We have close to 60 events listed this weekend. In this newsletter, we are concentrating on the holiday events. Feel free to go to ParkGeek.com and look up this weekend's dates on the Event Search for a complete listing of the Triangle's events.

 

 Downtown Fuquay-Varina will offer Holiday Sleigh Rides in combination with their Tree Lighting on Thursday night.

 

The Holly Springs Community Band will get you in the holiday spirit with a free concert Thursday night at the Holly Springs Cultural Center.

 

The fun continues Friday night in Holly Springs with A Main Street Christmas. Not only will Santa be there to light the tree, but there will also be caroling, a hay ride, storytelling by Mrs. Claus, treats, hot beverages, arts & crafts for kids and musical entertainment.

 

The fun continues on Saturday with the Happy Holly Days Christmas Parade. There will be floats and marching bands including Holly Springs High School, plus Scout troops, Holly Springs School of Dance, Shriners in their miniature trucks, and much more. This year, the area's Girl Scouts are working with the Holly Springs Food Cupboard so bring some non perishable food items to donate. The Scouts will be collecting along the parade route and there will be drop off boxes located in Downtown.

 

The Town of Morrisville Christmas Tree Lighting Friday night will be a festive event featuring musical entertainment, crafts for the children, and refreshments.

Head over to Downtown Carrboro on Friday night to enjoy lighting up the town for the Carrboro Tree Lighting.

 

Durham will ring in the Holiday Friday night with the American Tobacco Tower Lighting. Also starting Friday and going until Dec 20th, you will want to check out the Triangle Tree Challenge. Located on the Diamond View Lawn adjacent to DPAC, more than 60 trees are gloriously decorated by area nonprofits that are looking for your vote.

 

The Lighting of Wake Forest Friday night will include not only the lighting of their 30' Tree, but also the arrival of Jolly Old St. Nick, performances by local choirs and horse and carriage rides. Bring a canned food item to help restock the shelves of the Tri-Area Food Pantry.

 

Show off your holiday spirit at the annual Wake Forest Christmas Parade on Saturday. While you are in downtown Wake Forest, stop by the depot parking lot for Pictures with Santa.

 

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade on Saturday will bring the holidays alive with music, dancing, marching bands, scout troops and more in this annual celebration of their community spirit.

 

The Cary Christmas Parade on Saturday is a joyful celebration, which includes bands, mascots, local businesses, community groups, and churches all coming together in Downtown Cary.

 

Sunday afternoon, Downtown Raleigh will host Our Lady of Guadalupe Parade. The procession in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe is an annual event of Sacred Heart Cathedral where the faithful pray and sing hymns as they walk from the church ground and back.

 

 

Join the Governor for the State Tree Lighting Thursday night. The evening will include the lighting of luminaries and musical performances on the Capitol grounds. Then the Governor and First Gentleman will light the state Christmas Tree. While at the Capitol, make sure to peek inside and enjoy the State Capitol Holiday Open House. The building is decorated for the season and there will local performers featured. The North Carolina Museum of History will even stay open late to join in on the festivities before and after the Tree Lighting. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will also extend their hours and feature Science Trivia at this week's Science Cafe.

 

Celebrate an 1870 Christmas during the evening Candlelight Tours of Duke Homestead. The Friday night tour features period decorations, caroling, hot apple cider, and other goodies.

 

Mordecai Historic Park is hosting three wonderful holiday events. There will be a Holiday Open House Friday, Saturday & Sunday that is free and does not require reservations. The Holiday Lantern Tours are Saturday only and do require reservations and have an admission charge. Santa's Trolley will run on the 15th and 22nd from Mordecai Historic Park. You can help Holly the Elf find Santa by jumping on board this special trolley tour and make a special stop to get a taste of Santa's favorite treat.

 

This season, learn how to make unique gifts inspired by the history of Yates Mill. Create your own greeting cards and weave a Dutch Heart to fill with a special surprise during Saturday's Homemade Holidays program. Gifts, crafts and of course delicious Yates Mill cornmeal will be on sale Saturday for their annual Holiday Gift Sale.

 

The North Carolina Museum of History invites you to Ornamental Holidays. Stop by on Saturday and see how to make a traditional North Carolina ornament.

 

The Nativity in Art, Words, and Music on Saturday at the North Csrolina Museum of Art will incorporate musicians from the North Carolina Symphony and Church of the Nativity in Raleigh along with Curator of European Art David Steel in presenting a special Christmas story.

The Raleigh Winterfest Ice Rink is open now through the end of January. Just $8 gets you onto the rink and skate rental. Click through for more information and a schedule of the special events.

 

Celebrate the season as Pullen Park is transformed into a Holiday Wonderland. Enjoy holiday lights and displays, a lighted train ride, local entertainment,

carousel ride, crafts, visit with Santa and more. The event goes Thursday through Sunday so click through for information on how to get your advanced tickets.

 

The Festive Santa Paintings Collection will continue to be on display through December 16th at the Burwell School Historic Site.

 

The Natural Science Center of Greensboro invites you to join them daily for their Laser Holiday Show and the 3D film, The Light Before Christmas.

 

The Wonderland Express will be delighting train lovers at the Museum of Life and Science through January 6th.

 

Join Durant Nature Park on Saturday to learn how to make a Holiday Wreath.

 

The The Happy Valley Pals will be performing their special holiday tradition, "Breaking Up Christmas" Sunday afternoon at the North Carolina Museum of History.

 

First Friday

 

Head on over to Bass Lake Park for Family Fun Night. After enjoying fishing, arts & crafts and some live animals, you will be treated to a lively concert by Trish Miller.

 

Crowder by Night will feature the magic of the Winter Sky. Bundle up and use binoculars to learn your way around winter's constellations. You can even help gather data for an international citizen science project.

 

First Friday at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will feature the Outer Limits: Demon with the Glass Hand, from Season 2 of the "Outer Limits" television series along with an opening reception for quilter Charlotte Ziebarth, whose show "Visions of Trees Dance in My Head" will run through January 7th and discount tickets to see the "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition."

 

The North Carolina Museum of Art will feature music by the David Dyer Trio and an exploration of the Not-so-Still Life.

 

The Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education invites you to join Join Steve Stone from the American Wildlife Refuge as he talks about Birds of Prey that he has rehabbed and shows you the live birds as he talks about them on Friday afternoon.