From Apex to Vass: 2023 holiday events in your town

Celebrate the season in your hometown with parades, holiday lights and special shopping! There are events all over the Triangle throughout the season.

Wake County

Apex

Apex’s tree lighting ceremony will be held Dec. 1 starting at 4:30 p.m. at The Depot parking lot on N Salem Street.

The Apex Rotary Club will host the Apex Christmas parade on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. It starts at the intersection of Ambergate Station and The Peakway. It will end at the Apex Public Works building on Upchurch Street. At 3 p.m., The Apex ‘Let It Snow’ event will take place at The Depot parking lot at 220 N Salem Street.

On Dec. 10, Mayor Jacques Gilbert will light the menorah at Apex Town Campus at 3 p.m. The event will be downtown at the Apex Senior Center (63 Hunter Street). The event is free and has holiday crafts, games and a food truck.

Cary

The tree lighting ceremony is Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. The event is at Downtown Cary Park.

Cary's Christmas parade is Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. The parade starts on E. Chatham Street at Ward Street.

The lighting of the menorah will take place outside of the Cary Arts Center, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Fuquay-Varina

The town's tree lighting ceremony will be held on Nov. 30 at 6pm. The event will feature performances, sleigh rides, and more. The Christmas parade is set for Sunday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m.

Garner

On Dec. 2, events will start with a Holiday Block Party at 2p.m. at the Garner Recreation Center. This event is free and will have food trucks, games, music and the Garner Express, a 24-person train ride around the walking trail. The Garner Christmas parade will start around 4:30 p.m. The tree lighting will immediately follow the parade at 6 p.m.

Holly Springs

Holly Springs’s ‘Light the Springs’ event will be held Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center. The event will have live music, games, food and letter writing to Santa. The festivities will begin with the lighting of the menorah with the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh at 5:30 p.m.

Happy Holly Days parade will be held on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. starting on Main Street near the intersection at Oakhall Drive.

Knightdale

The lighting of the tree will be held at Knightdale Station Park at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1. The event has letter writing to Santa, hot chocolate and cookies.

Knightdale Christmas parade will take place Dec. 9 at 10am. The parade begins on First Avenue near Knightdale Station.

Morrisville

This year's tree lighting ceremony starts at 3pm Dec. 2 at the intersection of Town Hall Drive and Indian Creek Trailhead.

Raleigh

Raleigh's 79th Christmas parade will start at 9:30am on Nov. 18. The parade starts on Hillsborough Street at St. Mary's Street and end at Lenior Street.

Wake Forest

The town's 'Lighting of Wake Forest' event kicks off Dec. 1 at 5 p.m., in Centennial Plaza on S. Brooks St.

Durham County

Durham

Durham's holiday parade kicks off on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. The event starts on Main Street in Downtown Durham.

Orange County

Hillsborough

The 'Light Up The Night' parade will be held Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. The tree lighting ceremony will immediately follow the parade at 6 p.m.

Johnston County

Smithfield

Presented by Smithfield Parks & Recreation, Smithfield's tree lighting ceremony will start Dec. 7 at p.m. The event is on S. Third Street.

The parade is Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.

Clayton

The Clayton Rotary Club will host the annual parade on Dec 9 at 3 p.m.

The 33rd Annual Downtown Clayton Christmas village and tree lighting is planned at 5 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Benson

'Christmas On Main' in Benson starts Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. on 122 E. Main Street, This event includes a tree lighting ceremony, parade and music.

Archer Lodge

The annual Christmas celebration will kick off Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. The event will be at Archer Lodge Community Center.

Four Oaks

Hosted by Four Oaks Chamber of Commerce, the tree lighting will be held Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. The event is located at Barbour's Grove Park.

The Christmas parade will be Dec. 2 at 11 a.m on S. Main Street.

Kenly

The Christmas celebration will start Dec. 2 at 9 am. on Main Street. This event will include live music, photos with Santa and train rides for kids.

The parade is Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in Downtown Kenly.

Cleveland

Cleveland's Christmas event starts Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland Fire Department Station 1.

Micro

Micro's holiday celebrations kick off with the parade at 4 p.m., Dec. 9. The tree lighting will immediately follow at Micro Fire Department.

Pine Level

This year's tree lighting ceremony will be at Sam Godwin Park, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

The parade will be Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. on E. Brown Street.

Princeton

The 2nd annual tree lighting ceremony will be on Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. The event will be outside across from Princeton High School.

Selma

The Christmas parade and tree lighting starts on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. in front of Town Hall.

Franklin County

Franklinton

The Christmas tree lighting kicks off Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. in the front lawn of Franklinton Middle School.

The town will have a Christmas market Dec. 1 starting at 5 p.m. in Downtown Franklinton. The event will feature holiday shopping at local businesses, vendors, food trucks and live music at Texaco Station Park.

The parade is Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in Downtown Franklinton. The parade will have floats, antique vehicles, and marching bands.

Louisburg

The town will have a Christmas market Dec. 3 starting at 12 p.m.

The parade will be follow the market event, starting at 4 p.m. The parade will end with the tree lighting ceremony.

Elsewhere

Angier: This year's Christmas event is Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.

Fayetteville: The Fayetteville Rotary Club present this year's Christmas parade. The event is Dec. 9 starting at 10 a.m.

Rocky Mount: The town parade is set for Dec. 3 at 3 p.m.

Wilson: The Christmas parade is Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. in downtown Wilson.

Vass: The Christmas parade is Dec. 16 at 8 a.m.