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Weekend best bets: Tree lightings, holiday markets and Christmas parades

The holiday season is in full swing, and this weekend is packed with holiday shopping markets, tree lightings, parades and more.

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Raleigh Christmas Parade 2021

The holiday season is in full swing, and this weekend is packed with holiday shopping markets, tree lightings, parades and more.

Don't forget to check out our WRAL 2021 Holiday Gift Guide -- our experts on parenting, frugal living and the best that the Triangle has to offer have scoured their sources and shopped the stores (and the internet) for the best suggestions for your holiday giving for all ages and interests. Plus, WRAL contributor Tara Lynn has compiled a list of upcoming holiday markets.

Lights and holiday fun

WRAL Nights of Lights (Dorothea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh) - Towering oaks, rolling hills and open fields are a magical backdrop for this dazzling light show throughout the park. Illuminated trees, festive light displays, and local art installations will delight visitors of all ages along the 1.3-mile route.
Garner Holiday Block Party (Garner Recreation Center, 215 W. Main St., Garner) - This family-friendly event on Saturday will feature lively music from 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 join the party, ready for those family selfies.
A Hedgehog Holiday (Bass Lake Park & Retreat Center, Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs) - Come celebrate A Hedgehog Holiday on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m.! Build a stuffed animal hedgehog all dressed up for the winter holidays (no sewing skills required). There will also be a special visit from Tinkerbell, the real life resident Bass Lake Hedgehog, as well as a special holiday hedgehog themed craft.
Holiday Artisans Market (Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, 405 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest) - ARTS Wake Forest presents the fifth annual Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market. The unique shopping experience will feature a wide variety of items handmade by regional artisans and craftspeople. The market will be held Saturday at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Holiday Market at Glass Jug RTP (The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP, 5410 NC-55, Suite V, Durham) - Join Triangle Pop-Up at The Glass Jug Beer Lab on Sunday and shop a highly curated selection of art, home goods, gifts and more.
Holiday Patchwork Market (Durham Armory, 220 Foster St., Durham) - Shop small batch and one-of-a-kind goods meticulously crafted or found with thoughtfulness and care. Varying price points creates accessibility for all.
Holidays in the Park (North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, 433 W. Murray Ave., Durham) - Enjoy a memorable stroll with your loved ones through some of the museum's outdoor and indoor spaces on evenings in December. Follow shimmering pathways and glowing trees through the garden, Farmyard and Dinosaur Trail. Enjoy the tropical temperatures inside the Magic Wings Butterfly House or stop by Sprout Cafe for a night-time snack. Take an illuminating train ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway, passing colorful light displays along the way!
The Loading Dock Grand Opening + Holiday Market (The Loading Dock, 525 S. White St., Wake Forest) - On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., shop a highly curated selection of art, home goods, gifts and more.
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.
Nutcracker with a Twist (Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts - Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh) - "Nutcracker with a Twist" is a holiday performance presented by DanceArt Studio. This version is a spin on the classical ballet, The Nutcracker, that not only celebrates the traditional ballet, but also incorporates all styles of dance along with an entertaining quintet brass band.
Raleigh Beer Garden Christmas Market (Raleigh Beer Garden , 614 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh) - This Christmas market has 20+ local vendors, pictures with Santa, a toy drive with raffle, doggy adoptions, live music, hot chocolate station, drinks, and food! All ages welcome and dog friendly.
11th Annual Gingerbread House Competition (Downtown Cary) - Downtown Cary will be transformed into a walking gallery of amateur gingerbread houses. Local participants work hard to design, create, and display a gingerbread house that is yummy enough for an elf's visit! All houses will be on display in select downtown businesses on Saturday, with the winners being displayed all December long.
Artist Village Market (Downtown Fuquay-Varina, 201 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina) - This holiday season, the Arts Center will be hosting two Artist Villages! The first is Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. during the Town of Fuquay-Varina Tree Lighting Event. The second is Saturday in downtown. Both events will have a variety of activities for the whole family such as live stage music, Santa meet and greets, s'mores stations, an area blood drive and more.
Sanderson's Holly Days Shopping Extravaganza (Sanderson's Holly Days Shopping Extravaganza, 5500 Dixon Drive, Raleigh) - The event is back with over 150 vendors, student groups, food and entertainment for your holiday shopping.
Scandinavian Christmas Fair (N.C. State Fairgrounds - Holshouser Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) - This is an authentic celebration of the traditions of the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. The Saturday event features Nordic folk dance, folk music, crafts, imports and food.
Junior League of Raleigh's A Shopping SPREE! (Jim Graham Building, N.C. State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) - This shopping event returns in person this year at the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds from Dec. 2-5. This annual fundraiser showcases dozens of juried unique local, regional and national exhibitors offering the latest in fashion and home decor, health and beauty products, specialty foods and holiday merchandise.

