PulseRaleigh

Christmas in Raleigh 2026

Our picks

Christmas lights

FestiBull of LightsMany dates Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham
PickNC Chinese Lantern FestivalMany dates Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary

Ice skating

Skate the SquareThrough Dec 10 Fenton Square by Paragon Theaters, Cary
Skate the Square Outdoor Movie: Elf11 AM Fenton, Cary

Parades and tree lightings

Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting & Holiday Market5:30 PM Moore Square
PickRaleigh Christmas Parade Watch Party and Buffet7:30 AM Taverna Agora Greek Kitchen & Bar82nd Annual Christmas Parade Viewing Party8:30 AM The Avenue82nd Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade9:30 AM Hillsborough Street82nd Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade9:30 AM Raleigh Marriott City CenterChristmas Tree Lighting Celebration4 PM The CommonsHoliday Tree Lighting4 PM CCB Plaza, DurhamChristmas at North Hills Tree Lighting4 PM North Hills
Christmas Tree Lighting & Christmas Market4 PM Main Street
Tree Lighting Celebration9 AM Downtown Cary Park, CaryChapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade10 AM Downtown Chapel Hill & Carrboro, Durham
Durham Holiday Parade10 AM Downtown Durham · Exact spot not listed

Holiday festivals and town celebrations

Jingle & Mingle Downtown5 PM Downtown Mebane, Durham
Pullen Park After Dark: Merry & Bright6:30 PM Pullen Park Community Center
PickMAKRS Holiday Fest11 AM Raleigh City Plaza
Holly Jolly Raleigh2 PM Junction West
Holiday Fundraiser6 PM Coco Bistro, DurhamChristmas by CandlelightMany dates Duke Homestead State Historic Site, Durham
Scandinavian Christmas Fair10 AM Kerr Scott Building
Apex Chanukah Festival3 PM Town Hall, CaryPho-Ho-Ho-Tos with Santa1 PM Clouds Brewing, Cary
LIFE Skills Foundation Jingle Jam 20267 PM Durham Arts Council and downtown venues, Durham
A Cowgirl Christmas with the Queens10 PM PBR Cowboy Bar, Cary

Holiday markets

A Vintage Noel Market10 AM NC State FairgroundsA Vintage Noel10 AM Raleigh · Exact spot not listed
Raleigh Holiday Pop-Up Market12 PM Trophy Brewing & TaproomMidtown Farmers' Market Holiday Market9 AM The CommonsDurham Art Walk Holiday MarketAlso Nov 22 Durham Arts Council and downtown venues, DurhamRag Alley 2 + Holiday MarketAlso Dec 9 Phelps Phine Art, DurhamAnnual Holiday Crafts Fair10 AM The Crafts Center
Holiday Market3 PM Duke Campus Farm, Durham
Christmas CarouselAlso Nov 28, Nov 29 NC State FairgroundsChristmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market-2026Also Nov 28, Nov 29 Jim Graham Building
Triangle Pop-Up's Handcrafted Holiday Market11 AM Fenton Square by Paragon Theaters, Cary
Motorco Holiday Record Fair12 PM Motorco Music Hall, Durham
St Nicholas European Christmas Market5 PM Agri-Supply Exposition CenterHolidays at the Hollow5 PM Smoky Hollow
Christmas Pop-Up Market2 PM Dogwood Bar & EaterySaint Nicholas European Christmas Market10 AM North Carolina State FairgroundsMerry Makers Market11 AM Aloft Raleigh Hotel and WXYZ LoungeThe Holiday Market at NCMA11 AM North Carolina Museum of ArtJolly Raleigh Holiday Market11 AM The ExchangeWake Forest Holiday Artisans Market10 AM Centennial Plaza and Wake Forest Town Hall parking lotNorth Durham Farmers' Holiday Market12 PM Soul Sanctuary, Durham
Winter in the Garden Craft Market11 AM North Carolina Botanical Garden, DurhamHoliday Artist Market10 AM Theatre RaleighGeek and Grub Market (Holiday Nightmare Edition)12 PM Durham Armory, DurhamInclusive Business Holiday Market10 AM Blue Hill Event Center, Durham
The Hoot N' Holler Holiday Market12 PM Cannonball Music HallRaleigh's International Holiday Market – A European Experience! FREE Adm10 AM Raleigh City Plaza
Mini Bizarre Bazaar Holiday Market2 PM NeptunesDurham Craft Holiday Market10 AM Durham Central Park, Durham

