Christmas Parades and Tree Lightings in the Triangle 2026

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The 2026 Raleigh Christmas Parade is Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in downtown Raleigh, the night after the Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting at Moore Square on Friday, November 20. Many other Triangle towns hold their tree lightings on December 3 to 5 and their parades on December 5, 6 or 12, including Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Durham. Every date, time and place below comes from the town or the group that runs the event, and each one links to its source. Where a town has not posted a detail yet, we say so. Plans can change with the weather, so check the source page before you go.

Quick look: 2026 Triangle parade and tree lighting dates

• Fri, Nov 20: Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting, Moore Square
• Sat, Nov 21: Raleigh Christmas Parade (9:30 a.m.) and Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (4 to 8 p.m.)
• Thu, Dec 3: Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting and Clayton Christmas Village and Tree Lighting
• Fri, Dec 4: Tree lightings in Apex, Wake Forest, Morrisville and Knightdale, plus Wendell Wonderland
• Sat, Dec 5: Cary Tree Lighting Celebration, Light the Springs in Holly Springs, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade (10 a.m.), Garner Christmas Parade (about 4:30 p.m.) and Apex Rotary Christmas Parade (5 p.m.)
• Sun, Dec 6: Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade (4 p.m.)
• Sat, Dec 12: Parades in Durham (10 a.m.), Holly Springs (10 a.m.), Knightdale (10 a.m.), Cary (2 p.m.) and Clayton

Raleigh

Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting

Date: Friday, November 20, 2026 Time: Holiday Vendor Market 5:30 to 8 p.m. (the exact lighting time is not posted yet) Place: Moore Square, downtown Raleigh Source: Downtown Raleigh Alliance It is part of the City of Raleigh's Raleigh for the Holidays season, and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance expects more than 4,000 people.

Raleigh Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Place: Starts at Hillsborough Street and St. Mary's Street and travels about 1.4 miles through downtown Raleigh Source: Greater Raleigh Merchants Association The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association has run the parade since 1944. Its site has a route map and answers on parking and road closures. Living near downtown or thinking about it? See our Raleigh area guide.

Durham

Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting

Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026 Time: 4 to 8 p.m. Place: CCB Plaza, 201 Corcoran Street Source: Downtown Durham Inc. Music, dancing, Santa, treats and a kid zone.

Durham Holiday Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026 Time: 10 a.m. Place: Main Street, downtown Durham Source: Durham Parks and Recreation Free, rain or shine. Seating is not provided, so bring a chair or blanket.

Cary

Tree Lighting Celebration

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026 Time: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Place: Downtown Cary Park Source: Town of Cary Heart of the Holidays

Cary Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026 Time: 2 to 4 p.m. Place: Starts on E. Chatham Street at Ward Street, turns onto S. Academy Street and ends at Dry Avenue by the Cary Arts Center Source: Cary Jaycees and Town of Cary This is the 47th annual parade, and WRAL plans to live-stream it. There is no special parade parking; the Jaycees point to Town of Cary public lots, and parking along the route is not allowed. For more on the town, read Living in Cary, NC.

Apex

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 Time: 4:30 to 7 p.m. Place: Town Hall Campus, 73 Hunter Street Source: Town of Apex Run by the Town, with Santa and Mrs. Claus, craft stations, holiday vendors and school performances.

Apex Rotary Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026 Time: 5 p.m. Place: Salem Street, downtown Apex Source: Town of Apex The Town says it is the only nighttime holiday parade in Wake County. It is rain or shine, parking is limited on nearby streets, and GoApex Route 1 runs a detour that day.

Holly Springs

Light the Springs

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026 Time: 5 to 8 p.m. Place: Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 West Ballentine Street Source: Town of Holly Springs The evening starts with a menorah lighting and ends with Santa and the mayor lighting the Town tree.

Happy Holly Days Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026 Time: 10 a.m. Place: Main Street through downtown Holly Springs Source: Town of Holly Springs Held on the second Saturday of December each year.

