Excited for holiday fun in Cary? Our guide will lead you to all the festive activities! For Cary natives and visitors alike, this guide reveals the city's holiday magic.
One enchanting attraction this season is the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, where vibrant, illuminated lanterns create a breathtaking display that spans the park. You can also enjoy the Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration, featuring live music and the illumination of a grand tree, fostering a sense of community warmth. And the Cary Christmas Parade is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing colorful floats and festive cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Cary
- Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration (Raleigh)
- North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
- Speedway Christmas (Concord)
- Raleigh Christmas Parade (Raleigh)
- Cary Christmas Parade
- WinterFest at Carowinds (Charlotte)
- Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum (Asheville)
- Illuminate Raleigh (Raleigh)
- Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer) (Spencer)
See these and even more events listed below!
Cary Holiday Light Displays
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
What to Expect:
Spectacular handcrafted lanterns and cultural performances.
Description:
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre features over 40 handcrafted lantern displays, including a 200-foot-long dragon, and nightly cultural performances. The event showcases the artistry of Chinese lantern making, which dates back over 2,000 years, with each lantern composed of hundreds of parts and thousands of LED lights.
Where: Cary | More Info: North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Live music and aerial performances.
Description:
Cary's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony is a festive event held at Downtown Cary Park, featuring live music, aerial performances, and children's activities.
Where: Cary | More Info: Cary Tree Lighting Ceremony
Light the Square in Fenton
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with live music and Santa's visit.
Description:
Light the Square in Fenton features live music, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a special appearance by Santa Claus, making it a delightful holiday event for the entire family.
Where: Cary | More Info: Light the Square in Fenton
Illuminate Raleigh
What to Expect:
Interactive light-based art installations showcasing local and international artists.
Description:
Downtown Raleigh comes alive with Illuminate Art Walk, featuring large-scale, interactive, and light-based art pieces from local, regional, and international artists. This self-guided walk includes installations like Talking Heads, which react to each other and visitors with 4,000 individually controllable LEDs, and Firefly Footpath, bringing the wonder of the rare Blue Ghost Firefly to a festive light display.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Illuminate Raleigh
Magic Of Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays with life-sized holiday characters.
Description:
Magic Of Lights is a drive-through holiday light display featuring over 2 million sparkling lights, including larger-than-life displays of Holiday Barbie, Bigfoot Monster Truck, and life-sized dinosaurs. The event offers a variety of festive scenes and activities, making it a memorable experience for all ages.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Magic Of Lights
Speedway Christmas
What to Expect:
Synchronized light and sound show on a historic NASCAR track.
Description:
Speedway Christmas at Charlotte Motor Speedway features over five million lights on a four-mile course, including the legendary oval and infield road course. The event is open from 6-10 p.m. and includes synchronized lights and music, as well as drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night.
Where: Concord | More Info: Speedway Christmas
Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum
What to Expect:
Spectacular open-air light show with over one million LED lights.
Description:
Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum features over one million energy-efficient LED lights in a spectacular open-air walk-through light show, including a 50-foot lighted tree and the Quilt Garden. The event supports the arboretum's mission-driven programming and offers live performances, a G-scale model train, and interactive exhibits.
Where: Asheville | More Info: Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum
Winter Wonderlights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Winter Wonderlights at the Greensboro Science Center features immersive, uniquely themed zones with dazzling lights, music, and interactive exhibits, transforming the zoo into a vibrant holiday experience.
Where: Greensboro | More Info: Winter Wonderlights
WinterFest at Carowinds
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday celebration with extensive light displays and live entertainment.
Description:
Carowinds' WinterFest offers a comprehensive holiday experience with millions of shimmering lights, ice skating, family activities, live entertainment, and holiday-inspired comfort food and beverages. The event features holiday light displays, festive live music, and special attractions like the WinterFest Wonderland Parade and the Carowinds Christmas tree lighting.
Where: Charlotte | More Info: WinterFest at Carowinds
Kersey Valley Christmas
What to Expect:
Immersive LED light display with diverse activities.
