Best Events in the Triangle This November 2026
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November in the Triangle starts with Durham's new FRINGE festival and Raleigh's City of Oaks Marathon, and builds to one big holiday weekend: the downtown Raleigh tree lighting on Friday, November 20, then the Raleigh Christmas Parade and the opening of the NC Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary on Saturday, November 21. Thanksgiving morning, November 26, brings turkey trots in Raleigh, Durham and Wake Forest.
Here are the dates, times and places for the best events across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Cary this month. Every detail below comes from the event's organizer, the town or the local visitor bureau. Plans can change, so check the organizer's page before you go.
Quick look: November 2026 in the Triangle
- Oct 30 to Nov 8: Durham FRINGE Festival, downtown Durham
- Sun, Nov 1: City of Oaks Marathon, Raleigh
- Fri, Nov 6: First Friday, downtown Fuquay-Varina
- Sat, Nov 7: BBQ, Blues & Brews, Fuquay-Varina, and Festifall Arts Market, Chapel Hill
- Fri, Nov 13: 2nd Friday Art Walk, Chapel Hill and Carrboro
- Nov 19 to Jan 2: FestiBull of Lights, Durham Bulls Athletic Park (select nights)
- Fri, Nov 20: Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting, and Jazz & Jive Night in downtown Apex
- Sat, Nov 21: Raleigh Christmas Parade, Christmas at North Hills, Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off and Durham Art Walk Holiday Market
- Nov 21 to Jan 10: NC Chinese Lantern Festival, Cary
- Thu, Nov 26: Thanksgiving turkey trots in Raleigh, Durham and Wake Forest
Arts, food and festivals
Durham FRINGE Festival
Location: More than 20 venues across downtown Durham
Dates: Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 8, 2026
The Carolina Theatre's first-ever FRINGE festival turns downtown Durham into a stage for 10 days. More than 50 Durham-based artists are putting on dance, theater, live music, comedy, poetry, puppetry and interactive shows in galleries, restaurants, shops and green spaces. Some events are free and open to the public. Others need a ticket, sold through the Carolina Theatre. Shows aren't inside the theater itself, so check each listing for the venue. The FRINGE Lounge is at 113 Orange Street.
BBQ, Blues & Brews
Location: Varina Parking Lot, 801 Durham St., Fuquay-Varina
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026, noon to 4 p.m.
Fuquay-Varina's barbecue festival is back for its 11th year. Sample and judge barbecue from regional grill masters, listen to live blues, try local craft drinks and shop a makers' market. It's rain or shine, and the organizer asks guests to leave pets at home because of the crowds and loud music.
The night before, Friday, November 6, is First Friday in downtown Fuquay-Varina, from 5 to 9 p.m., with shops and restaurants in both downtown districts open late.
Festifall Arts Market
Location: 100 East Rosemary Street, downtown Chapel Hill
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026, noon to 5 p.m.
Chapel Hill's arts market turns 53 this year and moves to a new, bigger spot on East Rosemary Street. Browse more than 50 booths of paintings, pottery, jewelry, woodwork and more, with live music all afternoon. It's free. There's no parking at the site; the Rosemary Parking Deck is closest.
2nd Friday Art Walk
Location: Galleries, studios, shops and restaurants in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
Date: Friday, November 13, 2026, 6 to 9 p.m.
Galleries, studios and shops in both towns stay open late, with live music, performances and spoken word poetry. It happens rain or shine.
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market
Location: Starts at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St., with venues across downtown Durham
Dates: Saturday, November 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 22, 1 to 5 p.m.
This free two-day market brings regional artists, handmade goods, live music and local food to indoor and outdoor spots across downtown. It's an easy walk and a good start on holiday shopping.
Holiday lights, parades and downtown nights
FestiBull of Lights
Location: Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St., Durham
Dates: Opens Thursday, November 19, 2026, 5:30 to 9 p.m., then select nights through January 2, 2027
The ballpark becomes a walk-through light show set to holiday music. Visitors can meet Santa, ride the NC by Train Holiday Express, make crafts and roast s'mores. Tickets are required for guests 3 and up. It isn't open every night (it's closed on Thanksgiving, for one), so check the calendar before you go.
Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting
Location: Moore Square, downtown Raleigh
Date: Friday, November 20, 2026 (holiday market 5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Raleigh's tree lighting returns to Moore Square with a holiday vendor market. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance expects more than 4,000 people. It's part of the City of Raleigh's Raleigh for the Holidays season.
Jazz & Jive Night in downtown Apex
Location: The Depot parking lot, 220 N. Salem St., downtown Apex
Date: Friday, November 20, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m.
Part of the Town of Apex's Love Local Fall Into Downtown series, this evening brings jazz to downtown Apex the same night as the Raleigh tree lighting.
Raleigh Christmas Parade
Location: Downtown Raleigh, starting at Hillsborough and St. Mary's streets
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 9:30 a.m.
