Seasons greetings, Raleigh. ✨ To help you get the most out of this most wonderful time of the year, we’ve compiled our winter bucket list, complete with 30+ events and activities to try — so jingle all the way through this list to make sure you don’t miss anything. ☃️
👟 Activities
○ Santa Claus at Maple View Farm Ice Cream | Mon. Dec. 7 | 2–5:30 p.m. | 6900 Rocky Ridge Rd, Hillsborough | Donation requested | Santa + his workers will be sitting out on the porch and working the drive-up service for ice cream orders. Kids can bring their letters to be deposited into the North Pole mailbox.
○ Holiday Bazaar | Sat., Dec. 12–Sun. Dec. 13 | Times vary | Moore Square, 226 E. Martin Street | Cost of purchase | Raleigh Night Market is throwing a 2-day holiday shopping event, featuring 40 different local artisan vendors to shop from, plus The Brew Box coffee trunk + live entertainment.
○ Durham Craft Market Holiday Fair | Sun., Dec. 13 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. | 501 Foster Street | Cost of purchase | More than 70 different artist and craft vendors will be located in Durham Central Park for the ultimate present shopping experience.
○ History at High Noon: Moravian Christmas Traditions | Wed. Dec. 16 | 12–1 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Hosted by the NC Museum of History, Johanna Metzgar Brown will share her own experience as Moravian + discuss items from the museum’s collection.
○ Solstice Stroll | Mon., Dec. 21 | 2–3:30 p.m. | 8500 Camp Durant Road | Free | Watch the sun go down at Durant Nature Preserve on the shortest day of the year. There will be a campfire for socializing and reflection after the short hike. The barcode to access the class is 261135.
○ Holiday Favorites with Brass & Organ | Wed. Dec. 23 | 8 p.m. | Virtual | $21 | The NC Symphony brass section and guest organist David Jernigan will play Christmas carols and other classic holiday songs.
○ The Nutcracker | Fri., Dec. 25 | 7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The Carolina Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker will air on WRAL-TV Christmas night. Check your local listings or tune into channel 5 to watch.
💡 Where to see lights
○ Luminaria Nights | now through Thurs. Dec. 17 | 5–8 p.m. | Cameron Village | Free | Enjoy 3600+ lighted candles displayed throughout the village. Shops and restaurants will be offering various sales and specials.
○ Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show | now through Thurs. Dec. 31 | 6:30–9:45 p.m. | 8008 Old Stage Road | $20+ | This drive-thru Christmas celebration displays over 1 million different lights throughout the farm and is known for its entire tunnel covered in LEDs.
○ Lake Myra Christmas Lights | Wed. Nov. 25 | 5:30–10 p.m. | 10 S. Cypress Street, Wendell | Free, donations accepted | Recognized as one of the largest Christmas light shows in NC, featuring a 45-minute show synchronized to music and 250,000+ lights.
○ Hill Ridge Farms Festival of Lights | now through Sun. Dec. 27 | 5:30-10 p.m. | 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville | $20 per vehicle | This annual display is more than one mile long and showcases 1+ million different lights.
○ Nights of Lights | Wed., Dec. 16–Thurs. Dec. 31 | 5:30–11 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park | $15+ | WRAL and the City of Raleigh are hosting Raleigh’s first-ever drive-thru light show. Art pieces will be displayed over a 1.3 mile route through the park for viewers to enjoy during 30-minute time blocks.
See even more local light displays here.
🎄 Local tree farms
○ Back Achers Christmas Tree Farm | 4533 Inwood Road | Tues.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. + Fri.–Sun. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Family-owned since 1978. Trees from 6-12 feet. This year there will be limited cut-your-own options, but they always have a great selection of fresh-cut firs + garland, wreaths, and fresh mistletoe. ProTip: $5 discount with military ID.
○ Boyce Farms | 2813 Mount Vernon Church Road | Mon.–Fri. 12–7 p.m. + weekends 9 a.m.–7 p.m. | Family-owned since 1982. This year there will be limited cut-your-own options + pre-cut, N.C.-grown Fraser fir trees and fresh wreaths. ProTip: They also offer flocking, if you want that snow-dusted look.
Find even more local tree farms here + be sure to read our list of 13 facts about NC Fraser Firs.
☕ Food + drinks
○ Bittersweet | 16 E. Martin Street | Tues.–Sun. 2–10 p.m. | The menu features seasonal treats like peppermint lattes, espresso martinis, and decadent holiday desserts. Stop by the pickup window or sit for a while in the recently-expanded parklet.
○ Crawford & Son | 618 N. Person Street | Tues.–Sat. 5–10 p.m. | Chef Scott Crawford has put together a special reopening menu, featuring seasonal menu items and sophisticated treats. TryThis: Mushroom risotto, shaved kabocha squash, crispy sea bass, cornbread pudding, chamomile panna cotta + the apple almond cake.
○ Escazu Chocolates | 936 N. Blount Street | Tues. and Wed. 12–5 p.m. + Thurs. to Sun. 12–6 p.m. | Choose from 10+ hot chocolate options, including Spicy Hot, Chocolate-Chai, and France 1692 (with cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and chili). They also offer a selection of bean to bar treats and stocking stuffers. ProTip: The biz is only offering online ordering and curbside pickup during the pandemic.
