Illuminate Your Holidays: Raleigh’s Spectacular Christmas Light Displays Await!

‘Tis the season to be dazzled! As the air turns crisp and the holiday spirit fills the air, Raleigh and its neighboring areas and counties transform into a magical wonderland of twinkling lights and festive cheer.

Join us on a luminous journey as we unveil the best Christmas light displays in and around Raleigh for 2023, where neighborhoods and attractions come alive with the spirit of the season.

From whimsical winter wonderlands to synchronized light shows that will leave you in awe, discover the enchanting destinations that are sure to make your holidays merry and bright.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the dazzling world of festive illumination – a treat for the entire family that promises to make this holiday season unforgettable. We’re sharing Christmas light displays in Raleigh, Wake County, the Triangle, and even down to Johnston County – because why not!

Don’t forget to put Christmas music on in your car as you drive around!

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HOLT ROAD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS, APEX

• Where: 1012 Holt Rd, Apex, NC
• When: Nov 30 – Dec 26, 2023
• Cost: $20 per vehicle
• Tickets

Known to be one of the best Christmas light displays in North Carolina is located on Holt Road, Apex. The Holt Road Christmas Lights is one family’s tradition of decorating their private home in an elaborate fashion as a way of bringing Christmas joy to the local community.

You can drive through to see the light display, which is on select nights throughout the season. Check the Facebook page for those details. 

Not only is this a way of giving to local community, MG and his family use this to expand his global reach for his humanitarian efforts in helping those displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.

We have already experienced the 2023 Christmas light displays at Holt Road and were very impressed.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, Cary

• Where: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
• When: Nov 17, 2023-Jan 24,2024
  • Mon.-Sun., 6-10pm; performances: 7pm, 8pm and 9pm, nightly
• Cost: Start at $11
• Website: BoothAmpitheatre.com

Not really a Raleigh Christmas light display, but a firm favorite for a Holiday light show experience. The North Carolina Chinese Lantern has hundreds of themed larger-than-life lanterns on display creating an incredible, colorful adventure for you to walk through during the holiday season. 

More than 15,000 LED lights make up 40 distinct displays, including a 200-foot-long, 21-foot-tall mythical dragon that sits on Symphony Lake and 3-ton Chinese palace. It’s really quite spectacular and magical, especially since they are all hand-crafted. We enjoyed visiting for the first time in 2023. Learn more about this Chinese lantern Festival in Cary.

ILLUMINATE ART WALK, Downtown Raleigh

• Where: Downtown Raleigh
• When: Dec 1, 2023 – Jan 5, 2024
• Cost: Free
• Website

Born out of the pandemic and now a regular Holiday event in Raleigh is the highly enjoyable Illuminate Art Walk. Parts of the Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South districts transform with large-scale, interactive and light-based art pieces that are unique and family friendly.

They won’t all feature Christmas Light displays, some are just illuminated art pieces. But some will be like the Christmas ornament outside Martin Marietta Center and it’s still a fun Christmas light event to experience.

Grab yourself a coffee, hot chocolate, or now, thanks to Sip and Stroll, something a little stronger and enjoy the art displays on the streets and in storefront windows. Read our Illuminate Art Walk Guide

Downtown Cary Christmas Lights

• Where: Downtown Cary (Academy St)
• When: Nov 30, 2023 – Jan 5, 2024
• Cost: Free

Downtown Cary puts on a fantastic Christmas lights display that you can explore by foot. Most of the displays are on Sth Academy St, plus some near the library, a few along W Chatham Street, and don’t miss the big Christmas tree on N Academy St.

The entire display of community art, lanterns and lights in this quaint town will bring back nostalgic memories of Christmas past. Plus, now with the new Downtown Cary Park you can expect even more dazzling lights and activities to plan your light walk around. Dec 2nd is their annual lighting of the tree with celebrations all day long. (see more holiday events and December events)

While here you can also look at the Gifting Tree Project along Academy St. Local families, schools, and organizations decorate their tree in a competition to win a donation (provided by The Mayton) to the nonprofit group of their choice. This year we will again have prizes for the top three trees. 

Holiday Tour of Lights, Apex

December 2nd – 31st | Every night 6:00 – 9:00 pm

The Holiday Tour of Lights is a wonderful way to tour homes in Apex and see the beautiful light displays put on by local homes and businesses.

The Tour of Lights provides a map with the most efficient way to see all the stops along the tour. Hop in the car, turn on your favorite holiday playlist, and enjoy the lights!

NCMA Winter Lantern Walk

• Where: NC Museum of Art
• When: Sun Dec 9; 4:30-6:30pm
• Cost: Free
• Register

honor the quiet beauty of the approaching winter season with a magical handmade paper lantern walk through the Museum Park. Bring your own homemade lantern (no flames) or come early to make one while supplies last. The lantern procession begins at 5:30 pm from the Ellipse.

