Free admission
Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting in Moore Square
Fri Nov 20 · 5:30-8 p.m.
Moore Square · Raleigh
Tree lightings, holiday lights & Christmas parades (2026)
Free tree lightings, light walks and holiday parades in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs and Morrisville
Last updated · 16 verified listings · every one links to its source
Every free tree lighting, holiday light walk and Christmas parade around Raleigh that we've confirmed for 2026, soonest first, with tree lightings, light walks and parades in their own sections below. All are free to attend (vendors and extras may charge). Parades close roads, so check each listing for parking and shuttle notes.
| When | What | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Nov 20 · 5:30-8 p.m. | Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting in Moore Square | Raleigh | Free |
| Fri Nov 20 · 5-9 p.m. | Waverly Place Tree Lighting with The Embers (Cary) | Cary | Free |
| Sat Nov 21 · Annual · Sat 4-8 p.m. | Candy Cane Lane in downtown Zebulon: tree lighting, Santa and free crafts (Nov 21) | Zebulon | Free admission |
| Sat Nov 21 · 4-8 p.m. | Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (free) | Durham | Free |
| Sat Nov 21 · Starts 9:30 a.m. | Raleigh Christmas Parade 2026 | Raleigh | Free to watch |
| Fri Dec 4 · 4:30-7 p.m. | Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony | Apex | Free |
| Fri Dec 4 · 5-8 p.m. | Lighting of Wake Forest (tree lighting) | Wake Forest | Free |
| Fri Dec 4 · 6-8 p.m. | Morrisville Christmas Tree Lighting | Morrisville | Free |
| Fri Dec 4 – Sun Dec 13 · Daily, Dec 4-13 · Business hours | Snowman Stroll on Salem: free holiday passport hunt in Apex | Apex | Free |
| Sat Dec 5 · Starts 5 p.m. | Apex Rotary Christmas Parade | Apex | Free to watch |
| Sat Dec 5 – Thu Dec 31 · Nightly, Dec 5-31 · 6-9 p.m. | Joyner Park Evening Holiday Walk (Wake Forest) | Wake Forest | Free |
| Sat Dec 5 · 5-8 p.m. | Light the Springs (Holly Springs tree lighting) | Holly Springs | Free |
| Sat Dec 5 · 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (tree lighting at 6 p.m.) | Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park | Cary | Free |
| Sat Dec 12 · 2-4 p.m. | Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade (Heart of the Holidays) | Cary | Free to watch |
| Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m. | Durham Holiday Parade | Durham | Free to watch |
| Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m. | Happy Holly Days Parade (Holly Springs) | Holly Springs | Free to watch |
Tree lightings (9)
Free admission
Waverly Place Tree Lighting with The Embers (Cary)
Fri Nov 20 · 5-9 p.m.
Waverly Place · Cary
Checked · Source: Waverly Place (official)
Free admission
Candy Cane Lane in downtown Zebulon: tree lighting, Santa and free crafts (Nov 21)
Sat Nov 21 · Annual · Sat 4-8 p.m.
Downtown Zebulon (Arendell Avenue between Vance and Sycamore Streets) · Zebulon
Checked · Source: Town of Zebulon Parks and Recreation (official)
Free admission
Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (free)
Sat Nov 21 · 4-8 p.m.
CCB Plaza, downtown Durham · Durham
Checked · Source: Downtown Durham Inc. (official)
Free admission
Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony
Fri Dec 4 · 4:30-7 p.m.
Apex Town Hall · Apex
Checked · Source: Town of Apex (official)
Free admission
Lighting of Wake Forest (tree lighting)
Fri Dec 4 · 5-8 p.m.
Centennial Plaza · Wake Forest
Checked · Source: Town of Wake Forest (official)
Free admission
Morrisville Christmas Tree Lighting
Fri Dec 4 · 6-8 p.m.
Indian Creek Trailhead · Morrisville
Checked · Source: Town of Morrisville (official)
Free admission
Light the Springs (Holly Springs tree lighting)
Sat Dec 5 · 5-8 p.m.
Downtown Holly Springs · Holly Springs
Checked · Source: Town of Holly Springs (official)
Free admission
Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park
Sat Dec 5 · 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (tree lighting at 6 p.m.)
