Things to do this weekend in NC: Nights of Lights, holiday gift guide
Looking for something to do this weekend in North Carolina? We have a list of fun events to keep you busy this long holiday weekend!
Things to do in Raleigh this weekend
Nights of Lights is back - Brighten your holiday season with the Nights of Lights Drive-Thru Light Show at Dorothea Dix Park brought to you by WRAL/Capitol Broadcasting in partnership the City of Raleigh. The event starts this weekend and continues throughout December! It's a 1.3-mile trek through Dix Park with lots of beautiful lights. And there are less tickets being sold per time slot this year to avoid major backups!
Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market (NC State Fairgrounds - Jim Graham Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) - This holiday market will be held Friday through Sunday at the Jim Graham Building. There will be more than 250 exhibitors offering a variety of holiday gift ideas.
Holiday Pop-Up Market (Transfer Co. Food Hall , 500 East Davie Street, Raleigh) - Shop local this Small Business Saturday with this pop-up market at Transfer Co. Food Hall. There will be a highly curated selection of accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts and more by local artists and makers.
Merry Moore Market (Moore Square Park, 200 South Blount Street, Raleigh) - Celebrate the holiday season at the Merry Moore Market at Moore Square with more than 50 local vendors Friday and Saturday night from 5 to 9 p.m.
Black Friday Market Weekend (Black Friday Market, 23 W Hargett Street, Raleigh) - Named after the biggest shopping day in the U.S., Black Friday Market Weekend is a 3-day block party celebrating all of the local stores that make The Black Friday Market store in in downtown Raleigh great. There will be food trucks, live music, Black Santa, train rides and a petting zoo.
The Rink (Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh) - Ice skate in downtown Raleigh at Red Hat Amphitheater. Admission $11 and includes skate rental. The event runs through New Year's Day.
A Family Holiday Concert with the North Carolina Symphony (Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts - Meymandi Concert Hall, 2 E. South St., Raleigh) - Spend Friday enjoying a family concert at Meymandi Concert Hall. The show will include music from The Polar Express and Babes in Toyland.
Club Fair: Art, Food & Music Festival (The Woman's Club of Raleigh, 3300 Woman's Club Drive, Raleigh) - This monthly art, food, and music festival at The Woman's Club of Raleigh is happening Sunday. There will be a local makers market, live music, food, drinks and children's activities.
The Polar Express 3D (Marbles IMAX, 201 East Hargett Street, Raleigh) - Tom Hanks stars in an inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. See this holiday classic in IMAX 3D at Marbles Kids Museum with showtimes Nov. 26 through Dec. 24.
Things to do in Durham, Cary and Garner this weekend
Jason Mraz: Live & Acoustic With Toca Rivera (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - Grammy-winning musician Jason Mraz will perform with longtime collaborator Toca Rivera in this acoustic show at DPAC on Sunday. At this event, guests age 12 and older are required to provide documentation of full COVID-19 vaccination status or as an alternative, a recent negative COVID-19 test.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - Enjoy this annual celebration at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary through Jan. 9. There will be new displays and more ticket options.
Godfrey (Raleigh Improv, 1224 Parkside Main Street, Cary) - See this actor and game show host on stage at Raleigh Improv Friday through Sunday.
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - Four-time Grammy Award Winning Americana singer-songwriter Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will perform Friday and Saturday at DPAC.
Garner Night Market (Garner Night Market, 120 East Main Street, Garner) - Raleigh Night Market presents this locally-made market Friday night in downtown Garner.
Black Friday Stout Day w/3 Years of Bourbon County (The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP, 5410 NC-55 suite v, Durham) - The Glass Jug Beer Lab will be celebrating Black Friday by bringing out some of its barrel-aged Imperial Stouts. Valentino's Italian Food Truck will be on hand.
Things to do this weekend in Apex
Chanukah Wonderland & Family Concert (Apex Nature Park, 2600 Evans Road, Apex) - This festival at Apex Nature Park will celebrate Chanukah. The event starts at 3:30 p.m. with a Chanukah wonderland with crafts and games for children. There will be a Coin Menorah Lighting at 5 p.m. followed by a family concert.
Small Business Saturday: Pop Up Market (Bottle Theory, 3675 Green Level West Road Suite 101, Apex) - Join Bottle Theory for a pop-up market featuring local artisans and small business owners on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Black Friday: Stout Day (Bottle Theory, 3675 Green Level West Road Suite 101, Apex) - Bottle Theory will be tapping a number of limited release stouts on Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
