Experience the magic of the holiday season in Cary, NC, where a wide variety of festive events await both locals and visitors. Highlights include the beloved Cary Christmas Parade, which transforms downtown into a glittering spectacle of twinkling lights and cheerful sounds. The Chinese Lantern Festival at Booth Amphitheatre offers a unique cultural experience with its handcrafted silk lanterns and traditional crafts.
For a more intimate celebration, don't miss Christmas in the Park, where Downtown Park becomes a lively holiday village complete with live performances and family-friendly activities. Each event brings its own special charm, ensuring a memorable holiday season for all.
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The Top Christmas Events in Cary
- Cary Christmas Parade
- Chinese Lantern Festival
- Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker
- Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Kwanzaa Celebration
Cary Holiday Light Displays
Chinese Lantern Festival
What to Expect:
Handcrafted silk lanterns depicting Chinese culture
Description:
Booth Amphitheatre bursts with vibrant color as hundreds of handcrafted silk lanterns illuminate the night. This festival celebrates Chinese culture through intricate light displays, each telling a story or depicting a scene from Chinese mythology. Visitors can try their hand at traditional Chinese crafts like paper cutting or calligraphy. The festival originated in the Tang Dynasty, over 1000 years ago, as a way to worship Buddha. Today, it bridges cultural gaps and dazzles with its artistry.
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Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Community-wide countdown to tree illumination
Description:
The heart of Cary pulses with excitement as thousands gather for the annual tree lighting ceremony. A massive evergreen, carefully selected and transported from local forests, takes center stage. The crowd joins in a community-wide countdown, culminating in a breathtaking moment when thousands of lights burst to life. Local choirs perform carols, their voices rising into the crisp night air. This tradition, dating back to the 1950s, symbolizes the official start of Cary's holiday season.
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Cary Other Holiday Activities
Cary Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Nighttime parade with illuminated floats
Description:
Twinkling lights adorn elaborate floats as they glide through downtown Cary in this beloved nighttime parade. The event transforms the streets into a river of light and color. Spectators can catch candy tossed from passing floats, a tradition dating back to the parade's inception in 1960. The air fills with the cheerful sounds of marching bands playing holiday tunes. Cary's parade stands out for its after-dark timing, creating a uniquely luminous atmosphere you won't find at daytime events.
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Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker
What to Expect:
Authentic 19th-century holiday experience
Description:
Step back in time at the Page-Walker Hotel, where Victorian-era Christmas traditions come to life. The historic building, constructed in 1868, is adorned with period-appropriate decorations. Costumed interpreters demonstrate 19th-century holiday customs, from making pomander balls to singing carols around the piano. Visitors can participate in a traditional English tea service, complete with scones and clotted cream. The event offers a unique glimpse into how the holidays were celebrated in Cary over 150 years ago.
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Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker
Kwanzaa Celebration
What to Expect:
Week-long celebration of African American culture and heritage
Description:
The principles of Kwanzaa come to life in this vibrant week-long celebration of African American culture. Each day focuses on one of the seven principles, with activities and performances that illuminate its meaning. Visitors can participate in traditional African drumming circles or watch captivating dance performances. The event features a marketplace showcasing Black-owned businesses and artisans. Kwanzaa, first celebrated in 1966, has deep roots in the African American community. This celebration honors those traditions while creating new ones for future generations.
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Nearby Events
Christmas in the Park (Apex)
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday village with live performances
Description:
Downtown Park transforms into a bustling holiday village, complete with twinkling lights and cheerful decorations. Live performances by local choirs and dance troupes enliven the atmosphere throughout the event. You can decorate cookies in Santa's workshop or take a ride on the park's miniature train. The event pays homage to Cary's small-town roots, recreating the close-knit community feel of holidays past. Artisans demonstrate traditional crafts, offering a glimpse into the area's rich cultural heritage.
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Apex Christmas Parade (Apex)
What to Expect:
Small-town charm with a focus on local community groups
Description:
The streets of Apex come alive with the sounds of marching bands and cheering crowds during this charming small-town parade. Unlike larger city events, Apex's parade focuses on showcasing local community groups, schools, and businesses. Spectators can wave to their neighbors as they pass by on homemade floats. The parade route winds through the historic downtown, passing by buildings that have stood since the town's founding in 1873. You'll feel the strong sense of community spirit that makes Apex special.
