The Illuminate Art Walk in downtown Raleigh began during a tough period – the isolation year in 2020. It gave the Raleigh community a spark of joy in a time when festive cocktails, acorn drops, and parties with loved ones disappeared.
Since then, it has quickly become one of Raleigh’s most beloved Holiday traditions. It’s more than just a way to spread Holiday cheer and magic, but a way to celebrate Raleigh’s creative energy and artistic talent.
Created by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance Commission and presented by the Cooperating Raleigh Colleges, the Illuminate Art walk initiative brightens up our streets and our spirits. Over a dozen local artists are commissioned to create large-scale, light-based installations to jazz up the plazas and storefronts of the downtown area, including vacant stores and restaurants.
This year there are 23 art installations to enjoy, which includes over seven NC based artists. Last night we attended the media preview, so this is your exclusive first look before it launches this evening. We were fortunate to have Craig’s parents visiting from Australia and could dazzle them with this holiday light display. Here’s everything you need to know about this annual event.
We have a holiday bucket list with many more ideas for ways to enjoy the festive season in Raleigh. It’s available to all members of our email community. It’s free and I regularly share free checklists, guides, insider tips, personal stories, fun finds and the best events in Raleigh you don’t want to miss. Join below 👇
Illuminate Art Walk Raleigh 2025
This year, Illuminate will have around 19 art installations starting December 5th, 2025, until January 5th, 2026. They can mostly be found on Fayetteville Street and Smoky Hollow, near Glenwood South.
The official Art Walk map shows where each installation is located and has information about each piece. This will help you find each individual piece featured in the Art Walk.
You can tour the installations on your own, they are free to see and are all within walking distance of each other. There are no real directions to give you, but I would recommend you start at Lichtin Plaza in front of the Martin Marietta Center and walk up Fayetteville St. (Note: This year the tree lighting wass relocated to Moore Square, which is where you’ll find the Christmas tree.)
The art installations are located in different places along the street, and you cannot miss them as they are large, illuminated, and right on the edge of the street!
You’ll also find storefronts join in with the festive spirit with their own decorations and artwork. So, while walking around pay attention to those, which may not be on the official art walk. You’ll love how these large-scale, interactive and light-based art pieces brighten up downtown Raleigh.
Illuminate Art Walk is a great Holiday experience to do with kids. You don’t have to worry about them being quiet, they can even run around (be careful of cars), and they will really enjoy the interactive nature of many of the installations. Our girls loved dancing with some of them, playing music on the plexiglass tubes, and taking fun photos.
We started right on nightfall to appreciate the lights in the dark. Allow about an hour and a half to see them all. It’s all completely self-guided and can be done whenever you like! And of course, it’s FREE!
Raleigh Walking Tours also offers pay-what-you-want guided Illuminate Art Walk tours. You will get more in-depth information than you would get if you did a self-guided tour of the pieces. Advance signup is required!
Illuminate Art Walk Installations
The following installations are from 2024 and may not make an appearance in 2025. We will update this guide with new installations after opening night.
Trumpet Flowers, Fayetteville St
Each year, there is a featured visiting illuminated Art Display – the main event so to speak. In 2025, the main installation located in City Plaza is Trumpet Flowers. Created by Amigo & Amigo, brought to life by Wireframe Public Art, this international art installtions invites you to explore a world of light and sound created by vintage illuminated gramophones.
Step into this enchanting musical garden press the buttons at the base of the flowers and listen as the trumpets blow and light up. Kids will especially love this one – create music together as a family!
Sonarc (Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts)
This featured installation from 2020 is now an annual much-loved feature of Illuminate, and now a permanent feature of Martin Marietta Center.
SONARC by Brian Brush is made of 1,000 plexiglass tubes and 600 LED lights hung in a semicircle frame meant to represent open arms welcoming guests to the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.
The highlight of Sonarc is singing into the microphone (hidden in the plexiglass on the corner near the electrical box. Look up!), which causes Sonarc to emit patterns and different colors of light based on the pitch.
