Home / Holidays
Halloween to New Year's
Trunk or treats, tree lightings, parades, Santa, lights and Christmas Eve services around Cary and Apex. When an organizer hasn't posted this year's date, we show last year's and say so.
Christmas: lights, parades and Santa
NC Chinese Lantern Festival
6:00p to 10:00p nightly, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. Closed Christmas Day. Kids 2 and under free. Ticket prices go up on the day of the visit.
Sensory Friendly Night at the Chinese Lantern Festival
Twilight 4:30p, evening 6:00p, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. Lower music, smaller crowds, no strobe or flashing lights, and a quiet area.
Santa Cares sensory-friendly Santa visit
4:00p to 7:00p, Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs, Free. For families with special needs. Reserve a free spot.
Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting
6:00p to 8:00p, Downtown Fuquay-Varina, Fuquay-Varina, Free.
Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony
4:30p to 7:00p, Apex Town Hall Campus, 73 Hunter St., Apex, Free. Santa and Mrs. Claus, a free photo and ornament, crafts, carolers and school choirs.
Infinity Ballet: Nutcracker Dances
Fri 8:00p, Sat 3:00p, Sun 2:00p and 4:00p, The Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N. Salem St., Apex.
Fuquay-Varina Chorale Holiday: Blessings
Fri 7:30p, Sat 2:00p and 7:30p, Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, Fuquay-Varina.
Downtown Cary Park Tree Lighting Celebration
9:00a to 8:00p, tree lit at 6:00p, Downtown Cary Park, 327 S. Academy St., Cary. Photos with Santa 10a to 5p at The Gathering House, a holiday vendor market, reindeer games and more. Academy Street closes 11a to 10p.
Apex Rotary Christmas Parade
5:00p, Salem Street, downtown Apex, Apex, Free. Apex says it is the only nighttime holiday parade in Wake County. Rain or shine. GoApex Route 1 runs a detour route 1p to 10p.
Light the Springs
5:00p to 8:00p, Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs. Menorah lighting, live music, free holiday crafts, Santa's mailbox and Santa, then the town tree lighting.
Apex Holiday Tour of Lights
6:00p to 9:00p nightly, Homes and businesses across Apex (self-guided map), Apex. Drive or walk a town map of lit-up homes and businesses. Stay on sidewalks or in your car.
Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade
4:00p, Downtown Fuquay-Varina, Fuquay-Varina, Free. Hosted by the Writing, Music, and Film Society.
Happy Holly Days Parade
10:00a to 12:00p, Main Street, downtown Holly Springs, Holly Springs, Free.
Family Basketball Ham Toss
6:00p, 7:00p and 8:00p by age group, John M. Brown Community Center, 53 Hunter St., Apex. Teams of one adult and one child from the same family shoot foul shots for a holiday ham. No pre-registration.
Gerald Parker Jazz Orchestra Holiday Show
7:30p to 9:30p, Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, Fuquay-Varina.
Christmas Eve services
Apex Baptist Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
Baptist Grove Baptist Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
Cary First Christian Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
Cornerstone Fellowship Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
Covenant Christian Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
Kirk of Kildaire
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
The Shepherd's Church
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
The Summit Church, Apex
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
The Summit Church, Fuquay-Varina
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
The Summit Church, West Cary
Christmas Eve times not posted yet. We check every week from Nov 1.
The lights map
Opens the day after Thanksgiving
A map of the best-lit houses and streets, added by the people who live there. We show the street address you give us and nothing about who lives there. You can take it down any time.