Wake Forest

Lighting of Wake Forest

Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 Time: 5 to 8 p.m. (the Town says the tree is usually lit at about 6:15 p.m.) Place: Centennial Plaza, Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks Street Source: Town of Wake Forest Free parking is at the Center for Active Aging and in downtown lots. Christmas parade: the Town's 2026 holiday schedule does not list a Christmas parade yet, so check back. The same schedule lists the Downtown Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Morrisville

Christmas Tree Lighting

Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Place: Indian Creek Trailhead, 101 Town Hall Drive Source: Town of Morrisville Free. Park at Cedar Fork Community Center and take the shuttle. Accessible parking is at Town Hall.

Fuquay-Varina

Town Tree Lighting

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026 Time: 6 to 8 p.m. (the tree and menorah are lit at 6 p.m.) Place: Vance Street parking lot, 205 S. Main Street, downtown Fuquay Source: Town of Fuquay-Varina Holiday Happenings

Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade

Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026 Time: 4 p.m. Place: Downtown Fuquay Source: Town of Fuquay-Varina calendar Hosted by the Writing, Music, and Film Society. Downtown streets start closing at 1 p.m.; the Town's Holiday Happenings page links the closure and route map.

Garner

Garner Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026 Time: About 4:30 p.m. Place: Main Street, downtown Garner Source: Garner Christmas Parade (Garner Optimist Club) and Town of Garner The Town of Garner's free Holiday Block Party runs from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Garner Recreation Center before the parade.

Chapel Hill and Carrboro

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026 Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Place: Starts at 140 West Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and ends in Carrboro Source: Chapel Hill Community Arts and Culture and Town of Carrboro Free and open to all.

Knightdale

Christmas on First Avenue Tree Lighting

Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 Time: 6 to 8 p.m. (tree lighting program at 7:45 p.m.) Place: Knightdale Station Park Source: Town of Knightdale Pictures with Santa are free from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Knightdale Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026 Time: 10 to 11 a.m. Place: Listed at Knightdale Station Park Source: Town of Knightdale

Wendell

Wendell Wonderland and Tree Lighting

Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 Time: Evening (start time not posted yet) Place: Downtown Wendell Source: Town of Wendell Free. The Town tree lighting, Santa, a craft market, food trucks, trolley rides and the Lake Myra Christmas Light Show. Main Street from Fourth to Second Street closes for the event.

Clayton

Christmas Village and Tree Lighting

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026 Time: Time not posted yet Place: Downtown Clayton Source: Town of Clayton Christmas in Clayton

Clayton Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026 Time: Time not posted yet Place: Downtown Clayton Source: Town of Clayton Christmas in Clayton Check back on the Town's page for the start time and route.

Tips for parade and tree lighting nights

• Arrive early. Cary and Fuquay-Varina close downtown streets one to three hours before their parades start, and parking along the Cary and Apex routes is not allowed or limited.
• Bring your own chair or blanket. Durham says seating is not provided.
• Check the source page the morning of the event for weather changes and road closures.
• Want to see more than one? Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5, have the most events on this list.

Thinking about selling or moving in the Triangle?

Holiday events are a good way to get a feel for a town's downtown and streets. If you are weighing a move, or thinking about selling before the new year, start with a free home value estimate or call us at (919) 263-7653. Our founder is Tina Caul. Looking for more to do this month? See our guide to the best events in the Triangle this November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Raleigh Christmas Parade in 2026?

The Raleigh Christmas Parade is Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. It starts at Hillsborough Street and St. Mary's Street and travels about 1.4 miles through downtown Raleigh.

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 is the Cary Christmas Parade in 2026?

The Cary Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. in downtown Cary. The Cary Tree Lighting Celebration is Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Downtown Cary Park.

When is the Holly Springs Christmas parade in 2026?

The Happy Holly Days Parade is Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. on Main Street. Light the Springs, the Town tree lighting, is Saturday, December 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Holly Springs Cultural Center.

When is the Durham Christmas parade in 2026?

The Durham Holiday Parade is Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 10 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Durham. The Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting is Saturday, November 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. at CCB Plaza.

Is there a Wake Forest Christmas parade in 2026?

The Town of Wake Forest's 2026 holiday schedule does not list a Christmas parade yet. The Lighting of Wake Forest is Friday, December 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

When is the Apex Christmas parade in 2026?

The Apex Rotary Christmas Parade is Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. on Salem Street. The Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony is Friday, December 4, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Town Hall Campus.