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Raleigh Christmas Parade (Raleigh)
What to Expect:
One of the largest parades in the Southeast
Description:
Raleigh's streets burst with energy as one of the largest Christmas parades in the Southeast unfolds. Over 60,000 spectators line the route to witness the spectacle of elaborate floats, giant balloons, and talented performers. The parade showcases a mix of local flavor and big-city flair, with appearances by both community groups and nationally recognized acts. Marching bands from across the state compete for top honors, filling the air with rousing holiday tunes. This Raleigh tradition has been delighting crowds since 1939.
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Nutcracker Ballet (Raleigh)
What to Expect:
Professional-level production with local dancers
Description:
The timeless tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince springs to life on stage in this professional-level production featuring talented local dancers. Lavish costumes and intricate set designs transport the audience to a world of sugar plum fairies and toy soldiers. The Carolina Ballet's interpretation incorporates unique elements that set it apart from traditional productions. Tchaikovsky's iconic score resonates through the theater, performed live by a full orchestra. This annual performance has been a cherished part of the Triangle's holiday season for over two decades.
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Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market (Raleigh)
What to Expect:
Curated selection of handmade and artisanal gifts
Description:
The Fairgrounds come alive with the bustle of holiday shoppers at this carefully curated market. Unlike typical craft fairs, the Christmas Carousel focuses on high-quality, handmade items from skilled artisans across the Southeast. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts like glassblowing and woodcarving. The market's roots trace back to the early 1970s, when it began as a small gathering of local artists. Today, it's grown into one of the region's premier holiday shopping destinations, while still maintaining its commitment to supporting independent makers.
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Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market
Durham Holiday Parade (Durham)
What to Expect:
Celebrates Durham's diverse cultural heritage
Description:
Durham's streets pulsate with the rhythms of diverse cultures during this unique holiday parade. Unlike traditional Christmas parades, Durham's event showcases the city's rich multicultural tapestry. Floats and performances represent holidays and traditions from around the world, from Kwanzaa to Diwali. The parade route passes by historic landmarks that tell the story of Durham's evolution from a tobacco town to a hub of innovation. Spectators can sample international holiday treats from food trucks lining the parade route.
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Twilight Christmas Parade (Garner)
What to Expect:
Evening parade with illuminated classic cars
Description:
As dusk falls, the streets of downtown light up with the glow of vintage automobiles in this unique twilight parade. Classic cars, lovingly restored and adorned with thousands of twinkling lights, cruise down the parade route. The event pays homage to the area's rich automotive history, showcasing vehicles from every decade of the 20th century. Spectators can vote for their favorite illuminated car via a mobile app. The parade culminates in a dazzling fireworks display, lighting up the night sky with bursts of color.
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Holiday Pops (Raleigh)
What to Expect:
Symphony orchestra performs with local choirs
Description:
The North Carolina Symphony joins forces with local choirs to create a powerful musical experience that resonates through the concert hall. This isn't your typical holiday concert – the program blends beloved classics with innovative arrangements of seasonal favorites. The symphony's commitment to education shines through as they invite a youth choir to perform alongside professional musicians. You can hear the rich harmonies of a 100-voice choir soaring above the orchestra. This annual tradition has been bringing holiday cheer to the Triangle for over 30 years.
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Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour (Raleigh)
What to Expect:
Self-guided tour of Victorian and early 20th-century homes
Description:
Candlelight flickers in the windows of Oakwood's historic homes, inviting visitors to step back in time. This self-guided tour showcases the architectural beauty of Raleigh's oldest intact neighborhood. Each home, dating from the mid-19th to early 20th century, is meticulously decorated in period-appropriate holiday style. Costumed docents share stories of the homes' original inhabitants and holiday traditions of the era. You can warm up with hot cider at designated refreshment stops along the route. The tour, which began in 1971, has played a crucial role in preserving Oakwood's historic character.
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Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour