From annual theater productions to dazzling Christmas lights displays and winter wonderland train rides, we’ve got something for everyone to celebrate Christmas this year in the triangle! Here’s our list of holiday events around Raleigh!
Be sure to check out our calendar for even more holiday fun!
Looking for Christmas parade information? We have that too!
Holiday Events
Visit Santa at the Mall
Crabtree Valley Mall, Triangle Town Center, Southpoint Mall
From Thanksgiving to Christmas, go visit the jolly man in red at your local mall to take pictures and tell him what you want for Christmas! Some malls even have ways to make reservations online so you can skip the line!
Tree Lighting Events around the Triangle
Various locations around Raleigh
www.raleightotspots.com/calendar
Many tree lightings are fun family events with many activities to keep the kids busy. Most happen the weekend before Thanksgiving, so check our calendar for event updates!
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops
801 Bass Pro Ln, Cary, NC 27513
201 Cabela Dr, Garner, NC 27529
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/santas-wonderland
Enjoy the magic of Christmas inside every Bass Pro Shop and Cabela’s this year! Get your free ticket to visit with Santa and enjoy free craft and activity tables while you wait! Each family gets one complimentary printed photo with Santa and you can purchase additional photos. Kids also eat free at the onsite cafe!
Carolina Ballet Presents the Nutcracker
2 East South Street, Raleigh, NC
https://www.carolinaballet.com/2019-2020-season/the-nutcracker/
Grace, grandeur and mysterious illusions. Carolina Ballet’s holiday classic is a can’t-miss tradition for locals, visitors, families and friends. The only production in the country using illusions created by renowned magician Rick Thomas, The Nutcracker will make characters levitate, disappear and reappear before your eyes in 14 performances at the Duke Energy Center
Chinese Lantern Festival at Booth Amphitheater
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC
https://www.boothamphitheatre.com/events-tickets/events/chinese-lantern-festival
Koka Booth Amphitheater will once again be transformed into a magnificent setting with the return of the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival with ALL new light displays!
Disney on Ice at PNC Arena
1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607
www.disneyonice.com/Raleigh
Disney on Ice has come to Raleigh for years in mid-December, and their theme changes each year. It’s a great holiday tradition to take your kids to see all of their favorite Disney stars dancing and singing on the ice!
Get a Groupon for a discount.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
2 E South St, Raleigh, NC 27601
https://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/events/rudolph-red-nosed-reindeer-musical-0
Based on the animated television special “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank and First Stage, the characters you know and love—Rudolph, the Abominable Snowman, Yukon Cornelius, Hermey, Santa and Mrs. Claus and more—come to life in this Broadway Series South production at the Duke Energy Center.
Walkthrough Bethlehem
12605 Capital Blvd., Wake Forest, NC
https://www.wakeforestpres.org/wtb
So much more than a live nativity, Wake Forest Presbyterian puts on a moving show where participants walk through the birth of Jesus from census to manger. Complimentary snacks and hot chocolate are provided.
Live Nativity at Newby Family Farm
3052 Olive Grove Church Rd, Creedmoor, NC
https://www.facebook.com/events/1107852422751229/
Come out to a working farm and catch a glimpse of what it may have been like when Jesus was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. See the Christmas story come to life starting with the angels proclamation to the shepherds and then the humble beginnings of Christ’s birth in a stable. Hot cider and other refreshments will be available too. In addition there will be fires to warm yourself by if the weather is cold. Sonic River Productions will provide an eclectic mix of sacred Christmas standards as the musical backdrop to the evening.
A Millstone Creek Christmas Hayride
506 Parks Crossroads Church Road Ramseur, NC, 27316, United States
https://www.millstonecreekorchards.com/imported-products/a-millstone-creek-christmas-hayride
Take your family on the Christmas Adventure of a lifetime at the Millstone Creek Christmas Hayride. The hayride trail is beautifully lit with thousands of lights to help celebrate the Christmas season and it’s sure to delight guests of all ages. Continue the Christmas fun with FREE holiday movies, firepit roasting (marshmallows & s’more available for purchase), & their famous Apple Cider Donuts! Santa & Mrs. Claus will be taking pictures and visiting with all the good little boys and girls, and kiddos can even write a letter to Santa at our Letter Creation Station. End your night with an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest at 7pm and decorate a yummy Christmas cookie for a late night snack. Celebrate the holiday season this November & December at the Orchard!
