Experience the festive wonders of Raleigh with our comprehensive holiday guide. From hometown residents to holiday guests, this guide showcases the best of Raleigh's festive season.
A highlight of this season is the Raleigh Christmas Parade, featuring cheerful floats and local marching bands that bring holiday spirit to the streets. The Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration captures the magic of the season with its stunning display of lights and community camaraderie. And don't forget the Holiday Express at Pullen Park, a delightful train ride through a winter wonderland that delights visitors of all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Raleigh
- Holiday Express at Pullen Park
- Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Speedway Christmas (Concord)
- Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration
- WinterFest at Carowinds (Charlotte)
- North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (Cary)
- Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour
- Illuminate Raleigh
- Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer)
- Magic of Lights
See these and even more events listed below!
Raleigh Holiday Light Displays
Illuminate Raleigh
What to Expect:
Interactive light-based art installations.
Description:
Illuminate Raleigh features large-scale, interactive, and light-based art pieces that transform downtown Raleigh into a vibrant holiday display. The event showcases a variety of installations, including the iconic Downtown Raleigh Christmas Tree and interactive light displays that celebrate the city's vibrant wildlife and cultural heritage.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Illuminate Raleigh
Magic of Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday lights with life-sized animated displays.
Description:
Magic of Lights is a dazzling drive-through holiday lights experience featuring over a mile of spectacular light displays that bring to life your favorite holiday scenes and characters. Highlights include the larger-than-life sparkling Holiday Barbie display, the supersized Bigfoot Monster Truck, and life-sized dinosaurs in Prehistoric Christmas.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Magic of Lights
Light the Square in Fenton
What to Expect:
Live music and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Description:
Light the Square in Fenton offers live music, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a special appearance by Santa Claus, making it a delightful event for the entire family.
Where: Cary | More Info: Light the Square in Fenton
Holt Road Christmas Lights
What to Expect:
Extensive multi-colored light display along a fence line.
Description:
Holt Road Christmas Lights is a spectacular display of multi-colored lights along a fence line, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
Where: Apex | More Info: Holt Road Christmas Lights
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
What to Expect:
Spectacular, handcrafted lanterns with interactive features.
Description:
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival features over 40 handcrafted lanterns, each with thousands of LED lights, showcasing Chinese culture and artistry. Cultural performances, including martial arts and traditional dance, take place nightly on the main stage.
Where: Cary | More Info: North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
Speedway Christmas
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show on a historic speedway course.
Description:
Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health is a drive-through holiday light show featuring over five million lights along a four-mile course, including the legendary oval, pit road, and infield road course. The show is open from 6 to 10 p.m., rain or shine, with synchronized lights and music on 101.3 FM. It also includes drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night until Christmas.
Where: Concord | More Info: Speedway Christmas
WinterFest at Carowinds
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday event with diverse activities and attractions.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Carowinds with millions of shimmering lights, ice skating, family activities, live entertainment, and holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: WinterFest at Carowinds
Kersey Valley Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light displays and interactive activities.
Description:
Kersey Valley Christmas offers an immersive holiday experience with over 2 million LED lights, a Wild West Christmas train ride, and various family-friendly activities including Santa and the Grinch, cow barrel rides, and bungee jumping.
Where: Archdale | More Info: Kersey Valley Christmas
Raleigh Holiday Markets and Shopping
Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration
What to Expect:
Free Santa pictures and shopping opportunities.
Description:
Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration features a large vendor market, local artist performances, and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Lichtin Plaza.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration
Wendell Wonderland
What to Expect:
Annual holiday festival with craft vendors and food trucks.
Description:
Wendell Wonderland is an annual holiday festival featuring craft vendors, food trucks, a cookie walk, and visits with Mr. and Mrs. Santa. Thousands gather to experience the small-town charm of Wendell during the holiday season.
Where: Wendell | More Info: Wendell Wonderland
Raleigh Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Raleigh Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Largest Christmas Parade between Washington, DC and Atlanta.
Description:
The Raleigh Christmas Parade is a beloved annual tradition featuring marching bands, twirlers, and elaborately costumed performers, traveling approximately 1.4 miles through Downtown Raleigh.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Raleigh Christmas Parade
Polar Express Train Ride
What to Expect:
Interactive storytelling with hot chocolate and cookies.
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride at the North Carolina Transportation Museum features a reading of Chris Van Allsburg's classic, The Polar Express, hot chocolate and cookies served on board, and a visit to the North Pole where passengers receive their own sleigh bell. The event includes various seating classes and holiday entertainment.
Where: Spencer | More Info: Polar Express Train Ride
Tweetsie Christmas
What to Expect:
Historic steam locomotive train ride with dazzling Christmas lights.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Tweetsie Railroad with a 20-minute nighttime train ride through over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming live Christmas variety show, and kid-friendly amusement rides.
Where: Blowing Rock | More Info: Tweetsie Christmas
Raleigh Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Express at Pullen Park
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday activities with a sensory-friendly option.
Description:
Holiday Express at Pullen Park is an outdoor holiday event featuring a festive train ride, Santa's Toy Shop, and various activities like the Smore Station and Candy Cane Lane. The event includes sensory-friendly sessions and offers a variety of holiday treats and merchandise.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Holiday Express at Pullen Park
Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour
What to Expect:
Self-guided tour of historic homes with docents.
Description:
Explore historic homes in downtown Raleigh, featuring Victorian, Queen Anne, and Craftsman architectural styles, during the 53rd Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour. Each property is staffed with docents who share the rich history of the homes, allowing visitors to tour at their own pace.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour
Ice Skating at THE RINK at Red Hat
What to Expect:
Natural ice skating rink with skyline views.
Description:
Ice skating at THE RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater features a Winter Wonderland themed ice rink with stunning views of the Raleigh skyline. Enjoy cozy stations, fire pits, a decorated holiday tree, and snack bars offering hot cocoa, beer, wine, and sweet treats.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Ice Skating at THE RINK at Red Hat
Holiday Carriage Rides at Fenton
What to Expect:
Horse-drawn carriage rides with specific time slots.
Description:
Take a leisurely horse-drawn carriage ride down Main Street Fenton during the holiday season. Each ticket purchase includes an entire carriage for a specified time slot, with seating limited to four riders. Children under four years old must be accompanied by an adult, and entry onto the carriage requires the ability to negotiate steps.
Where: Cary | More Info: Holiday Carriage Rides at Fenton
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- West Raleigh (2 miles)
- Garner (4 miles)
- Cary (8 miles)
- Morrisville (11 miles)
- Apex (12 miles)
- Holly Springs (14 miles)
- Fuquay-Varina (16 miles)
- Wake Forest (16 miles)
- Durham (21 miles)
- Chapel Hill (25 miles)
- Carrboro (26 miles)
- Sanford (37 miles)
- Wilson (41 miles)