From Christmas parades to holiday lights, festivals to tree lightings, here are a few of the most fun activities and noteworthy events happening in Cary, Apex, Morrisville and Western Wake to get you in the spirit.
In Cary: Christmas Parade, Holiday Lights, Menorah Lighting, Santa and more
🎄 Downtown Cary is full of holiday lights and activities, including:
- Gifting Tree Project: Christmas trees decorated by different organizations, families, and schools line South Academy Street and along pathways inside Downtown Cary Park, starting December 6. Vote for your favorite by December 21. First through third place winners get to make a donation to the non-profit of their choice.
- Gingerbread house competition and stroll: Gingerbread architects build some seriously impressive houses on display beginning December 6 at 15 locations throughout Downtown Cary. Experts will judge the winners, but you, too, can weigh in on the People’s Choice award.
- Drop off letters to Santa: A special mailbox that delivers directly to the North Pole is on Academy Plaza. Make sure to insert a letter with your child’s wishes and return address by December 7 so Santa has time to reply.
- Light displays: 57 locations in Downtown Cary are decorated with holiday lights, including in Downtown Cary (pictured below and above).
🎄Phillips Farms Country Christmas: This new, ticketed walkthrough light show offers hot cocoa, s’mores kits, a petting zoo, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. It runs through December 21.
🐉 N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival: Ongoing through January 11 and only closed on Christmas Day, these lanterns light up Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary every night. Extra credit: Jasmine Gallup writes for INDY what it takes to keep it going.
📽️ Holiday Films & Stage at The Cary Theater: Nostalgic Christmas movies, live jazz, and sing-alongs take center stage at the Downtown Cary theater starting Wednesday and continue throughout the season.
🎅 Santa in West Cary: Many of the Cary Christmas and Santa events center in downtown, but Santa will make a visit December 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road.
🎄 Tree Lighting Celebration: Visit Downtown Cary Park December 6 for a full day of seasonal activities, including Reindeer Games, a snowball fight, a visit from Santa, and community performances, all leading up to the tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. at Frantz Square.
🎶 Concert Singers of Cary Presents Holiday Pops: Listen to a family-friendly program of new and familiar holiday tunes at the Cary Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. December 9. Some tickets remain.
🎅 Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade: The 46th annual parade is 2-4 p.m. December 13 through Downtown Cary, starting where East Chatham Street intersects with Ward Street, winding down Chatham to Academy Street, and ending at the Cary Arts Center.
🕎 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting: On the third night of Hanukkah, December 16, a Menorah Lighting, music, and a kids activity will be at Downtown Cary Park. The menorah at Cary Arts Center will light up each evening of the eight days, December 14-22.
🩰 The Nutcracker for Kids: The one-hour, narrated version of the beloved ballet classic from the Town of Cary and Cary Ballet Company, some tickets remain to the sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker Suite on 11 a.m. December 19, a Friday.
- As of Monday evening, a few tickets also remain for the full version of The Nutcracker at 7 p.m. on December 19 and 20 and 5:30 p.m. on December 21. Single tickets are available for other performances.
🎶 Motown & Soul Christmas: Keep the holiday spirit going with the Town of Cary and Pure Life Theatre Company’s show featuring local singers and dancers. 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. December 27 and 3:30 p.m. December 28.
🕯️ Cary Kwanzaa Celebration: Dance, drumming, storytelling, and performances centering African culture are planned for 1:30-6 p.m. on December 29 at the Cary Arts Center.
In Apex: Christmas Lights tour, Snowman-Themed Activities, Hanukkah Festival
☃️ Snowman Stroll on Salem: Pick up a Snowman Stroll passport for Downtown Apex holiday activities at the Apex Welcome Center, online, or at the Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony December 5.
- Collect stickers at participating businesses, by attending certain holiday events, or through self-guided “merrymaking activities.”
- Submit your passport (6 stickers = one raffle entry) by December 14.
✨ The Holiday Tour of Lights starts December 6 and continues 6-9 p.m. nightly until December 31. The map of the homes on the parade of lighted displays isn’t live as of Monday evening but will be available here before Saturday.
🎄 Holiday Tree and Wreath Auction: The Halle Cultural Arts Center will host contributions of trees and wreaths from organizations, schools, and individuals to be auctioned off to benefit the Play It Forward campaign, a scholarship for residents to participate in town programs. The silent auction and display starts 6 p.m. December 5 and ends 1 p.m. December 19.
🎄 Tree Lighting Ceremony: In a new location this year, the Apex Town Hall Courtyard, the event will be 4-6 p.m. December 5 with performances, vendors, craft stations, and more.
🎄 Apex Rotary Christmas Parade: Unique for its nighttime parade experience and holiday lights, most of the route is on Salem Street in Downtown Apex, 5-8 p.m. December 6.
- A new rule: Don’t set up your chair before 10 p.m. December 5.
- Also new this year: Bleachers will be in front of the Apex Fire Station 1. It’s first come, first serve, and no standing will be allowed.
🕎 Apex Chanukah Festival: Chabad of Cary is organizing the event at the Apex Senior Center in Downtown Apex December 14, with a “Chanukah Wonderland” for kids 4-5:30 p.m. and a menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. The event will include a gelt drop with the Apex Fire Department, a fire show, hot drinks, a kosher food truck, and more.
In Morrisville: Tree Lighting, Menorah Lighting
🎄 Christmas Tree Lighting: The 3-6 p.m. December 6 event at Town Hall includes carols, prayers, and a live nativity scene. Parking and shuttles available from Cedar Fork Community Center.
🕎 Menorah Lighting: The final event in the town’s “Light Up Morrisville” series, the ceremony will celebrate Hanukkah with traditions and music, 5:30 December 21.
💬 Did we miss one of your December favorites? Email line@theassemblync.com.
A version of this story originally appeared in the of December 2 edition of The Line. Sign up here for The Line, a newsletter for Cary and Western Wake from The Assembly Network.