Parades and tree lightings

Knightdale Christmas Parade (Knightdale Station Park, 810 First Avenue, Knightdale) - The parade begins on First Avenue at Knightdale Station Park and ends at Knightdale Elementary School on Fayetteville Street. Catch candy and enjoy watching local groups, businesses, and organizations as you wait for Santa to arrive!
Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade (Downtown Fuquay-Varina, 201 S. Main St., Fuquay-Varina) - The event brings out town residents en masse. Families line the streets to cheer as their favorite entries pass by. Bring your soccer chairs and blankets to secure a comfy viewing spot on the sidewalk along the parade route. This event will be held rain or shine.
Lighting of Wake Forest (Centennial Plaza, 221 Brooks St., Wake Forest) - This year's ceremony features the lighting of the Christmas tree and Santa's exciting arrival in a Wake Forest fire truck, as well as musical performances by local groups. This year's featured entertainers are the Patriot Pride Honors Chorus from Heritage Middle School, the Heritage High School Jazz Ensemble and Project Destiny, a local band made up of Duke Health Systems employees.
Angier Christmas Parade (Angier Depot Square, 19 West Depot St., Angier) - The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Apex Christmas Tree Lighting ( The Depot, 220 North Salem St., Apex) - Join Apex Town Council at The Depot in downtown Apex as the tree is lit! After the tree lighting ceremony, stop by the Halle Cultural Arts Center for the Annual Christmas Tree & Wreath Auction & Exhibit and bid on your favorite items. Auction proceeds benefit Western Wake Crisis Ministry.
Apex Rotary Christmas Parade (Apex Chamber of Commerce, 220 N Salem St., Apex) - The Annual Apex Rotary Christmas Parade is being held Saturday at the intersection of Ambergate Station and The Peakway, heading down Salem Street and ending at the Apex Public Works buildings on Upchurch Street. All proceeds benefit Western Wake Crisis Ministry.
Brier Creek Commons Tree Lighting (Brier Creek Commons and Brierdale Shopping Center, Brier Creek Pkwy, Raleigh) - On Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., the holiday magic begins as Santa stops by to light the tree. Don't miss DJ Daniel Jordan, face painting by Mimi the Clown, a 360 degree photo booth, train rides and more fun.
Rolesville Christmas Parade (Downtown Rolesville, 411 South Main St., Rolesville) - The parade will start at Thales Academy, will move up Storage Drive to Main Street, turn left onto Main Street then right onto E. Young Street, and end at Rolesville Baptist Church.
Town of Morrisville Tree Lighting (Indian Creek Greenway, 101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville) - This year's event will be on Friday at 6 p.m.
Wendell Wonderland (Downtown Wendell, N. Main St., Wendell) - Festivities include the Lake Myra Light Show, trolley rides, a holiday market, dance and chorus performances, Santa Claus, a cookie walk, a tree lighting ceremony, food trucks and more! Visitors are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys for children for Toys for Tots. Catch one of seven choral and dance performances and attend the 23-foot tree lighting ceremony at Town Square, complete with a snow machine! Don't forget that Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in a bright red fire truck after the tree is lit.
Wilson Christmas Parade (City of Wilson, 112 Goldsboro Street E, Wilson) - The parade is scheduled for Saturday starting off at 11 a.m. in Historic Downtown Wilson.

Other events

Monster Drawing Rally at the Market (North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh) - Come enjoy a reimagined experience where you can still witness art being created in front of your eyes but without the close quarters indoors. On First Saturdays in the Museum Plaza, eight fantastic artists draw in two shifts, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Anjelah Johnson Headlines the Improv (Raleigh Improv, 1224 Parkside Main St., Cary) - Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is a comedian and actress who Maxim Magazine hailed as "uproariously funny," and Time Out Chicago described her show as "filled with almost non-stop laughter." She was born and raised in San Jose, California and is of Mexican and Native American descent. Anjelah is a prolific stand-up, having released specials on Netflix, Hulu, Comedy Central and Epix.
Cinderella 2021 the Musical (Raleigh Little Theatre, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh) - This visually stunning musical combines elegant costumes and scenery with singing, dancing, conniving step-relatives and resourceful fairy folk. This version of Cinderella is inspired by the style of British Pantos. It's the perfect family outing during the holiday season, with the Royal Ball taking place on Christmas Eve. Join the cast in singing "We Wish You a Merry a Christmas," and come celebrate the holidays at RLT!
Crude Bitters 9th Birthday (Crude Bitters and Sodas, 501 E. Davie St., Raleigh) - Crude Bitters celebrates nine Years! On Friday, enjoy amaro and sherry cocktail tastings. On Saturday, taste two different Clarified Milk Punches. Classes are approximately an hour long and allow guests to try Crude Bitters flavors in different tastings. You do not have to pick up anything before class. Arrive on the class date.
APS of Durham Out & About at The Glass Jug RTP (The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP, 5410 NC-55, Suite V, Durham) - Meet adoptable dogs with the Animal Protection Society of Durham. Have a pint of Glass Jug made beers and visit with the pups from 12 to 2 p.m. A portion of proceeds from beer sales will be donated to APS.
Rock-and-roll band Chicago at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy winners, Chicago, will be performing at DPAC on Saturday. Hailed as one of the "most important bands in music since the dawn of rock and roll," the legendary rock and roll band with horns, Chicago comes in at #10 on Billboard Magazine's Top 125 Artists of All Time, the highest charting American band. They are also the first American rock band to chart Top 40 albums in six consecutive decades.

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