WOOL E. BULL’S WINTER WONDERLAND, Durham

• Where: Durham Bulls Athletic Park
• When: Wednesday, November 22 and continues most nights through December 31
• Cost: $11+
• Tickets

A new Christmas Event in the Triangle for 2023 is the Wool E’s Winter Wonderland, hosted by WRAL and the Durham Bulls. The ballpark will be covered with 13,000 lights along 4 miles.

There’ll also be a holiday light show at the stadium, tubing down the Frosty Funk Hill, and a Bulls Express Train around the stadium. Plus meet Santa and Wool E Claus, shop at the Winterland market, enjoy food and drink from the Jingle Bell Bistro and Arctic Chil Tavern or reserve an igloo in the infield.

 LAKE MYRA 2023 LIGHTS CHRISTMAS SHOW

• Where: 10 S Cypress St, Wendell
• When: Nov 22 – Dec 31; 5:30-10pm
• Cost: Free but donation encouraged
• Facebook update

This is one of the largest Christmas light displays on the East Coast with more than 400,000 dancing lights synched up with holiday music. It’s a drive-in style interactive light show that typically lasts between 30 – 45 minutes.

A walking path leads to some of the biggest displays and through their tallest tree. Santa will be here on Saturdays 7-9pm through Christmas Eve

Fieldstream Farm Festival of Lights 2023

• Where: 8008 Old Stage Road Raleigh NC 27603
• When: November 24, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023; Mon-Friday 6:30PM – 9:00PM, Sat & Sun 5:30PM – 9:30PM
• Cost: $20 per vehicle (8 pax) | $40 (9-18 pax)
• Website

With approximately 1 million lights on display, this drive-thru Christmas light show at Fieldstream Farm has one of the longest LED lit tunnels in the world with over 200,000 lights, plus a 40-foot-tall Santa.  Advance tickets are required.

Meadow Lights Christmas Show, Benson

• Where: 4546 Godwin Lake Rd., Benson, NC 27504 
• When: Every evening until Dec 23rd
• Cost: $3 per person for the train
• Website

We experienced this popular Christmas Light Show in Benson, Johnston County last year on a family Christmas day trip to Joco.

Meadow Lights is family operated and has been running this Christmas light show for more than 40 years! It’s touted as the largest and oldest Christmas attraction in Eastern North Carolina.

Unlike other Holiday light experiences, where you typically drive your car, or walk around, Meadow Lights has a point of difference in that you cruise around in a small train to look at the light displays which are spread out over 10 acres. Light displays are also all along the road as you drive into the property.

There is an old carousel for younger kids to ride and the opportunity to have your photo taken with Santa.

Many people come here for the Old Country Store, which is a warehouse full of Christmas candy. It’s one of the largest candy stores in the state specializing in Christmas and old fashion candy, carrying over 300 varieties.

But don’t delay in getting here, because once it’s gone, it’s gone!

The earlier you arrive for the Holiday Lights the better, as this is a popular Christmas experience, but since there are four trains running at once and each can seat about 40 people, the lines do move quickly.

The train is for a small cost, but you can come and see the lights in the distance without riding the train. The Christmas lights are open every night until December 31

Lights on the Neuse, Clayton

• Where: Boyette Family Farms, Clayton
• When: Nov 24, 2023 – Dec 24, 2023 (various dates and time)
• Cost: Age 3 and up -11.00 (Hayride); Age 2 and under – Free
• Website

Boyette Family Farms is legendary for its Halloween Fear farm and Christmas Light Displays.

Lights on the Neuse features a one-mile long (20-minute) old-time tractor-pulled hayride through a Lights Extravaganza with Christmas music, a Sugar Barn and cookie decorating station, and Santa’s Sweet Shoppe with hot chocolate, coffee, kettle corn and S’mores kits for purchase to cook at the picnic area.

This is not a drive thru light show, but an old fashion hayride to see our farm and Christmas lights throughout.

Hillridge Farms’ 2023 Festival of Lights, Youngsville

• Where: 703 Tarboro Road Youngsville, NC 27596
• When: Nov 23rd-Nov 26th, 5:30-9:00; Open Nightly Dec 1st-Dec 30th 5:30-9:00
• Cost: $20 cash per card / $23 credit card
• Website

Enjoy over a million lights and holiday themed displays and characters as you travel a mile through the farm from the comfort of your own vehicle.

