Top holiday events in the Triangle: tree lightings, parades, and festive markets await

RALEIGH, N.C.— The holiday season is among us with a ton of holiday events coming up in the Triangle area. These are some of the best to check out.

Best tree lightings to check out in the Triangle

Nov. 22: Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting- There will be food trucks, live music and dance performances, beer and wine, a local vendor market, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more.

Nov. 23: North Hills Tree Lighting- The event features snow slopes, trackless train rides, kids crafts and activities, a bounce house, and a vendor village.

Nov. 23: Light the Square at Fenton - Live music to ice skating to horse-drawn carriage rides and a special appearance by Anna and Elsa from Frozen make this a great event to go to each year. We also love that they have an outdoor ice skating rink you can book a reservation for.

Dec. 5: Clayton Christmas Village and Tree Lighting - Expect to see children singing, free hot chocolate, train rides and a live nativity at this year's annual holiday tradition in Clayton.

Dec. 6: Knightdale Christmas Tree Lighting - Kick off the Holiday season by lighting the tree at Knightdale Station Park. Families can write letters to Santa, enjoy local entertainment while drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies.

Dec. 6: Wendell Wonderland- With activities like the Lake Myra Light Show, trolley rides, a holiday market, dance and chorus performances, Santa Claus, a cookie walk, tree lighting ceremony, food trucks and more. Visitors are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys for children in need up to the age of 12 at multiple donation sites while enjoying the festivities.

Dec. 7: Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 7 - Join the Town of Cary marking the start of the holiday season by lighting up the Park's towering tree. Children can share their holiday wishes with Santa, engage in arts and crafts and enjoy seasonal treats.

Dec. 7: Garner Tree Lighting - The town of Garner will wrap up its holiday celebrations with the annual Garner Tree Lighting will follow the Christmas Parade at around 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Best holiday parades in the Triangle

Nov. 23: Raleigh Christmas Parade - The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. on Hillsborough Street at St. Mary’s Street.

Dec. 7: Apex Rotary Christmas Parade - Wake County's only nighttime holiday parade returns the first Saturday of December at 5 p.m.

Dec. 7: Garner Christmas Parade - This annual Holiday celebration will begin at 4:30 p.m. following the Holiday Block Party along Main St.

Dec. 8: Zebulon Christmas Parade - The Town of Zebulon invites the community to bring in the holiday season on December 8 at 2 p.m.

Dec. 14: Durham Holiday Parade- Enjoy this holiday parade in downtown Durham on Main Street starting at 10 a.m.

Dec. 14: Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade- This annual parade starts at 2 p.m. in downtown Cary.

Dec. 14: Clayton Christmas parade - Grab a seat anywhere from Smith St. to Robertson St, and the parade will run along Main Steet at 3:00 p.m.

Dec. 14: Knightdale Christmas Parade - This parade begins at 10 a.m. on First Avenue near Knightdale Station Run.

Best light displays in the Triangle

Nov. 16-Jan. 12: North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival- The beloved walk-through festival returns to Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre for eight weeks with more than 40 new displays with LED lights. Date-specific tickets are already available online.

Dec.2-Dec. 18: Pullen Park's Holiday Express- If you were lucky enough to get tickets to this sold-out event at Pullen Park, then you will experience lots of holiday-themed fun and get to see some beautiful light displays.

Dec. 7-26: Holiday Tour of Lights - Residents and businesses across Apex join together to share light displays each year. The Tour of Lights provides a map of the most efficient ways to see all the stops along the tour.  

Best holiday performances in the Triangle

Nov. 27-30: Cirque Holiday Pops with the NC Symphony - The North Carolina Symphony and Cirque de la Symphonie kick off the holiday season with a performance of contortionists and acrobats performing on stage and 40 feet above it, while the North Carolina Symphony spreads holiday cheer.

Dec. 5-15: 'Twas the Night Before... By Cirque du Soleil - Cirque de Soleil's first holiday show based on the poem "A Visit from Saint Nicolas" is coming to the DPAC. The show created especially for families, features acrobatics and a soundtrack that includes holiday classics re-invented by Cirque du Soleil. Tickets are on sale now online.