○ Sir Walter Coffee + Cocktails | 145 E. Davie Street | Sun.–Thurs. 7 a.m.–8 p.m. + Fri. and Sat. 7 a.m.–10 p.m. | The new holiday coffee menu features specialty drinks like the Campfire Latte (topped with marshmallows and crushed graham crackers) and Cousin Eddie’s Eggnog Latte.
○ Haymaker | 555 Fayetteville Street | 4–11 p.m. daily | Downtown’s holiday mainstay has not left us hanging — this year, the bar is hosting A Very Tipsy Christmas in their outdoor seating area + serving some serious seasonal cocktails. TryThis: Mariah Season, Santa’s Boot shot, and the White Christmas Punch Bowl. Advance tickets required.
○ Killjoy | 116 N. West Street | Tues.–Fri. 5–11 p.m., Sat. 4–11 + Sun. 3–9 p.m. | In addition to seasonal drink specials, the bar will be offering whiskey flight nights on Thursday evenings and plans to host a virtual screening of the Nutcracker Saturday, Dec. 26 at 7 p.m.
○ Kō•än | 2800 Renaissance Park Place, Cary | Tues.–Sat. 4–9 p.m. | The restaurant is offering a special menu + options to build your own feast (or brunch) for the holidays. A la carte items include cranberry goat cheese spread, sausage cheddar balls, rosemary crusted beef tenderloin, spinach mushroom quiche, and coffee cake.
○ La Farm Bakery | Multiple locations in Cary | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily | Holiday offerings include gourmet gift baskets + specialty baked goods, including challah and the signature holiday loaf (with pecans, cranberries, pumpkin, and spices).
❤️ Places to donate time or gifts
○ Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC | 1924 Capital Blvd. | Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. | Opportunities to volunteer or donate food + financial contributions will be matched through the holiday season.
○ Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum | 220 Fayetteville Street | Tues.–Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. + Sun. 1–4 p.m. | 100% of annual membership dues support the museum’s exhibitions and programming, plus members receive a 30% discount on all ticketed events.
○ InterACT | 1012 Oberlin Road | Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Donations help support victims of domestic violence and abuse. Urgent needs include monetary donations, prepaid mobile phones (with minutes), shelf stable meals, face masks, cleaning supplies + toilet paper.
○ LGBT Center of Raleigh | 19 W. Hargett Street | 12–4 p.m. daily | Volunteer opportunities include administrative support — such as answering phones and welcoming visitors — and programming assistance for events.
○ Read and Feed | 171 High House Road, Cary | Mon.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Volunteers and donors help support the organization’s mission to solve hunger and illiteracy in our community. Sign up to tutor schoolchildren or deliver books + food.
Find 35+ more local volunteer opportunities here.
❄️ Skiing, snowboarding + everything in between
○ Appalachian Ski Mountain | 940 Ski Mountain Road, Blowing Rock (~3 hours from downtown Raleigh) | 8:30 a.m.–10 p.m. | Home to the French Swiss Ski College, the facility offers lessons for all ages and 12 ski slopes.
○ Beech Mountain Resort | 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway (~4 hours from downtown Raleigh) | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily | The resort features 15 ski slopes, as well as ice skating and tubing trails. Note: opening day is tomorrow, Dec. 5.
○ Sugar Mountain Resort | 1000 Sugar Mountain Drive (~3.5 hours from downtown Raleigh) | 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. + 6–9:30 p.m. daily | Winter activities include 21 ski slopes and night skiing + ice skating, tubing, and snowshoeing.
○ Wintergreen Resort | 39 Mountain Inn Loop, Nellysford, VA (~3 hours from downtown Raleigh) | Sun.–Mon. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tues.–Thurs. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 9 a.m.–9 p.m. | The resort offers 26 ski slopes, night skiing, tubing trails + Ridgely’s Fun Park for kids.
🍾 New Year’s Eve events
○ 1970s Dance Fitness Party | Millennium Sports Club, 3419 Hillsborough Street, Durham | 10 a.m.–12 p.m. | $5+ | Mindful Bodies will host a two-hour dance class featuring Zumba, line dancing, and other formats.
○ 2021 MASKuerade Ball | Sheraton Raleigh, 421 S. Salisbury Street | Thurs. Dec. 31 | 8 p.m.–1 a.m. | $45+ | Dress to impress + wear your fanciest COVID-19 face covering. The evening’s lineup includes an on-site DJ, belly-dancer performances, champagne at midnight, and balloon drop.
○ The Avett Brothers | Virtual | Thurs. Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | $40 | Tickets include 48-hour access to the live show and post-recorded content. The band will do a midnight countdown. Special guest to be announced.
○ New Year’s in the Valley | Location to be announced | Thurs. Dec. 31 | 9 p.m.–2 a.m. | $5+ | Ticket levels include options to skip the line + an open bar. The night will also feature a twerking contest with a $1,000 award.○ Speed Dating NYE Bash | Virtual | Thurs. Dec. 31 | 8–6 p.m. | $35+ | Participants will have the opportunity to chat with each dater for ~8 minutes. Date-matches will be emailed at the end of the evening. For ages 25-39.
