Places to see the best Christmas lights in NC
The holidays are here and that means it's time to look for the best decorations and holiday light shows. There are so many places to see Christmas light displays in North Carolina. There are also some great local homes decorated in the Raleigh area to check out this holiday season.
And while you are working on your decorations at home, check out our guide to where to find an NC Christmas tree farm and our tips on how to keep your tree alive.
Best places to see Christmas Lights in NC
Wool E. Bull's Winter Wonderland
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St., Durham
Open most nights through Dec. 31, this walk-through holiday light event transforms Durham Bulls Athletic Park into a winter wonderland. Enjoy igloos, a sledding hill, a Winterland Market, shows, the Jingle Bell Bistro and more.
Illuminate Art Walk Downtown Raleigh
Fayetteville Street, nightly Dec. 1 to Jan. 5
Stroll through downtown Raleigh to see larger-than-life art installations from local, regional and international artists creating a holiday light experience that is eclectic, creative and inspiring. The majority of pieces will be located in the Fayetteville Street district and several along Glenwood South. The installations shine nightly until Jan. 5. Illuminate Art Walk is free to the public and self-guided.
Fieldstream Farm Lights
8008 Old Stage Road, Raleigh
Fieldstream Farm features a drive-through light show through Dec. 31 with 1 million lights decorating acres of farm land. It includes an LED-lit tunnel of lights with more than 200,000 lights. Advance tickets are required.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival
Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
Walk through this gorgeous display in Cary featuring handmade lanterns. Tickets are available online, including tickets for specific nights and an earlier "Twilight" experience. The festival is open most nights through Jan. 14.
Christmas Lights on the Farm
11959 Highway 222 W, Middlesex
Through Dec. 23, enjoy a hayride through Christmas Town to our a field of lights display. While visiting, enjoy music on stage and make s’mores by the fire pit. Santa will be taking pictures, and there is a gift shop and concessions to enjoy.
Lake Myra Christmas Lights
10 S. Cypress St., downtown Wendell
Open nightly Nov. 22 to Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. weather-permitting. This free event features a walkway around the lights and even through a tree. People can also bring chairs to sit and watch the lights. The event is donation-based, and lights will be programmed to music. Check the Facebook page for updates, including if an event is canceled for rain.
Electric Light Fantasy at Wilson's Whirligig Park
301 Goldsboro Street South, Historic Downtown Wilson
The show runs Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16. Shows are at 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. ELF will feature, in addition to smaller lasers, a full color, RGB 30 Watt laser similar to those in theme park light shows! Christmas music synchronized with the lasers will play through the vehicle’s FM radio from a dedicated channel. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time.
Hill Ridge Farms Festival of Lights
703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville
Open nightly Dec. 1 through Dec. 30. Enjoy over a million lights from the comfort of your vehicle. Hill Ridge's farm play park and country store will not be open during the Festival of Lights. No advance tickets or reservations. $20 cash per vehicle.
Lights on the Neuse
Boyette Family Farms, 1620 Loop Road, Clayton
Open through Dec. 23, this is an old-fashioned 30-minute Christmas light hayride extravaganza with Christmas lights on the farm. Santa's sleigh will be there for photos, and there will also be concessions and cookie decorating. Timed tickets can be purchased online, or guests can walk up to buy tickets in person. Tickets are $10. Children under 2 are admitted for free.
Mike's Farm Festival of Lights Hayride
1600 Haw Branch Road, Beulaville
A 30 minute hayride around the farm accompanied by Christmas music classics. Along the way are lighted holiday scenes and a live nativity. The hayride is held nightly (weather permitting) until Dec. 23. Buy tickets in person upon arrival.
Holiday Lights in the Garden
Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville
Open Dec. 1 to Dec. 21, every weekend in December, and nightly Dec. 15-21. This holiday tradition and walking event features lights, decorations, Santa Claus, the Grinch, entertainment, s’mores for purchase, a vendor market and more. The garden gift shop will also be open for last-minute gifts. Tickets are available online.
Fayetteville Holiday Lights
Segra Stadium, 460 Hay St., Fayetteville
Fayetteville Holiday Lights will run nightly from Dec. 8-23. The event will include tens of thousands of holiday lights around the stadium, with displays on the concourse and a path of walk-through lights on the warning track of the field.
Country Christmas Train at Denton Farm Park
4259 Handy Road, Denton
Open Dec. 1-3, Dec. 7-19, Dec. 14-17, Dec. 20-23 and Dec. 26-27. Walk down the lighted candy cane path to the train station and take photos with Santa before boarding the train to see Christmas lights, a live nativity scene, a dedication to the military, and even elves for the children. After the train ride, shop for fresh baked goods and gingerbread cookies made in front of you or continue down the lighted pathway to see a petting zoo and horse drawn carriage rides. Denton is about two hours west of the Triangle.
Speedway Christmas
Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord
The show is open 6 to 10 p.m. rain or shine and features synchronized lights-to-music on 101.3 FM plus drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night until Christmas.
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Tanglewood Park, 4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons
Open 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Jan. 1, Tanglewood Park's Festival of Lights features a very popular light show that runs along a five-mile route with more than 100 displays and 1 million lights. About 250,000 visitors attend each year. There can be long wait times to get in, as much as four hours on a Saturday night, the website warns. Evenings also include horse-drawn carriage rides and hayrides. Clemmons, which is near Winston-Salem, is about two hours from Raleigh.
Christmas Town USA in McAdenville, NC
Private homes throughout the town are lit up
Open Dec. 1 to Dec. 26, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly. Now in its 68th year, Christmas Town USA features private homes that are lit up for the holidays. The event has received extensive media coverage over the years. You can walk or drive the 1.3-mile route through town to see the lights. On weekends, it can take 30 minutes to 45 minutes to drive the full route. Before you go, check the website to find out what's happening. McAdenville is just under three hours from Raleigh.
Winter Lights at the NC Arboretum
100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville
Open nightly through Dec. 31, Winter Lights is a spectacular open-air walk-through light show made from over one million lights. This year’s event features favorites like the famously tall 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden, along with enchanting new details designed to delight and surprise.
Best Christmas lights NC
After you check out the best Christmas lights in North Carolina, make sure to see our guide to the best holiday events in the state. We highlight some of the top parades, light shows and performances.
And if you are looking for Santa, we have a list of places to see him and a list of places you can mail him a letter.