Dec. 6-7: The Nutcracker presented by City Ballet Raleigh - More than 100 students and professionals come together to bring the story of Clara and her Nutcracker to life, featuring the Snow Queen and her Snowflakes dancing through falling snow, a magical Christmas tree growing more than 20 feet, and toy soldiers that come to life to battle the Mouse Queen and her troupe of mice.

Dec. 6-22: Raleigh Little Theatre presents: Cinderella 2024- RLT’s holiday tradition returns for the 40th year. Kids of all ages will love this retelling of the beloved fairy tale, filled with music, laughs, and a sparkle of magic.

Dec. 7: Figgy Pudding Holiday Caroling Competition - Special performances, games for the kids, a holiday market, food trucks, craft beer and mulled wine, and of course Santa Claus from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Moore Square Park. Caroling teams will compete and help raise money the Wake Tech Community College Foundation’s Fostering Bright Futures Program.

Dec. 7 and Dec. 20-22: Cary Ballet Company presents: The Nutcracker - This holiday classic will be presented at AJ Fletcher Opera Theater on Dec. 7 and at Cary Arts Center from Dec. 20-22.

Dec. 18-22: A Christmas Carol Presented by Theatre in the Park- This beloved musical comedy, A Christmas Carol Presented by Theatre in the Park, returns to DPAC for six performances.

Dec. 20-21: A Candlelight Christmas with North Carolina Symphony Holiday Brass - The north Carolina Symphony Holiday Brass and the North Carolina Master Chorale Youth Choir join to immerse the community with the sounds of the holiday season while preforming under the glow of candle light.

Dec. 20-22: Black Nativity Durham - Triangle Performance Ensemble will present this show at Hillside High School in Durham. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $17 for seniors, students and children.

Dec. 27-28: The Motown Sound of Christmas - The Town of Cary and Pure Life Theatre Company join together to feature some of the triangles dancers and singers at the Cary Arts Center. The community can expect new musical selections and surprises that celebrate both the holidays and Motown.

Dec. 28: The Hip Hop Nutcracker- This show is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together.  

Best holiday markets in the Triangle

Nov. 29-Dec. 1: The Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market -The annual Christmas Carousel shopping event at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds features hundreds of vendors. Tickets are on sale now.

December 1: Santa Strut Holiday Bazaar and Santa Costume Contest – Shop from over 30 artisan vendors, dance and enjoy live music from Winter Jandrland, and enjoy cocktails and spiked coffees. There will also be a contest for the best Santa and Mrs. Claus costumes. This event is only for adults 21 and older.

Dec. 7: Jolly Raleigh Holiday Market - Shop Local Raleigh is looking to celebrate small businesses this holiday season. This event is the perfect opportunity to sip, shop and appreciate the community coming together to celebrate the holiday season. The market is free to the public and open 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Raleigh Iron Works. 

Dec. 7: Sip and Shop at Wendell Falls - Find the perfect gift at Wendell Falls. Tour seven festive models and do a little holiday shopping, with artisanal gifts from some of our favorite local vendors. Enjoy special drinks and festive treats at every stop to get you into the holiday spirit!

Dec. 7: Scandinavian Christmas Fair - Held annually at the Kerr Scott building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, this event is an authentic celebration of the traditions of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. There will be crafts, food and performances. Tickets are $10.

Dec. 8: Handmade Hanukkah Market at Temple Beth Or - This market is free to attend and features Jewish artisans selling their jewelry, baked goods, pottery, textiles and woodwork.

Dec. 13-14: St. Cyril and Methodius' St. Nicholas European Christmas Market - This annual holiday market features food and gifts from around the world. It is located at the Kerr Scott Building at the state fairgrounds. Admission is free.

Dec. 14: Geek and Grub Market Holiday Nightmare Edition - This holiday market features holiday antics, food and "geeky" items from over 50 local geek themed artisans. Admission is free.

Dec. 15: Durham Craft Market Holiday Show - Shop from more than 50 local artists and crafts people at this event at Durham Central Park. Admission is free.