The 82nd Raleigh Christmas Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. and travels about 1.4 miles through downtown, past the State Capitol and down Fayetteville Street. Expect marching bands, dancers and giant balloons for about two and a half hours. Visit Raleigh calls it the largest parade of its kind between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. It's free to watch, and ABC11 airs it live from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Christmas at North Hills
Location: North Hills Commons, 4321 Lassiter at North Hills Ave., Raleigh
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 4 to 7 p.m.
Midtown Raleigh's tree lighting has been a tradition for more than 20 years. The evening has live entertainment, kids' crafts and a vendor village, and ends when Santa arrives and the 41-foot tree lights up.
Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off
Location: Downtown Wake Forest
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026, noon to 4 p.m.
Wake Forest starts its holiday season with a free downtown afternoon of activities, food vendors and a stage, and launches its annual Holiday Donation Drive. East Owen Avenue and part of South White Street close for the day. The Town suggests the free lots at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, all within about a 15-minute walk.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival
Location: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
Dates: Saturday, November 21, 2026, to Sunday, January 10, 2027, nightly 6 to 10 p.m. (closed Christmas Day)
The lantern festival is back for its 11th year with all-new displays, including a 164-foot floating display on Symphony Lake, and cultural performances on the main stage each night. Twilight Session tickets let you in early, at 4:30 p.m. On Thanksgiving, gates are open 6 to 9 p.m. only. Tickets are mobile only, children 2 and under get in free, and the venue is cashless.
Races and Thanksgiving morning
City of Oaks Marathon
Location: Raleigh
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 7 a.m. start
Raleigh's fall marathon weekend kicks off the month. The full and half marathons start at 7 a.m., and the full marathon course closes at 1 p.m. Packet pickup is at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on Friday, October 30, or Saturday, October 31, and there's no race-day pickup. The race also offers bib mailing, so check its packet pickup page for details. Driving that morning? Plan for road closures along the course.
Thanksgiving turkey trots, Thursday, November 26
- Gobbler's Run 5K, Wake Forest. Starts and ends at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, 325 S. Wingate St., at 8 a.m., and runs through downtown and along North Main Street. It began in 2006 and benefits the Boys & Girls Club. Race-day sign-up is 6:45 to 8 a.m.
- TROSA Turkey Trot 5K, Durham. Starts at 8 a.m. on TROSA's campus, 1820 James Street. Parking is at M&F Corporate Center, with shuttles to the start.
- Raleigh Turkey Trot, Raleigh. Starts at 8:30 a.m.
- Trophy Trot 5K, Dix Park, Raleigh. Kids' race at 8:45 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m., starting at 1251 Goode Street, with an afterparty at Trophy Brewing. Proceeds support Healing Transitions. Roads near the park close until 10:30 a.m.
More dates to know
- Tuesday, November 10: The City of Raleigh hosts a brunch honoring veterans at the John Chavis Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's free for veterans and $5 for guests, and registration is required.
- Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day. City of Raleigh offices are closed.
- Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27: City of Raleigh offices are closed for Thanksgiving.
- Saturday, November 28: Small Business Saturday in downtown Fuquay-Varina.
Thinking about calling the Triangle home?
A month like this shows off what each town has: a downtown parade in Raleigh, a ballpark full of lights in Durham, a small-town kickoff in Wake Forest and art walks in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. If you're thinking about a move, it's a good time to see these places for yourself.
We have been in real estate since 2001. To learn more about the towns behind these events, start with our Raleigh area guide, our North Hills neighborhood guide, and our guides to Durham and Wake Forest.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Raleigh Christmas Parade in 2026?
The 82nd Raleigh Christmas Parade is Saturday, November 21, 2026. It starts at 9:30 a.m. at Hillsborough and St. Mary's streets and lasts about two and a half hours. It's free to watch, and ABC11 airs it live.
When is the downtown Raleigh tree lighting in 2026?
The Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting is Friday, November 20, 2026, at Moore Square, with a holiday vendor market from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
When does the NC Chinese Lantern Festival open in 2026?
The NC Chinese Lantern Festival opens Saturday, November 21, 2026, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary and runs through January 10, 2027. It's open nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. and closed on Christmas Day.
What free events are in the Triangle in November 2026?
The Raleigh Christmas Parade (November 21), Festifall Arts Market in Chapel Hill (November 7), the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-Off (November 21) and the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market (November 21 and 22) are all free. Durham FRINGE also has some free shows.
Where are turkey trots in the Triangle on Thanksgiving 2026?
On Thursday, November 26, you can run the Gobbler's Run 5K in Wake Forest (8 a.m.), the TROSA Turkey Trot 5K in Durham (8 a.m.), the Raleigh Turkey Trot (8:30 a.m.) or the Trophy Trot 5K at Dix Park in Raleigh (9 a.m.).
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