Support Us Button Widget
Sponsored Content

Our favorite Downtown Raleigh holiday events + Gift Guide finds

Downtown Raleigh is a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts + fun holiday events while also supporting the local economy.

Sponsored by
a lighted statue of a head at night

Included in Illuminate Art Walk is “Talking Heads” — an interactive art installation that has 4,000 individually controlled lights to express human emotion.

Photo provided by Downtown Raleigh Alliance/

Table of Contents

Fun fact: Downtown Raleigh is made up of over 90% locally-owned stores. Shopping these local shops is not just a great way to uplift the community — it’s also one of the best ways to find one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones.

Plus, Downtown Raleigh has just about every type of retailer you might need for gifting, including:

  • Beer and wine
  • Clothing and accessories
  • Flowers and plants
  • Gourmet foods
  • Home furnishings and antiques
  • Jewelry
  • Music
  • Sports and fitness
  • And more

Here are some of the DTR Gift Guide finds we’re eyeing + the events you’ll see us at this year:

acorn bell ornament from Designed by Joy

Designed for Joy‘s acorn bell ornament is hand-made right here in Raleigh.

Photo provided by Downtown Raleigh Alliance

Downtown Raleigh favorite finds

Holiday Events

Make a day (or evening) of your holiday shopping with these Downtown Raleigh events:

  • The Rink: Take a spin on ice skates through Jan. 15.
  • Illuminate Art Walk: Get stars in your eyes over DTR’s large-scale, interactive, light-based art pieces lining the streets.
  • The Dessertery: For the ultimate dessert experience, indulge in all-you-eat desserts + hot cocoa (yes, you read that right).

Getting Around

Shopping downtown is simple, with over 8,000 parking spaces (free on nights and weekends) within easy walking distance of local shops and curbside access for simple pickups.

Pro tip: There are also plenty of restaurants and locally-owned coffee shops to refuel, snack, and caffeinate — and a fun Sip n’ Stroll alcoholic bev experience to check out.

See the gift guide + plan your holidays.

Poll

How do you like to pick out gifts for everyone on your list? Share your shopping style.

More from RALtoday
Hurricane Helene devastated parts of WNC, including areas where the NC-native Fraser fir grows. While many farms recovered, here’s how you can support NC Christmas tree farmers across the state.
Dreamville Festival, one of Raleigh’s largest events, will end in 2025. Explore its financial impact on Raleigh’s economy.
In early 2025, Hone-Sharpen, a unique culinary experience, will open in Raleigh’s Smoky Hollow multi-use development. We sat down with the founder behind this innovative experience, Cherisse Byers, and talked about some of what’s to come.
The eatery is a fiery addition to the mixed-use development, and we can’t wait to take a taste.
Sponsored
Explore the City of Oaks on one of these many tours of Raleigh. Learn more about Raleigh’s brewery and food scene, its storied history, its many public art pieces, and more.
The Pack is going bowling — but that’s not all that’s new with NC State football. Read up on personnel changes + more before the last game of the season.
Hi Raleighite. It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
Raleigh-Durham International Airport has seen an increase of destinations, so we’ve put together a roundup of new RDU flights available.