Guide to Christmas lights and holiday festivals in central N.C.
Want an extra dose of holiday cheer? Check out these festive events around the ABC11 viewing area. And don't forget to share your holiday pictures with us - just email them to iwitness@abc11.com or post on social media with the hashtag #abc11holidays!
Raleigh
Holiday Express at Pullen Park
Dec. 11-14, 4 - 9 p.m.
$8 per person
Ride the Holiday Express train and enjoy crafts, holiday music, and visits with Santa.
Ipreo Raleigh Winterfest
$9 per person for skates
Take a spin around the ice rink in the heart of downtown Raleigh.
N.C. Capitol Tree Lighting & Holiday Festival
Dec. 11, 5 - 7:30 p.m.
The annual ceremony at the Museum of History will feature music, activities, and more.
Happyland Christmas Lights
5504 Huntingwood Drive, 6:30 - 10 p.m.
Durham
Santa Train at the Museum of Life and Science
Dec. 10-14 and Dec. 17-21
$15 - 20
Take a moonlight train ride to the North Pole and meet Santa and his elves.
Christmas at the Duke Homestead
Dec. 12: Christmas by Candlelight. 7 - 9 p.m.
Dec. 14: Victorian Family Christmas, 1 - 4 p.m.
Fayetteville
Fayetteville Christmas Parade
Dec. 13 at 11:00 a.m.
Cheer on local performers and say hello to some familiar ABC11 faces!
Holiday Lights at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Dec. 10-14 and Dec. 17-23
Stroll through thousands of lights and enjoy refreshments and live music.
Carriage rides with Santa
Dec. 13-14 and Dec. 20-21
$5, starts at 222 Hay Street
Take a ride in a carriage with Santa at the reins.
Cary
Cary Christmas Parade
Dec. 13, 2 p.m.
Celebrate the season with bands, mascots, community groups - and ABC11 anchors and reporters!
Morrisville
Magical Winter Lights Show at Park West Village
December 12-21, 6 - 8 p.m.
Intersections of Chapel Hill Road, Cary Parkway, and Morrisville Parkway
Paintscaping brings the walls of Stone Theater to life with 3D projection mapping and animation set to holiday music.
Clayton
Valley Creek Lights
The Fuller family has an abundance of holiday spirit - and is featured on this season of ABC's "Great Christmas Light Fight"!
Lights on the Neuse
Dec. 11-14 and Dec. 18-24, 6 - 9 p.m.
Take a hayride through the Lights Extravaganza, then stop by the Christmas Barn or visit Santa on his sleigh.
Wendell
Wendell Wonderland featuring Lake Myra Christmas Lights
Nov. 22 - Dec. 31
6 - 10 p.m. (11 on Fri and Sat)
One of the state's largest interactive light shows, with hundreds of thousands of lights synchronized to music.
Benson
Meadow Lights
Open until Dec. 31, 5 - 10 p.m. (11 on Fri & Sat)
The 30-acre light show is visible from the road or a train. You can also ride a carousel and enjoy drinks and 300 varieties of candy at the Old Country Store.
Tarboro
Autumn's Lights
38 Sir Dillon's Lane
Donations go toward children suffering from serious medical conditions.
Visit our Events Calendar to see more exciting events around the ABC11 viewing area.
