, and festive decorations!
Hillsborough Holiday Parade
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4:45 p.m.
Downtown Hillsborough
The Hillsborough Holiday Parade is packed with holiday fun. Watch Christmas floats and vintage cars roll by and see performances by local dancing and musical groups.
Hearts of the Holidays Celebration
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.
Cary Town Hall
Celebrate the Christmas season in Cary! The town will be hosting a tree lighting ceremony complete with performances by community actors, singers, and musicians. Head to town earlier in the day with your little ones to have fun in Santa’s Workshop and meet jolly old St. Nicholas.
Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest Celebration
Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon to 8 p.m.
Downtown Raleigh—City Plaza, 421 Fayetteville St.
The Capital City will roll out its festive holiday flair with a grand Winterfest Celebration. The fun event will include live performances, a gingerbread house contest, carnival rides, ice-skating, food trucks, and more! And, as the night sky grows dark, Mayor Nancy McFarlane will light the towering Christmas tree.
Holiday Fun Fest
Saturday, Dec. 3 from noon to 4 p.m.
Durham County Stadium Practice Field, 750 Stadium Drive
Take your family out to the Holiday Fun Fest for a jolly and joyous occasion. You’ll be able to snow sled down the Peppermint Plunge, snack on s’mores and tasty holiday eats, participate in Frosty Family fun crafts, and meet the big man in red.
Chapel Hill – Carrboro Holiday Parade
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.
Begins at Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill
Snag a seat on Franklin Street to watch this holiday parade roll by. Complete with holiday floats, marching bands and performers, and a sleigh-riding Santa, your family will certainly get a festive feeling watching it!
Durham Holiday Parade
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m.
Downtown Durham
The Durham Holiday Parade will return this year! Head downtown to Main Street to see cheerful floats, hometown bands, drill teams, community groups, and a variety of performances.