Holidays at 1870 Farms
1224 Old Lystra Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
https://www.1870farm.com/holiday-at-the-farm-event
Enjoy 2 hours of access the farm transformed into a festive winter wonderland! Meet Santa (all children get a gift), pet festive animals, take a candy cane from our peppermint forest, enjoy a reindeer (pony) ride, meet Frosty the Snowman and take a hayride into our animal pasture…made even better with blankets and hot apple cider.
Sleigh Rides and Cider at Historic Oak View Park
4028 Carya Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
http://wakegov.com/sleighrides
Kick off your holiday season with horse-drawn carriage rides, hot apple cider, live music, holiday games and crafts, plus – of course – Ole’ Saint Nick! FREE!! No reservations required.
Christmas on Salem Street
Highway 55 to Hunter Street, downtown Apex
http://www.apexchamber.com/events/details/christmas-on-salem-street-7078
Christmas carols, a tree lighting, horse-drawn carriages, cookie decorating and a visit from Santa in charming historic downtown Apex—this annual tradition has so much to love.
Christmas Light Displays
Lake Myra Christmas Lights
10 S Cypress St, Wendell, NC 27591
https://lakemyrachristmaslights.com/
One of the area’s most popular light shows, the Lake Myra Christmas light display will also be in full swing, featuring more than 400,000 lights—and it’s all free! The light show runs daily through the end of the year.
Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms
703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC
http://hillridgefarms.com/festival.php
During the Festival of Lights, Hill Ridge Farms will be transformed into a magical celebration of Hometown Christmas Cheer!
Activities include: A Covered Wagon Hayride through the beautiful Festival of Lights, Bonfires, Smores/Hot Chocolate/Apple Cider for sale at the Granny’s Snack Shack concession, Old Fashioned Toy & Candy Store, and All Play areas included w/admission: Giant Slide, CornHouse, Jumping Pillow, Slide House, Roller Slide, Web & Pipe Swings, and Train Rides available $3.00 each
Piper’s Lights
5725 Fixit Shop Road in Wake Forest, NC
https://www.facebook.com/piperlights/
It all started with a manger scene 30 years ago and today Piper Lights is much more. It’s a magical Christmas lights display put together by a local family to share the joy of the season with the community. Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated. Once you drive through the lights, feel free to park and ride the free Santa train. Visit with Santa and enjoy a hot beverage from the old-fashioned candy store.
Lights on the Neuse
1620 Loop Road, Clayton, NC
https://lightsontheneuse.com/
Bring your family and celebrate Christmas at Lights on the Neuse. This down home Christmas Lights farm is located on Boyette Family Farms convenient to Clayton, Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Smithfield, Dunn and Benson NC. Visit with Santa and enjoy a hayride through the lights!
McLaurin Farms Christmas Lights
5601 N Church St Suite 1, Greensboro, NC
https://mclaurinfarms.com/winter/
Join us at McLaurin Farms for hundreds of thousands of Christmas Lights synchronized to music. Admission includes hayride through Christmas light displays. This is NOT a Drive through.
Fieldstream Farm and Christmas Lights
8008 Old Stage Road Raleigh NC
https://fieldstreamfarm.com/
Formerly Ten-Ten lights, pay per vehicle to drive through their impressive light display!
Abbey Lane Christmas Lights
Abbey Lane, Raleigh, NC
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abbey-Ln-Christmas-Lights/260785900652051
A local favorite, a few houses on Abbey Lane in North Raleigh go all out to decorate their homes. Tune in on your radio station to listen to the lights as you drive by!
Goldman Family Lights
6331 Deerview Dr., Raleigh, NC
https://www.facebook.com/GoldmanFamilyLights
A local family has decorated their home and set it to music! The show will run every day – weather permitting – until New Year’s Day. When you arrive, please turn your headlights off and tune your radio to 90.9 WGFL to listen to the music as you watch the lights.
