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Holiday markets in Raleigh and the Triangle in 2026 include church craft fairs on November 14, A Shopping SPREE at the Raleigh Convention Center November 20 to 22, the Christmas Carousel at the State Fairgrounds November 27 to 29, and December markets such as Saint Nicholas European Christmas Market, Moore Square Winterfaire and the Durham Craft Market Holiday Market. Cary, Apex and Durham each host their own craft fairs and holiday markets through mid-December.
Every date, time and place below comes from the group that runs the event, and each one links to its source. Where a detail is not posted yet, we say so. Hours and admission can change, so check the source page before you go.
Quick look: 2026 Triangle holiday market dates
- Nov 14: St. Michael Holiday Craft Fair (Cary), St. Andrew Holiday Craft Fair (Apex), Mistletoe Market (Wakefield High School, Raleigh)
- Nov 20 to 22: A Shopping SPREE, Raleigh Convention Center
- Nov 21: NCSU Holiday Crafts Fair (Raleigh) and Cary Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair
- Nov 21 to 22: Durham Art Walk Holiday Market
- Nov 27 to 29: Christmas Carousel, NC State Fairgrounds
- Dec 4 to 5: Saint Nicholas European Christmas Market, NC State Fairgrounds
- Dec 5: Scandinavian Christmas Fair and Holiday Market at NCMA
- Dec 11 to 13: Moore Square Winterfaire, downtown Raleigh
- Dec 13: Artspace Holiday Mini Mall (Raleigh) and Durham Craft Market Holiday Market
Mid-November craft fairs
St. Michael Holiday Craft Fair (Cary)
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Parish Center, St. Michael the Archangel, 800 High House Road, Cary
Admission: Free
Source: St. Michael the Archangel
The 17th annual fair features more than 40 local crafters, artists and makers. Vendor fees and raffle proceeds support the St. Michael Preschool Scholarship Fund.
St. Andrew Holiday Craft Fair (Apex)
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Saint Andrew the Apostle, 3008 Old Raleigh Road, Apex
Source: Saint Andrew the Apostle
The parish lists this as its Holiday Craft Fair on the church calendar. Check the event page for the latest vendor and admission details before you go.
Mistletoe Market (north Raleigh)
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: Wakefield High School, 2200 Wakefield Pines Drive, Raleigh
Source: Visit Raleigh and Wakefield HS Givebacks
Presented for the benefit of the Wakefield High School PTSA, with more than 200 vendors. Admission details are on the Visit Raleigh and Givebacks pages.
Late November markets
A Shopping SPREE (downtown Raleigh)
Dates: November 20 to 22, 2026
Hours: Friday Merry Morning 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., then general shopping Friday 12 to 6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh
Source: Junior League of Raleigh GiveSmart tickets and Junior League of Raleigh
The Junior League of Raleigh's long-running fundraiser brings more than 100 merchants into the Convention Center. Parking is available in the Convention Center Underground Deck at 1 W. Lenoir Street. The Raleigh Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 21, will affect morning road access and parking downtown.
Living near downtown or thinking about it? See our Raleigh area guide.
NCSU Holiday Crafts Fair (Raleigh)
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: The Crafts Center, Thompson Hall, 210 Jensen Drive, Raleigh
Source: NC State Crafts Center
This is the Crafts Center's 41st annual fair. Work comes from Crafts Center students, instructors and studio members.
Cary Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Cary Senior Center, 120 Maury O'Dell Place, Cary
Admission: Free
Source: Town of Cary
Makers age 50 and older sell original art and handmade gifts. Refreshments are available for purchase. For more on the town, see our Cary area guide.
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market
Dates: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 22, 1 to 5 p.m.
Place: Starts at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris Street, and spreads across downtown Durham venues
Admission: Free
Source: Durham Arts Council
Indoor and outdoor markets with regional artists, handmade goods, live music and local food. The Durham Arts Council indoor and outdoor market alone features more than 50 artists. See our Durham area guide if you are exploring the city.
Thanksgiving weekend
Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market
Dates: November 27 to 29, 2026
Hours: Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Jim Graham Building, NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh
Source: Christmas Carousel
More than 250 exhibitors fill about 90,000 square feet with arts, crafts, holiday foods, gifts and decorations. Parking at the fairgrounds is free. Tickets are sold online and at the door; see the organizer site for current admission.
December markets
Saint Nicholas European Christmas Market
Dates: Friday, December 4, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Agri-Supply Exposition Center, NC State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh
Admission: Free (donations appreciated)
Source: Saint Nicholas Market
Sponsored by Sts. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church. European gifts and foods, Vendor Village makers, carolers, dancers and The Little German Band.
