101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Triangle: Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill 2026
Santa Sightings
| Nov 1 - Dec 12, 2026 | A Letter from Santa, mailed to your child - Santamailer.com **ORDER BY DEC 12! - Online Only |
| Nov 7 - Dec 24, 2026 | Santa’s Wonderland 2026 at Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's - Your local Bass Pro Shop or Cabela's store |
| Nov 9 - Dec 4, 2026 | Santa's Workshop Toy Drive - City of Greensboro - Locations vary |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Family Farm Day with Santa | November 21 - Pint Sized Pasture - The Pint Sized Pasture |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Family Farm Day with Santa | November 25 - Pint Sized Pasture - The Pint Sized Pasture |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Family Farm Day with Santa | November 28 - Pint Sized Pasture - The Pint Sized Pasture |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Santa Paws - Durham Armory |
| Dec 5 - 19, 2026 | Santa Express at New Hope Valley Railway - New Hope Valley Railway |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Durham Holiday Parade - Main Street |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Sundays in the Studio: Clay Santa Workshop - 6119 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, NC |
Light Displays
| Nov 21, 2026 | Downtown Durham Annual Tree Lighting - CCB Plaza / Main Plaza / Main Square / Downtown |
| Nov 26 - Dec 28, 2026 | Drive Thru Festival of Lights 2026 - Hill Ridge Farms - Hill Ridge Farms |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Holiday Tree Lighting - Town of Carrboro, NC - Carrboro Town Hall |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Christmas Tree Lighting at Knightdale Station Park - Knightdale Station Park |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Tree Lighting Ceremony - Town of Apex, NC - Apex Town Hall |
| Dec 7, 2026 | Holiday Tree Lighting - Town of Rolesville, NC - Redford Place Park |
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Nov 5 - 8, 2026 | Holly Day Fair - Crown Coliseum |
| Nov 14 - 21, 2026 | Mistletoe Markets at Millstone Creek Orchards - Millstone Creek Orchards |
| Nov 21 - 22, 2026 | The 2026 Durham Art Walk Holiday Market - Downtown |
| Dec 4 - 5, 2026 | 19th Annual St. Nicholas European Christmas Market - Agri Supply® Exposition Center |
| Dec 5, 2026 | The Holiday Market at NCMA - North Carolina Museum of Art |
| Dec 5, 2026 | 8th Annual Christmas Craft Fair - Pace Family Farms - Pace Family Farms |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Christmas Market at Ronnie's Berry Farm - Ronnie's Berry Farm |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Durham Geek and Grub Market: Holiday Nightmare Edition - Durham Armory |
| Dec 11 - 13, 2026 | Moore Square Winterfaire 2026 - Moore Square |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Raleigh's International Holiday Market - NC Vibes - Raleigh City Plaza |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Holiday Cultural Market - Envision Science Academy |
| Dec 19, 2026 | Raleigh Geek and Grub Market: Holiday Nightmare Edition - LeRoy Martin Magnet Middle School |
Holiday Theatre
| Nov 20, 2026 | The Nutcracker with a Live Orchestra at the Crown Theatre - Crown Theater |
| Dec 3 - 6, 2026 | It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - Cary Players Community Theatre Company - NC - Cary Arts Center |
| Dec 5, 2026 | "The Nutcracker" by Cary Ballet Company - Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Candlelight: Holiday Special featuring “The Nutcracker” and More at The Merrimon-Wynne House - The Merrimon-Wynne House |
Holiday Concerts
| Dec 6, 2026 | Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings at The Merrimon-Wynne House - The Merrimon-Wynne House |