Lights On Cedar, Wake Forest

• Where: 206 W. Cedar Ave, Wake Forest, NC, United States, North Carolina
• When: Nov 22 – Dec 31; 5:30-10pm
• Cost: Free
• Facebook

The 2023 Christmas Light Season is in full illumination in Wake Forest at their Lights on Cedar. You can drive along the block or park your car and walk along the light displays in the street. Santa visits on Fridays and Saturdays on December 1 and 2, 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 22 and 23 *6-8pm*

It is weather permitting so check their FB page for updates.

Piper Lights, Wake Forest

• Where: 5725 Fixit Shop Road in Wake Forest
• Website

Seven acres of twinkling drive through lights – free of charge! That’s what you’ll find at the Poer Lights in Wake Forest, a Christmas light display that has been happening for 30 years.

They don’t have much information at the moment so keep checking their Facebook page, but it’s running!

Naylor Family Farms, Fuquay Varina

• Where: 6016 US-401 Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
• When: Dec 1st to Dec 23rd: 4- 9pm
• Cost: $16 3+
• Website

One of our recommended farms for pumpkin patches and Fall fun the Naylor Family Farm. They have special Christmas light displays and live actors as well, which you can enjoy by way of a haryide. Grab some hot chocolaote and goodeis from their old fashioned gift shop – and do holiday shopping. They also have free photos with Santa, a giant lighted Christmas tree, slides, and a petting zoo

Country Christmas Train at Denton Farm Park 

• Where: 1072 Cranford Road, Denton, NC 27239
• When: Nov. 24-26; Dec. 1 – 3; 7 – 10; Dec. 14 – 17, 20-23, 26 & 27, 2023
• Cost:
• Website

As you step into Denton Farm Park for the Country Christmas Train experience, you’ll meander down the illuminated candy cane path leading to the train station, where a live Santa waits for delightful family photo opportunities.

Embark on the enchanting journey aboard the Handy Dandy Railroad, traversing a mile-and-a-half track adorned with festive Christmas lights. Along the ride, immerse yourself in the spirit of the season as you enjoy a short film that beautifully captures the true meaning of Christmas.

There’s plenty to do after the train ride as well with a Gingerbread house with fresh baked goods, a ptting zoo, general store, rides, a Christmas village and more!

It’s a magical excursion filled with joyous moments for the entire family to cherish. This is about 90minutes west of Raleigh so definitely a trip for the world’s biggest Christmas fans.

Neighborhood + Resident Home Christmas Lights

There are several residential neighborhoods and individual homes across Wake County known for their elaborate Christmas lights – some of which are timed to Christmas songs you can list to via particular radio stations, and all are free. We enjoyed seeing some of these during the pandemic!

Here are a few that we know of. Please leave any that you know of in the comments below.

1. Goldman Family Lights: 6331 Deerview Dr, Raleigh, NC, United States, North Carolina
2. Lights on Waverly: 416 Waverly Hills Dr, Cary, NC, United States, North Carolina
3. Gebhardt Family Lights: 1033 Hortons Creek Rd, Cary, NC, United States, North Carolina
4. The Rogers Family Christmas Lights: 700 bay bouquet lane Apex, NC 27523. See a few thousand LED lights synced to music. Tune your radio to 93.5 and pick your favorite song.
5. Bradshaw Holiday Light Display is a family-run drive-thru Christmas light display at 712 Horton Road in Knightdale, NC.
6. The Nelson’s Christmas lights show: 3909 Falmouth Dr Raleigh, NC 27604 They have a walkway around the lights and sleigh so you can walk around and take pictures!
7. Ambrose Lights: 3401 Cartway Lane Raleigh, NC 27616
8. Lights On The Meadow 9301 Hay Meadow Court Raleigh, NC 27603. Tune to 88.3 FM to enjoy the lights synced to music.
9. Holidays on Hemby 1001 Hemby Ridge Lane, Morrisville This one is a little different with lights, inflatables, a model train displays, and hot coca nights.
10. Anchanew Lights 1004 Quail Oaks Circle Raleigh, NC 27603 your headlights, and turn your radios to 90.3 FM for a merry performance.
11. Edward’s battle Haunted House/Candyland This popular Halloween House also has a Christmas light display and gingerbread house.
12. Olde Time Christmas on Valley Dr: 1401 Valley Drive, Raleigh

OTHER CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN THE RALEIGH AREA

From Dec 1 – Dec 12, 2023, we’ll be hosting a huge 12 days of Christmas Giveaway. Click to read more and join our email community so you don’t miss out!

• The Dessertery in Downtown Raleigh is an all you can eat cafe filled with holiday treats
• The Raleigh Christmas Parade is an event not to miss.
• Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour – one of our favorite holiday events
• Your Christmas Bucket List – ideas for a fun holiday season
• Christmas in North Carolina ideas including the fun Polar Express (for the little kids)
• Best things to do in Raleigh for New Year’s Eve
• Don’t miss these places in Raleigh for Holiday shopping