List: Triangle-area holiday parades and tree lightings

Raleigh's Christmas Parade and tree lighting are always held the weekend before Thanksgiving, but most other towns and cities hold events in early December. We have this list to help you keep track of what is happening and when!

Wake County

Apex

Apex's Rotary Christmas Parade will be held Dec. 4 starting at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Ambergate Station and The Peakway. It will head down Salem Street and end at the Apex Public Works buildings on Upchurch Street. There will be a Winter Wonderland area with vendors and child-centered activities at The Depot parking lot from noon to 8 p.m. There will also be food vendors located throughout the parade route.

Cary

The tree lighting ceremony is 6 p.m., Dec. 4, part of the town's Heart of the Holidays celebration. The Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade is 2 p.m., Dec. 11.

Fuquay-Varina

The town's tree lighting ceremony is 6 p.m., Dec. 2. The town's parade is 3 p.m., Dec. 5.

Garner

The Town will hold its tree lighting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 26, on Main Street, adjacent to the Garner Recreation Center. This year's tree lighting will be held in conjunction with the monthly downtown Night Market.

The Garner Christmas Parade, which hasn't happened since 2018, is back on for 2 p.m. on Dec. 18.

The town will be holding its first Holiday Block Party at Garner Recreation Center on Dec. 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. This family-friendly event will feature local high school bands, holiday crafts, line dancing food trucks and games. The Garner Express, a 24-person train ride, will take its first trip around the Garner Rec Center outdoor walking trail. Santa Claus will also join the party.

Holly Springs

There will not be a tree lighting this year, but the parade will be returning! The Happy Holly Days Parade will be held Dec. 14 starting at 11 a.m. The parade will start on Main Street and go through downtown, starting at Holly Springs Road and ending at Rogers Street.

Knightdale

The town's tree lighting will be on Dec. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Knightdale Station Park. The annual parade will be held Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.

Morrisville

The town's annual tree lighting is 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 3, at 101 Town Hall Dr.

Raleigh

The Raleigh Christmas Parade will take place on Nov. 20 from 9:30 a.m. until noon. in downtown Raleigh.

The annual Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting and Holiday Market will be held Nov. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in front of Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts,

Lafayette Village in north Raleigh will hold its tree lighting on Nov. 20 from 3 to 6 p.m.

North Hills will hold its annual tree lighting on Nov. 20 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Rolesville

The town's parade is from 2 to 3 p.m., Dec. 3.

Wake Forest

The Lighting of Wake Forest is 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Dec. 3.

Durham County

Durham

Durham's Holiday Parade is 11 a.m., Dec. 18, along Main Street in downtown Durham.

Orange County

Hillsborough

The town's Light Up the Night Parade & Tree Lighting starts at 4 p.m., Dec. 5. A tree lighting immediately follows the end of the parade.

Johnston County

Smithfield

The town's parade is 7 p.m., Dec. 9.

Clayton

The Clayton Rotary Club will host the annual Christmas Parade on Dec 11.

Benson

The town's Christmas on Main starts at 5 p.m., Dec. 3, and includes both a tree lighting and a parade.

Elsewhere

Fayetteville: The Rotary Christmas Parade is 11 a.m., Dec. 11.

Mebane: The town's parade is 7 p.m., Dec. 3.