Deck the Halls with Lots of Fun!
The holidays are in full swing, and the Triangle is jam-packed with festivities to make the season bright. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite family pastimes and events worthy of creating new traditions around.
Jolly Good Performances
Hear the sounds of the season reverberate across Duke Chapel at the Duke Chorale Christmas Concert on December 3.
See the Carolina Ballet perform the holiday classic, The Nutcracker, December 7 and 8 at Memorial Hall.
Catch Disney on Ice at the PNC Arena from December 11-15, and if you’re feeling inspired, head over to the Orange County Sportsplex to enjoy the indoor ice skating rink.
Enjoy a Hanukkah performance of Mishpacha at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh on December 15.
Holiday-inspired Activities
Experience The 12 Days of Christmas at the Carolina Inn, where all month long there are family-friendly activities like The Holiday Market, Breakfast with Santa, Tea with the Sugar Plum Fairy and Gingerbread House making. You can even celebrate Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day brunch with a special meal at the Inn’s restaurant, Crossroads Chapel Hill.
Take a page from Clark Griswold’s playbook and cut down your own Christmas tree. Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm not only lets you pick your own tree, on the weekends they offer a play area for kids, hayrides and concessions with hot donuts, cider and more.
Don’t miss the Santa Train at the NC Museum of Life and Science. Climb aboard for a dazzling light display, hot chocolate and other seasonal activities.
Head over to Brier Creek December 6 or Southern Village on December 9 for their annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies and festivities.
Experience holiday traditions and cuisine from around the globe at the Scandinavian Christmas Fair December 7 in Raleigh.
Peruse the sweet gingerbread creations at the Heart of the Holidays 9th Annual Gingerbread House Competition in Cary on December 7.
Burn off those holiday cookies at the Reindeer Run 5K in Pittsboro on December 7.
If you’re feeling in the Christmas spirit, or just craving Christmas spirits, visit Raleigh’s pop-up Christmas-themed bar, Miracle at Haymaker.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with the Menorah Lighting at the Cary Arts Center on December 23.
Festive Tours & Parades
Beautiful holiday décor will be twinkling all across town. Enjoy stunning light displays at the NC Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary all month long.
Explore historic, private homes decked out for the holidays and light refreshments on the Holiday House Tour on December 7, offered by Preservation Chapel Hill.
Fill up a thermos of hot cocoa and catch one of many local parades, including the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade or Durham’s Holiday Parade and Fun Fest, both on December 14.
On the 21st, Hillsboro’s annual Solstice Celebration Lantern Walk will feature hundreds of people lighting up the night sky with handmade lanterns.
Holiday Hacks
Make it a white Christmas with Snow My Yard, who can turn your lawn into a winter wonderland and the envy of the entire neighborhood.
All month long, take advantage of free photos with Santa at Bass Pro Shop at 801 Bass Pro Lane in Cary or at Cabela’s at 201 Cabela Drive in Garner.
December is a busy time of year, but that’s why Santa has elves and you have TaskRabbit. Find local Taskers who you can hire to wrap all the gifts under your tree.
Be the hostess with the mostest without running yourself ragged. Companies like Celebration Sidekicks provide professional servers and bartenders for your holiday gathering so you can spend all your time reveling with guests.
And if the holidays have you a little overwhelmed and saying “Serenity now!” throw a Festivus party to kick back and enjoy some laughs.
Hope you have a wonderful holiday season making memories for a lifetime!
*Items in bold are located in Chapel Hill