Downtown Cary Park · Cary
Checked · Source: Downtown Cary Park (official)
Holiday light walks & strolls (2)
Free admission
Snowman Stroll on Salem: free holiday passport hunt in Apex
Fri Dec 4 – Sun Dec 13 · Daily, Dec 4-13 · Business hours
Downtown Apex (Salem St) · Apex
Checked · Source: Town of Apex Economic Development (official)
Free admission
Joyner Park Evening Holiday Walk (Wake Forest)
Sat Dec 5 – Thu Dec 31 · Nightly, Dec 5-31 · 6-9 p.m.
E. Carroll Joyner Park · Wake Forest
Checked · Source: Town of Wake Forest (official)
Christmas & holiday parades (5)
Free to watch
Raleigh Christmas Parade 2026
Sat Nov 21 · Starts 9:30 a.m.
Downtown Raleigh (parade route) · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Greater Raleigh Merchants Association (official)
Free to watch
Apex Rotary Christmas Parade
Sat Dec 5 · Starts 5 p.m.
Salem Street, downtown Apex · Apex
Checked · Source: Town of Apex (official)
Free to watch
Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade (Heart of the Holidays)
Sat Dec 12 · 2-4 p.m.
Downtown Cary · Cary
Checked · Source: Cary Jaycees (official)
Free to watch
Durham Holiday Parade
Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m.
Main Street, downtown Durham · Durham
Free to watch
Happy Holly Days Parade (Holly Springs)
Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m.
Downtown Holly Springs (parade route) · Holly Springs
Checked · Source: Town of Holly Springs (official)
Plan the rest of the season
free Thanksgiving meals & turkey giveaways · free things to do over Thanksgiving break · Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28) · free family fun
Frequently asked questions
When is the Raleigh Christmas Parade 2026?
Sat Nov 21 · Starts 9:30 a.m. in downtown Raleigh. Free to watch: Free along the route. Arrive early for a curbside spot; check the organizer's page for the route map and road closures. Parade details and source.
When is the Raleigh tree lighting?
Fri Nov 20 · 5:30-8 p.m. in Moore Square. Free.
Are there free drive-through Christmas lights near Raleigh?
We haven't verified a free drive-through light display for this season yet, so none is listed. The free walk-around holiday events we have confirmed: Snowman Stroll on Salem: free holiday passport hunt in Apex (Fri Dec 4 – Sun Dec 13 · Daily, Dec 4-13 · Business hours); Joyner Park Evening Holiday Walk (Wake Forest) (Sat Dec 5 – Thu Dec 31 · Nightly, Dec 5-31 · 6-9 p.m.)
What's free in downtown Raleigh for the holidays?
Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting in Moore Square: Fri Nov 20 · 5:30-8 p.m. (Moore Square); Raleigh Christmas Parade 2026: Sat Nov 21 · Starts 9:30 a.m. (Downtown Raleigh (parade route)). Both are free.
Which tree lightings are near Raleigh?
Raleigh: Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting in Moore Square (Fri Nov 20 · 5:30-8 p.m.); Cary: Waverly Place Tree Lighting with The Embers (Cary) (Fri Nov 20 · 5-9 p.m.); Zebulon: Candy Cane Lane in downtown Zebulon: tree lighting, Santa and free crafts (Nov 21) (Sat Nov 21 · Annual · Sat 4-8 p.m.); Durham: Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (free) (Sat Nov 21 · 4-8 p.m.); Apex: Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony (Fri Dec 4 · 4:30-7 p.m.); Wake Forest: Lighting of Wake Forest (tree lighting) (Fri Dec 4 · 5-8 p.m.); Morrisville: Morrisville Christmas Tree Lighting (Fri Dec 4 · 6-8 p.m.); Holly Springs: Light the Springs (Holly Springs tree lighting) (Sat Dec 5 · 5-8 p.m.); Cary: Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park (Sat Dec 5 · 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (tree lighting at 6 p.m.)).
Which Christmas parades are near Raleigh?
Raleigh Christmas Parade 2026 (Sat Nov 21 · Starts 9:30 a.m.); Apex Rotary Christmas Parade (Sat Dec 5 · Starts 5 p.m.); Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade (Heart of the Holidays) (Sat Dec 12 · 2-4 p.m.); Durham Holiday Parade (Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m.); Happy Holly Days Parade (Holly Springs) (Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m.)
How we verify: we read each offer on the business, museum or organizer's own website (or an official post) and record the date. Offers change, so please confirm before you go. Spot something wrong? Use “Report a problem” on that listing's page. How we verify.
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