Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose…and a jam-packed calendar of holiday events. ‘Tis the season to get out and celebrate with the rest of the Raleigh community, and you’ll find plenty of highlights happening in the upcoming weeks!
From the renowned Christmas Parade to the multiple tree lightings, here are the top Christmas and holiday events around the Raleigh area.
Raleigh Christmas Parade
When: November 23rd
Where: Downtown Raleigh, corner of Hillsborough St. at Saint Mary’s St
What: Santa Claus is coming to town at the 75th Annual ABC11 Raleigh Christmas Parade! The largest holiday parade between DC and Atlanta, the event regularly has over 250,000 people watching from home and over 60,000 people in attendance. You can expect 2.5 hours of festive holiday fun, floats, and music as the parade winds through Downtown Raleigh. If you miss the parade, it’ll also be rebroadcasted on Christmas morning!
North Hills Tree Lighting
When: November 23rd
Where: North Hills Commons
What: The North Hills Tree Lighting is full of activities—including free crafts, free sledding, free train rides, a free bounce house, and tons of local vendors gathered around the Commons. Once Santa Claus arrives at 6pm, the crowd joins in singing “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” as the tree is lit. It’s totally free and perfect for all ages!
Holiday Express
When: December 5th – 8th, 10th – 15th
Where: Pullen Park
What: Pullen Park undergoes its yearly transformation into the Holiday Express, coming alive with thousands of lights, vibrant decorations, and a festive train. Other activities include an ice-covered sledding hill, carousel rides, crafts, an appearance from Santa, and much more. Tickets sell out far in advance, but you can often find people selling them online!
State Capitol Tree Lighting
When: December 12th
Where: North Carolina State Capitol
What: The State Capitol Tree Lighting is one of the most popular holiday events in Raleigh, filled with live music, snacks, luminaries, and special guests. This year features performances from the Raleigh Concert Band and dancing by Alicia’s School of the Performing Arts, as well as cookies and hot chocolate from the Junior Woman’s Club. And of course, Governor Roy Cooper will be in attendance to officially light the tree!
First Night Raleigh
When: December 31st
Where: Downtown Raleigh
What: Once the holidays are over, there’s still one final bash to attend before the end of the year! WRAL’s First Night Raleigh is the area’s premier New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring special happenings, tons of entertainment, and live music. The event takes over a large portion of Downtown Raleigh, filling the streets with carnival rides, singing and dancing, and, of course, the famous Raleigh Acorn Drop!
Don’t Miss out on Raleigh Events
No matter the month or season, there’s always fun to be found around the Raleigh area—and we’re here to make sure you don’t miss the highlights. Stay up-to-date with our blog and events page for more info on our favorite happenings!
Thinking of making Raleigh your new home? We can help with that, too! Explore a few of our in-depth guides to life in the area, browse our buying resources, and give us a call whenever you’re ready get started.