Description:
Kersey Valley Christmas transforms the farm into a vibrant display of over 2 million LED lights, featuring immersive sets and activities like train rides, slides, and character meet-and-greets. Enjoy Santa and the Grinch, along with various rides and interactive experiences.
Where: Archdale | More Info: Kersey Valley Christmas
Tweetsie Christmas
What to Expect:
Holiday train ride with over 1 million lights.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Tweetsie Railroad with a 20-minute nighttime train ride through over 1 million Christmas lights, a heartwarming live Christmas variety show, kid-friendly amusement rides, and meetings with Santa in his Gingerbread House.
Where: Blowing Rock | More Info: Tweetsie Christmas
Cary Holiday Markets and Shopping
Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration
What to Expect:
Free Santa photos and local vendor market.
Description:
Downtown Raleigh's Annual Tree Lighting features a decorated Christmas tree, free Santa photos, local vendor market, and performances by local artists.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting Celebration
Cary Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Raleigh Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Largest Christmas Parade between Washington, DC and Atlanta.
Description:
The Raleigh Christmas Parade is a beloved annual tradition featuring over 115 entries, including marching bands, specialty vehicles, and decorated floats. It winds its way through downtown Raleigh, drawing nearly 80,000 visitors to see the pageantry and excitement of the holiday season.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Raleigh Christmas Parade
Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer)
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday journey with various seating options.
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride at the North Carolina Transportation Museum offers a festive holiday experience with hot chocolate, cookies, and a reading of Chris Van Allsburg's classic book. Passengers enjoy a trip to the North Pole, where they watch Santa present the first gift of Christmas and receive their own sleigh bell. The event features different seating classes, including Standard, Deluxe, First Class, and Parlor Class, each offering unique amenities.
Where: Spencer | More Info: Polar Express Train Ride (Spencer)
Cary Other Holiday Activities
Cary Christmas Parade
What to Expect:
Joyful celebration with bands and community participation.
Description:
The Cary Christmas Parade is a joyful celebration featuring bands, mascots, local businesses, community groups, and churches. The parade starts on E. Chatham Street at Ward Street, proceeds down E. Chatham to S. Academy Street, and ends at Dry Avenue in front of the Cary Arts Center.
Where: Cary | More Info: Cary Christmas Parade
Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker
What to Expect:
Traditional holiday celebration with special guest from the North Pole.
Description:
Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas at the historic Page-Walker Hotel with cookies, carolers, activities for kids, and holiday stories. A special guest from the North Pole might even make an appearance.
Where: Cary | More Info: Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker
Skate the Square Fenton
What to Expect:
Community-driven event with live music and markets.
Description:
Skate the Square Fenton is an event where participants can enjoy a fun and lively atmosphere with various activities, including live music, markets, and community gatherings.
Where: Cary | More Info: Skate the Square Fenton
Holiday Carriage Rides at Fenton
What to Expect:
Horse-drawn carriage rides through historic Main Street.
Description:
Take a leisurely horse-drawn carriage ride through the charming streets of Fenton, enjoying the holiday season with family and friends.
Where: Cary | More Info: Holiday Carriage Rides at Fenton
Holiday Express At Pullen Park
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with Santa's sleigh ride and elf training.
Description:
Holiday Express at Pullen Park is an immersive holiday event featuring a train ride, life-size snow globe, Santa's mobile workshop, and various activities for all ages.
Where: Raleigh | More Info: Holiday Express At Pullen Park
Polar Express Train Ride (Bryson City)
What to Expect:
Special steam train trip with Santa Claus and silver sleigh bells.
Description:
The Polar Express Train Ride is a 1.25-hour round-trip excursion from Bryson City to the North Pole, where children receive a silver sleigh bell from Santa Claus. Guests enjoy hot chocolate, sweet treats, and Christmas carols while immersed in the classic holiday story.
Where: Bryson City | More Info: Polar Express Train Ride (Bryson City)
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- West Raleigh (7 miles)
- Raleigh (8 miles)
- Durham (15 miles)
- Chapel Hill (18 miles)
- Burlington (42 miles)