Tinsel: A Walk Through Ornament (Martin Marietta Center)
Introduced in 2021, this sparkly adornment by Mosca Design is also located outside of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. We loved walking through this 16 ft tall Christmas tree ornament made up of 2,460 lights.
You will also find one of these in Downtown Cary, which is in our Holiday light display in the Triangle guide.
Christmas Tree at Moore Square
Illuminate Art Walk is the perfect time to capture your family photo in front of the beautifully lit Christmas tree in Moore Square. This year sees the tree move to Moore Square (formerly at the Martin Marietta Performing Arts Center) thanks to the renovation happening there out front!
Here at Moore Square will also be a holiday T-Rex, a permanent fixture decorated for this illuminated holiday experience by Sabrina Servance & Downtown Decorations. Moore Square also will have an illuminated Menorah presented in partnership with Chabad Young Professionals, shines brightly in the heart of the city, marking Hanukkah from December 14th through December 22th.
Light Lane
We don’t have a photo for this one for you … yet. Every year, we seem to miss an installation, and let this year’s one be one of the most fun interactive ones! WE’ll be in town tonight so will right that wrong!
Head to the lane beside YMCA to ride some futuristic bikes. Pedals glow and the bikes project shifting shapes and soundscapes! LEt movement be your art masterpiece! This 2025 Illuminate Art Walk piece helps celebrate Raleigh’s bikeability.
Let it Snow NC
Old Signs, New Shine – Let It Snow NC by SignCraft Solutions is made from recycled aluminum and acrylic from old storefronts and reclaimed pallets. There’s so much to love about this glowing display of letters! This one is on the corner of Fayetteville St and E Davie St.
CRC Skyline
CRC Skyline by Britt Flood is recognition of Raleigh’s Illuminate Art Walk sponsor, Cooperating Raleigh College. This non profit cons consortium promoting collaboration among higher education institutions in Raleigh and connects over 114,000 students and 219,000 jobs. I love it as it represents what makes the Triangle so special – a rising tide lifts all boats. Collaboration is our thing in the Triangle
The Big Acorn
While technically not a part of Illuminate Art Walk, while you are exploring the art installations, you may want to get your photo with Raleigh’s famous Big Acorn (drops on New Year’s Eve). It’s ready for you now until at least New Year’s Day – so almost the entire time of the art walk.
This 10-foot-tall, 1250-pound copper and steel sculpture is a riff on Raleigh’s “City of Oaks” nickname. It was commissioned for Raleigh’s bicentennial in 1992. Dedicated to John Watkins, it is located at Raleigh City Plaza. The acorn is the work of David Benson, a local artist who is also proprietor of The Third Place, a coffee house in Raleigh’s Five Points district near the Rialto Theatre.
Downtown Dance Floor: Raleigh’s Rythmns
Another fun one on Fayetteville St was the Downtown Dance Floor by MOSCA design. It required a level of fitness; I was puffing after breaking out with a few moves on the color-changing dance floor that changed color with each step. I’m happy to see this one has returned for 2025 as well!
Floresence
Lighting up the 1 Exchange Plaza again this year will be Robin Vuchnich: creating a blossoming garden with wonderful projection of blossoms rising and drifting upward, swarming and dispersing in waves of light.
Night Bloom
Always a favorite of mine at Illuminate Raleigh is the neon art lining the walls of the small alley opposite the Wells Fargo building between Fayetteville St and S Wilmington St.
This year, Britt Flood has created Night Bloom, a face rising from a field of luminous petals representing the subtle and unseen healing that unfolds in the dark chapters of our life and the rest that brings renewal and release and returns us to ourselves. While here ponder where the wildflowers calling your heart towards?
Capriole
Capriole by Jessica Bradsher captures a moment of pure flight, inspired by the dressage move of a horse leaping in the air. IT represents the space where power meets grace between leaping and landing. May you leap into 2026 and land firmly on the ground with power and grace!
