Go Ask Mom
24 family-friendly events for weekend of Dec. 7 to Dec. 9
Here's what's happening on the family fun front in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill this weekend.
Posted — Updated
By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor
Here’s what is happening on the family fun front. As always, check WRAL.com’s Out & About calendar for more ideas.
Of course, we have lots of Christmas events …
Christmas trains are rolling. (Be aware that Pullen Park is closed through Dec. 17 for the sold out Holiday Express.)
Many holiday shows are lighting up the stage this weekend across the region and include Theatre in the Park’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, Raleigh Little Theatre’s Cinderella, Elf the Musical at DPAC and more. Worth noting: Both A Charlie Brown Christmas and Elf will offer sensory-friendly performances this weekend. Both of those special performances are on Saturday for A Charlie Brown Christmas and Elf.
We have Christmas parades in Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro, Cary, Wake Forest and Fayetteville.
There also are a few Hanukkah events this weekend on Thursday in Cary and Friday in Durham.
Raleigh
Disney on Ice glides into the PNC Arena with shows through Sunday.
The state's Executive Mansion, the official home of the governor, will offer holiday tours Thursday through Sunday. A favorite with my family, you can walk through the first floor of the home to check out the massive Christmas trees and decorations. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday.
CAM Raleigh will host an indoor block party and family day from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday. The event will celebrate a new exhibit that explores the joys of community basketball. Activities include basketball on a half-court inside CAM, free food, dance performances, art activities and more.
It’s worth noting that just down the street from CAM at Raleigh’s Union Station, there’s a model railroad on display from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. It’s free and open to the public. You could easily head over to the museum and then check out the model train display.
And the NC State Gymnastics team season begins with the Red & White Exhibition at 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8. This is an intrasquad competition that will take place at Reynolds Coliseum. Attendance is free for all. There also will be a Toys for Tots toy drive and, after the exhibition, autographs with the full team and a Q&A session with head coach Kim Landrus. (The event originally was scheduled for Sunday, but was moved because of the threat of bad weather this weekend.)
Durham
As part of Durham’s Holiday Parade, the city also will host a Fun Fest after the parade. It’s 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, on Blackwell Street between Morehead Avenue and West Lakewood Avenue. It’s free and includes snow sledding, meet and greets with Santa and more.
Christmas at Stagville Open House is noon to 4 p.m., Saturday. The free holiday open house focuses on the history of Christmas at one of North Carolina’s largest plantations. Historic decorating, tours of historic buildings, and hands-on activities included.
Stagville, a state historic site, also will host Jonkonnu Lantern Tours at 5:15 p.m., Saturday. Tickets, which are $5 per person, are required (and they can sell out). This Afro-Caribbean holiday tradition was celebrated by enslaved families on the Stagville plantation, one of the few sites in the United States with a documented Jonkonnu tradition. Call 919-620-0120 to find out if tickets are still available. You must buy them in advance.
Chapel Hill
The NC Botanical Garden will host Winter in the Garden Holiday Festival from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday. Tickets, which are $5, are available at the door. You’ll find professional lighting displays, an artisan craft market, nature storytime, holiday music, food trucks and more.
Related Topics
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.