Meadow Lights
4546 Godwin Lake Road, Benson, NC
http://www.meadowlights.com/Home_Page.php
Meadow Lights is the largest and oldest Christmas light show in Eastern North Carolina. They are a Family owned and operated business that started more than 40 years ago. Enjoy their old country store with drinks and old fashioned candy, a carousel, and a train ride through the lights.
Mangum Family Lights
7510 Guess Road, Hillsborough NC
https://www.facebook.com/MangumLights/
A local family has decorated their home and set at least 53 songs synchronized to over 100,000 lights. The entire show, from beginning to end, lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. At the conclusion of each show it repeats until the end time for each night. There are also several professional voice-overs, which provide information on the display and also provide serious messages and sometimes humor.
Broken Plow Farm: Lights of Christmas
1851 Avents Ferry Road in Sanford, North Carolina
http://brokenplowfarm.com/?page_id=463
The lights of Christmas is something for all ages. You will enjoy a hayride around the farm where you can view the beautiful Christmas displays and enjoy a special one of a kind light show. You can also visit with Santa and take a picture.
Planter’s Walk Christmas Light Trail
Lynwood Road, Knightdale, NC
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Planters-Walk-Light-Show/472866419497432
Walk the greenway and view an entire neighborhood that decorates for Christmas!
Lights on Cedar
206 W. Cedar Ave, Wake Forest, North Carolina
https://www.facebook.com/Lights-On-Cedar-300932166981558/
The Wright family has decorated multiple properties with lights, sound, inflatables, and other bright Christmas Decorations. There is even a Santa’s workshop where Santa is available to visit and take pictures.
Christmas Trains
Santa Train at the Museum of Life and Science
433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704
https://www.lifeandscience.org/santatrain
Climb aboard the Ellerbe Creek Railway for a journey to the North Pole. Enjoy a ride through thousands of twinkling lights as we make our way to meet Santa and his elves. When you arrive back at the station, explore festive activities including: face painting, “Science of Santa” activities, Take-home crafts, Holiday music and light displays, “Skate in your socks” synthetic ice rink, and Complimentary hot chocolate.
New Hope Valley Railway’s Santa’s Reindeer Roundup Express
3900 Bonsal Road, New Hill, NC 27562.
https://www.triangletrain.com/ride-the-rails-with-santa-claus-on-dec-1-2-8-9-15/
Passengers will search for Santa’s nine missing reindeer (including Rudolph) along the tracks during their ride and in the rail yard. The trains and rail yard will be festively decorated and holiday scenes will be set up along the tracks. Santa and his elf will be on board to visit with each child and pose for photos.
Christmas at Hubb’s Farm
10276 N, US-421, Clinton, NC 28328
https://www.hubbsfarmnc.com/polar-express-movie-and-santa-too/
This annual presentation of the movie “Polar Express” has become a holiday tradition, with chilly nights warmed by smiling faces, hot chocolate, s’mores and campfires. Santa is available before and after the movie, and doesn’t leave Hubb’s Farm until all children have had a chance to give him their Christmas list!
N.C. Transportation Museum’s Polar Express
1 Samuel Spencer Dr., Spencer, NC 28159
https://www.nctrans.org/Events/PEX.aspx
Inspired by the hit movie, this holiday favorite comes to life as you and your family take a magical trip on THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at the N.C. Transportation Museum in Spencer, N.C.! Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, families are sure to enjoy their trip to the North Pole, complete with hot chocolate and cookies served on board the train. Passengers are entertained by a reading of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg and upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa greets guests and each child will receive their own sleigh bell – just like in the movie!
Pullen Park Holiday Express
520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh, NC
https://www.raleightotspots.com/pullen-park-christmas-express-2016/
Holiday Express is a family favorite in the Raleigh area and tickets sell out in minutes in the middle of JULY! But if you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, children and adults alike will enjoy this Triangle tradition as Pullen Park is festively decorated with thousands of lights and transformed into a holiday wonderland. The event is presented by Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources and the Crabtree Rotary Club, with a portion of proceeds supporting Rotary charities. Enjoy holiday lights and displays, a train ride, an ice covered sledding hill, unlimited carousel rides, crafts, a visit with Santa, and more.