1. The ninth annual NC Chinese Lantern Festival will once again take to the skies of Cary. Offering multiple ticket options — any-night, date-specific, group, sensory-friendly, and twilight — the event will illuminate the winter night with more than 40 new larger-than-life displays. Cultural arts performances and food and fun meet magnificent craftmanship at this beloved holiday festival. November 16 to January 12, 6–10 p.m. $31 and up. Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary. boothamphitheatre.com/events-tickets/events/chinese-lantern-festival
Photo by Jonathan Fredin
2. If it’s time for the annual Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting, the holidays are here! This free event will get you in the spirit with arts activities, photos with Santa, early gift shopping at the vendor market, performances by local artists, and plenty of festive fun. Come out and help light up this most wonderful time of year. Friday, November 22. 5–8 p.m., Lichtin Plaza, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. downtownraleigh.org/dra-programs/tree-lighting
Photo by Jonathan Fredin
3. The Dessertery returns to Raleigh this November and December for a third year. The holiday café features a hot cocoa bar with over 100 toppings, along with plenty of sweet treats and holiday décor. Fun’s in store for the whole family, with Santa appearing on select nights. Exceptional eats are on the menu, so bring your sweet tooth! November 22 to December 23. Schedule varies. $15 and up. Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh. martinmariettacenter.com/dessertery
4. Presented by Shop Local Raleigh, the Raleigh Christmas Parade returns for the 80th year with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets of downtown Raleigh for the largest Christmas parade between Atlanta and Washington, DC. The event of the holiday season offers endless entertainment for the entire family as the streets fill with marching bands, balloons, characters, and Santa Claus along a 1.4-mile route that offers prime streetside viewing. Saturday, November 23, 9:30 a.m. Downtown Raleigh. grma.org/christmas-parade
5. Santa Claus makes his appearance just as the 41-foot Christmas tree is lit, which can only mean that Christmas at North Hills is back. The program features kids’ crafts, live entertainment, and a vendor village, as thousands in the community — and, of course, Old Saint Nick himself — come to town. Saturday, November 23. 4–7 p.m. North Hills Commons, Raleigh. visitnorthhills.com/signature-events/christmas-at-north-hills-series
Photo by Jonathan Fredin
6. When the parade ends, enjoy the thrill of winter ice skating at The Rink. Red Hat Amphitheatre once again brings cold and cozy to Raleigh with outdoor ice skating — and the return of private igloo lounges that offer snug escapes for sheltering and enjoying food and beverage packages. Whether you plan to skate or simply spectate, cozy stations, fire pits, a holiday tree, photo ops, games, and eats all bring the wonder to a winter wonderland. November 23 to January 20. $6 and up. Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh. redhatamphitheater.com/the-rink
7. The Boylan Heights ArtWalk returns for its 32nd year to showcase the art and hospitality of the Boylan Heights community. The juried art show brings together a wide-ranging collection of artists to participate in an outdoor exhibition where local artists feature their crafts on lawns, porches, or driveways — these neighborhood spots making creative collaboration a true community event. Sunday, December 8. Boylan Heights neighborhood, Raleigh. boylanheights.org/art-walk
8. Nothing elevates an evening at the North Carolina Symphony like your favorite Christmas sweater. It doesn’t have to be ugly, but you may win a prize if it is! The Ugly Sweater Holiday Pops Concert offers an evening of orchestral seasonal favorites — think “Jingle Bells,” “Sleigh Ride,” and music from Frozen — enjoyed in your good, bad, and ugliest festive knitwear. Friday, December 13. 8 p.m. Meymandi Concert Hall, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. ncsymphony.org/concerts-events/individual-tickets
9. The biggest event of the year is back: MAKRS Holiday Fest 2024 comes to downtown Raleigh and brings with it more than 150 local vendors, a food truck rodeo, live music and DJs, and a petting zoo. There will be a kids’ zone and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and even a holiday wrestling match. Desserts, coffee, beer, and wine will also be available for purchase as people come together to get into the holiday spirit. Saturday, December 14. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fayetteville Street, Raleigh. makrs.com/makrs-holiday-fest
10. The only way to ring in 2025, First Night Raleigh offers a day filled with festivities that occupy more than 20 blocks in downtown Raleigh. Food and novelty vendors, large-scale outdoor art installations, a funky Ferris wheel, main stage live music at City Plaza, and fireworks and the Acorn Drop are all a part of this family-friendly extravaganza and North Carolina’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration. Tuesday, December 31. 2 p.m. to midnight. $12 and up. Fayetteville Street, Raleigh. firstnightraleigh.com
- Starry Night
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