Scandinavian Christmas Fair
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Kerr Scott Building, NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
Source: Scandinavian Christmas Fair
Sponsored by the Carl Larsson Lodge of the Vasa Order of America. Nordic crafts, food and stage entertainment, including a Lucia Procession. Tickets are sold through the organizer site.
Holiday Market at the North Carolina Museum of Art
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
Source: Triangle Pop-Up
Local artists set up in the museum plaza as part of Triangle Pop-Up's monthly series. You can shop, then walk the galleries or Museum Park.
Moore Square Winterfaire
Dates: Friday, December 11, 2026, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, December 12, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, December 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Moore Square, 201 S. Blount Street, Raleigh
Admission: Free
Source: MAKRS / Moore Square Winterfaire
Raleigh Parks and MAKRS present a European-style Christmas market with more than 70 vendors, food trucks, live music, the Little German Band and Santa. Street and deck parking options are listed on the event page.
Artspace Holiday Mini Mall
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2026
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Artspace, 201 E. Davie Street, Raleigh
Source: Artspace Holiday Mini Mall (Eventbrite)
Studio artists and guest vendors under one roof in downtown Raleigh. Confirm the latest admission and registration details on the Eventbrite page before you go.
Durham Craft Market Holiday Market
Date: Sunday, December 13, 2026
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Durham Central Park Pavilion, 501 Foster Street, Durham
Source: Durham Craft Market
More than 50 local artists under the pavilion, with live music, baked goods and coffee listed on the organizer page.
Pair markets with lights and parades
Many of these weekends overlap with tree lightings, parades and light displays. See our guides to holiday lights in the Triangle 2026, Christmas parades and tree lightings in the Triangle 2026, and the best events in the Triangle this November.
Tips for holiday market weekends
- Confirm before you drive. Dates and hours come from organizer pages checked on November 6, 2026, and they can still change.
- Plan for parade traffic. A Shopping SPREE notes that the Raleigh Christmas Parade on November 21 affects morning access and parking downtown.
- Fairgrounds parking is usually plentiful. Christmas Carousel says parking at the NC State Fairgrounds is free.
- Stack a market with a lights stop. Several December markets sit near Blue Ridge Road and the fairgrounds, close to the NC Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary.
Exploring the Triangle this season?
Holiday markets are a simple way to get to know downtowns and neighborhoods before you buy or sell. If you are weighing a move or a listing over the holidays, request a free home value report, or contact us or call (919) 263-7653. Caul Group Residential is the #1 Resale Team in the Triangle.
Frequently asked questions
What holiday markets are in Raleigh this year?
Major Raleigh options in 2026 include Mistletoe Market at Wakefield High School on November 14, A Shopping SPREE at the Raleigh Convention Center November 20 to 22, the NCSU Holiday Crafts Fair on November 21, Christmas Carousel at the State Fairgrounds November 27 to 29, Saint Nicholas European Christmas Market and the Scandinavian Christmas Fair in early December, Moore Square Winterfaire December 11 to 13, and Artspace Holiday Mini Mall on December 13.
Are there free holiday markets in the Triangle?
Yes. Organizers list free admission for the St. Michael Holiday Craft Fair in Cary, the Cary Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair, the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market, Saint Nicholas European Christmas Market (donations appreciated) and Moore Square Winterfaire. Other events sell tickets; check each source page.
When is Christmas Carousel at the State Fairgrounds?
Christmas Carousel runs November 27 to 29, 2026, in the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds. Hours are Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What holiday markets are in Durham in 2026?
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market is November 21 to 22 across downtown venues, starting at the Durham Arts Council. Durham Craft Market Holiday Market is Sunday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Durham Central Park.
When is A Shopping SPREE in Raleigh?
A Shopping SPREE is November 20 to 22, 2026, at the Raleigh Convention Center. General shopping hours are Friday 12 to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a Merry Morning session Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sources checked November 6, 2026: St. Michael Holiday Craft Fair; Saint Andrew Holiday Craft Fair; Visit Raleigh, Mistletoe Market; JLR A Shopping SPREE GiveSmart; NC State Crafts Center; Town of Cary Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair; Durham Art Walk Holiday Market; Christmas Carousel; Saint Nicholas Market; Scandinavian Christmas Fair; Triangle Pop-Up NCMA market; Moore Square Winterfaire; Artspace Holiday Mini Mall; Durham Craft Market Holiday Market. Dates, hours and admission are set by each organizer and can change.
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