Out and About

Parade, tree lightings lead best bets this weekend

Santa Claus is coming to town and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet!

Posted Updated
North Hills Tree Lighting
By
Kathy Hanrahan
RALEIGH, N.C. — This is the weekend that the holiday season really kicks into high gear. There are several tree lightings and a parade happening:
WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade - Head to downtown Raleigh to watch the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade Saturday morning. Local marching bands, some of your favorite WRAL reporters and anchors and Santa will all be participating. The parade starts just before 10 a.m. If you can't make it out there, just watch it live on WRAL-TV and WRAL.com. 
Winter Wonderland - Waverly Place will hold its Winter Wonderland event Saturday from 6-8:30 p.m. The celebration will include a tree lighting, performances from local music and dance groups and Santa and his elves! Admission is free. 
North Hills Tree Lighting - Santa will be visiting North Hills Saturday for the 9th annual tree lighting ceremony. There will be trackless train rides, kids crafts, a vendor village, live performances and Christmas music from the North Tower Band in the Commons! It all starts at 4 p.m. and Santa gets there around 6 for the official lighting of the tree. 
Ipreo Winterfest - Grab those skates because the Winterfest ice rink in City Plaza opens Saturday at 11 a.m. The rink will be open for 10 weeks. Also, the Ice Factory at American Tobacco Campus in Durham opened this week. The rink will remain open until February. 

Santa at Northgate Mall - Northgate Mall in Durham is celebrating Santa's arrival with a tree lighting celebration Friday night from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy holiday music, face-painting and pics with Santa. Admission is free.
Wendell Wonderland - Downtown Wendell kicks off its holiday light show at 6 p.m. One of the largest holiday light shows in the state, Wendell Wonderland is open to the public and is in the historic downtown at the corner Cypress Street and Third Street (10 S. Cypress). 
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market - Get started on your holiday shopping this weekend in Durham at the Art Walk Holiday Market. This festive fine arts and crafts event will feature items from downtown Durham sites including Durham Arts Council, The Durham Art Guild, and more. Visitors will also be able to hear live musical performances and can enjoy delicious food at numerous downtown Durham restaurants and food trucks.
Turkey Trot 5K - This annual race is a great way to help burn off those calories before Thanksgiving! The race happens Saturday morning at Apex Community Park. Registration is $25 and $5 less if you want to do the recreational race. Discounts are also available for racers under age 12. 

Non-holiday events:

Cinderella - Enjoy this romantic and humorous version of the ultimate makeover story with a few new twists. The show plays the DPAC through Sunday. Tickets start at $35. 
Kilometers for the Kids - This 5K, 10K and one-mile fun run benefits the UNC Children's Hospital. Just meet at the Old Well Saturday at 9 a.m. Registration starts at $17. 
Margaret Cho - This former TV star brings her stand-up act to Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh all weekend. Tickets start at $28. 
Final Fire - The Got to Be NC Competition Dining Series comes to close this weekend with the Final Fire series at the Renaissance Hotel in North Hills. The winners of the regional competitions will be battling it out Iron Chef-style to take home the crown! The Final Fire champion will be crowned Saturday night. Tickets for all battles are sold out.
American Indian Heritage Celebration - Artists, dancers, performers will take part in the annual American Indian Heritage Celebration Saturday at the N.C. Museum of History. There will be workshops and craft activities to help children learn about our state's American Indian population - the largest of any state east of the Mississippi River. 
My Anaconda - If you enjoy reptiles, head to the N.C. State Fairgrounds this weekend for the NC Reptile and Exotic Animal Show. There will be vendors offering reptile pets, supplies, feeders, cages, and merchandise. 

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