| Dec 8, 2026 | Holiday Pops - Concert Singers of Cary - NC - Cary Arts Center |
| Dec 11, 2026 | Winterfest ’26 - Cary Town Band - Cary Arts Center |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Notes on View: Holiday Special Featuring United Strings of Color - North Carolina Museum of Art |
| Dec 12 - 13, 2026 | Motown & Soul Christmas at Leggett Theatre - Leggett Theatre |
| Dec 13, 2026 | The Snowman - Triangle Wind Ensemble - Cary Arts Center |
| Dec 16, 2026 | Sleigh Bells and Dreidels: A Few of Our Favorite Songs - North Carolina Museum of Art |
| Dec 19 - 20, 2026 | Motown & Soul Christmas at The Clayton Center - The Clayton Center |
| Dec 22 - 23, 2026 | Motown & Soul Christmas at Cary Arts Center - Cary Arts Center |
Old-Time Christmas
| Dec 4 - 11, 2026 | Christmas by Candlelight - Duke Homestead - 2828 Duke Homestead Rd, Interstate 85 Corridor, Durham, NC |
Train Fun
| Nov 6 - Dec 23, 2026 | The Polar Express™ Train Ride at N.C. Transportation Museum - N.C. Transportation Museum |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Sensory-Friendly Winter Rides at New Hope Valley Railway - New Hope Valley Railway |
| Dec 26 - 31, 2026 | Winter Train Rides - N.C. Transportation Museum - N.C. Transportation Museum |
Hands-on Holiday Fun
| Nov 8 - Dec 13, 2026 | Holiday Gift-Making & Forest Play Class - Belle Vie Farm - Belle Vie Farm |
| Nov 27 - Dec 13, 2026 | Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Millstone Creek Orchards - Millstone Creek Orchards |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Christmas Card Watercolor Workshop - Smith's Nursery - Smith's Farm Market and Garden Center |
| Dec 6 - 7, 2026 | Holiday Creations at JC Raulston Arboretum - Education Yurt, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University |
| Dec 21 - 22, 2026 | Holiday Gift Making Camp (Ages 4-13) - The Art Lab - The Art Lab for Kids |
| Dec 22, 2026 | Winter Break Camp: Reindeer Clay Party + Snowy Pine Forest Watercolor - Children's Art Classes - Raleigh |
| Dec 23, 2026 | Holiday Bash Camp (Ages 4-13) - The Art Lab - The Art Lab for Kids |
| Dec 23, 2026 | Winter Break Camp: Clay Gingerbread House Workshop + Candy Cane Lane Painting - 6119 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, NC |
Active Holiday Fun
| Dec 12, 2026 | Fortnight Before Christmas - Northwest Cary YMCA |
| Dec 27, 2026 | Last Mile - 150 Wrenn Dr. #2171, Cary, NC |
Hanukkah
| Dec 6, 2026 | Apex Chanukah Festival - Chabad of Cary Jewish Center - Apex Senior Center |
| Dec 9, 2026 | Artful Story Time: Happy Hanukkah! - North Carolina Museum of Art - North Carolina Museum of Art |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Menorah Lighting - Town of Morrisville, NC - 101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC |
Festivals
| Nov 21, 2026 - Jan 10, 2027 | NC Chinese Lantern Festival - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Nov 28, 2026 | MAKRS Holiday Fest 2026 - City Plaza |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Carrboro-Chapel Hill Community Holiday Parade - Chapell Hill and Carrboro |
| Dec 5, 2026 | Rotary Christmas Parade - Town of Apex, NC - Downtown Apex |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Knightdale's Christmas Parade - Main Street, Knightdale, NC |
Miscellaneous
| Dec 19, 2026 | Holiday Gift Making Camp (Ages 4-13) - The Art Lab - The Art Lab for Kids |
Christmas Tree Farms
Shopping for a Christmas tree? Here's our list of farms where you can purchase your own Christmas tree in the Research Triangle area.
Subscription Boxes: Gifts That Keep on Giving
Send thoughtful choices to the ones you love near and far, and plan some excellent expected surprises for your own family in the months to come. KidsOutAndAbout has put together of some of our favorite choices with a range for all different ages and interests.
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