The Nutcracker, carols and holiday shows

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet7 PM Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham
'Twas the Night Before...Through Dec 6 Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham
R&B Music Experience: Raleigh Holiday Edition7 PM Lenovo CenterA Christmas Carol: Public OpeningTime TBA Watts & Ward
Society 35 Presents: 2026 Home for the Holidays: Raleigh Reunion Pt.19 PM Terminal8bar_LoungeA Dickens ChristmasMany dates Watts & WardGolden Age Presents: Home For The Holidays9 PM Mettlesome, Durham
A Motown Christmas3 PM Fletcher Opera Theater
Holiday Music Series: Bell Durham6 PM The Durham Hotel, Durham
Handel's MessiahAlso Dec 5 Meymandi Concert HallMarcel Anderson: Jazzy & Soulful Christmas Show6:30 PM Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary
PickCary Ballet Company – The NutcrackerMany dates Fletcher Opera TheaterThe Soul Brothers Presents Christmas Cool in Raleigh!3:30 PM Arthur Murray Dance CenterMatt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O7 PM Sharp Nine Gallery, Durham
Isaiah T: Intimate Holiday Tour8 PM The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop
Old Habits – Christmas Show8 PM Lincoln TheatreMiss Bennet: Christmas at PemberleyMany dates Theatre Raleigh
Holiday PopsMany dates Meymandi Concert Hall
A Charlie Brown Christmas with Iajhi Hampden QuintetMany dates Sharp Nine Gallery, Durham

Santa and the kids

Holidays at Boxyard: Grinch Night, Karaoke and Crafts4 PM Boxyard RTP, Durham

Christmas bars

Sippin' Santa at Wye HillThrough Dec 31 Wye Hill Kitchen & BrewingTinsel TavernThrough Dec 27 Sports & Social Cary
Miracle at KilljoyThrough Dec 31 Killjoy

Holiday parties

Triangle Alumni Holiday Party at Ponysaurus6 PM Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Raleigh
Santa Paws Day Party2 PM Boxcar Bar + Arcade
cRUNk Holiday Party and Awards Banquet5 PM Junction West
TFF: Holiday Party – Hook, Line, and Holiday Cheer6:30 PM SmokeStacks Cafe
Holiday Party6:30 PM Gamers Geekery & Tavern, Cary
NCModernist's Holiday Party7 PM The Durham Hotel, DurhamCocktails & Curiosities: VIP Holiday Party (Naturalist, Explorers, & Brimley Exclusive)6 PM Nature Research Center
GamesGiving: Holiday Potluck, Board Games, and LAN Party5 PM Frontier RTP - Building 800, Durham
FYT 2026 Ugly Sweater Party Featuring Radio Star5 PM Compass Rose BreweryMerry & Mingle: A Raleigh Girls Meet Up Holiday Party2 PM The ParlorSOCO Holiday: Small Plates, Desserts & Ugly Sweaters7:30 PM Barcelona Wine Bar
Holiday Potluck Party4:30 PM The Glass Jug, Durham

New Year's Eve

PickMidnight Masquerade: NYE Party8 PM Sports & Social, CaryNye Hawt Mess Takeover9 PM NeptunesRaleigh NYE Bar Crawl6 PM Botanical LoungeNew Year's Eve9 PM Botanical LoungeRaleigh New Year's Eve Party 20277 PM Raleigh · Exact spot not listedBurlesque & Live Jazz NYE7:30 PM Watts & WardRaleigh New Years Eve Bar Crawl 20276 PM North Street Beer StationNYE on Glenwood9 PM Sugar HouseNew Year's Eve Karaoke8 PM Wolfe & PorterRaleigh' S NYE | Countdown Bar Crawl 20278 PM Westwood RaleighNew Year's Eve Cocktail Reception4 PM Il FaloNYE EDITION! Hot in Herre: 2000's Dance Party9:30 PM Motorco Music Hall, DurhamRoom 861: New Year's Eve with Ocean Glapion7 PM Goodnights Pop-Up ClubNew Year's Eve 20264 PM Tin RoofNew Year's Eve at Unscripted Durham8 PM Unscripted, DurhamNew Year's Eve Skate Party8:30 PM United Skates of AmericaCosmic Charlie New Year's Eve Bash 20278:30 PM Cat’s Cradle, DurhamNYE 2027 at Ambiance9 PM Ambiance Event CenterNew Year's Eve with One After 919: A Triangle Tribute to The Beatles8 PM Local 506, DurhamNew Year's Eve Omakase at Dashi in Downtown Durham5 PM Dashi Ramen Shop & Izakaya, DurhamNC's Official New Year's Eve Extravaganza 20279:30 PM North Raleigh HiltonSocials to Social New Year's EveTime TBA Junction WestCapital Minds New Year's EveTime TBA House of HopsNYE Party/Fundraiser with Kate McGarry & Friends9 PM Sharp Nine Gallery, DurhamDurham's Best New Year's Eve Party!Time TBA Carolina Theatre of DurhamNew Year's Eve Dinner5 PM Hummingbird

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Questions

What are the best Christmas events in Raleigh in 2026?

Pulse's picks: NC Chinese Lantern Festival (From Nov 21, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary); Raleigh Christmas Parade Watch Party and Buffet (Nov 21, Taverna Agora Greek Kitchen & Bar); Cary Ballet Company – The Nutcracker (From Dec 5, Fletcher Opera Theater); Midnight Masquerade: NYE Party (Dec 31, Sports & Social, Cary); MAKRS Holiday Fest (Nov 28, Raleigh City Plaza).

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