Raleigh’s Dinosaurs
Kids especially will love that Illuminate Art Walk included dinosaur topiaries, created by Katie Stewart and Artsplosure. We only saw the two on Fayetteville St, but there were also some in Moore Square.
“Tree-ceratops” celebrated the fusion of prehistoric wonder and festive cheer, blending the ancient power of the triceratops with the joyful spirit of the holiday season. Love the view from behind as Tree-Ceratops looks upon the State Capitol.
With festive decorations adorning his wings, Ptero-deck-the-halls symbolizes the blending of past and present while inviting viewers to feel uplifted by both history and holiday cheer.
Guardian Wings
Want a reminder of those loved ones and strangers who help guide you in life? Guardian Wings by Jessica Bradhser invites you to consider the simultaneous form of presence and absence with her piece for 2025 Illuminate Art Walk, Guardian Wings.
How to make your Illuminate Raleigh experience even better
While in Downtown Raleigh enjoying the free Illuminate Art Walk, why not incorporate a few other things to do in Downtown Raleigh. From great restaurants, bars, and events, there are so many fun ways to maximize your experience. You can check off many of our suggested Raleigh Christmas bucket list ideas.
Here are some ideas:
- For the adults, Haymaker Bar, which during the Holidays, transforms into the Miracle Christmas pop up. Here are other holiday pop up bars in Raleigh to love.
- Attend during First Friday so you can incorporate other events and art galleries.
- Visit the Capitol Building to see the Christmas tree. However, it won’t be lit until Dec 11th. It is in our December events in Raleigh guide.
- Arrive a little earlier to do some of your holiday shopping in the uniquely local downtown stores. See our holiday shopping guide.
- Incorporate a Holiday show like the Carolina Ballet’s Nutcracker the Cary Ballet’s Nutcracker or Christmas Carol by Theater in the Park is a wonderful idea.
- Last year we skated at The Rink in Raleigh’s Red Hat Amphitheater after Illuminate. Book tickets here
- Check out some of our favorite Downtown Restaurants. There are a lot of new restaurants like Birdies and Flavor Hills. We like Chido Tacos (casual), and Centro (vibrant and delicious Mexican. Sir Walter Raleigh’s new location on Fayetteville St is also great for a drink. This year, we popped into Morgan St Food Hall with Craig’s parents for delciious curries, pizza and cod and chips.
Video: Watch us explore Illuminate Art Walk
Be sure to follow us on Instagram as we find these amazing events happening in the city and share them immediately.
Download the walking tour map here. There are sidewalk markers at each installation and a poster sharing information about each installation and the contributing artist.
Photos of Illuminate Art Walk from previous years
Where to park in Downtown Raleigh
Street parking is free on weekends and after 6pm weekdays! We usually always find a park. As Raleigh is so walkable you can park a few streets away if need be.
Otherwise, there are several parking decks in downtown that are quite affordable (city decks are first two hours free). We normally park at the Performing Arts Parking deck near the Martin Marietta Center, or the parking deck across from Marbles Kids Museum on Blount St. Here are our tips for parking in Downtown Raleigh.
More Downtown Raleigh Ideas
If you are looking for places to eat and drink in Downtown Raleigh, or want to grab a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, or something stronger for the adults since downtown Raleigh now has a Sip n’ Stroll policy, check out the following guides for places to get refreshments between discovering the artistic works.
Accommodation in Raleigh
If you’re visiting Raleigh and need a place to stay, then we recommend you stay at the Residence Inn right near the Martin Marietta Center or and Casso Hotel at the bottom of Glenwood Ave and near the Warehouse District. You may also like the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Raleigh. See more places to stay in the following map and in this guide to the best Downtown Raleigh hotels:
More Christmas Inspiration for the Raleigh area
If you’re busy planning things to do over the Holidays in Raleigh, here are some other guides that might help…
- Best Christmas Light Displays in Raleigh and nearby
- 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)
- North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary
- Places to see Santa in Raleigh and the Triangle.
- Where to buy real Christmas trees in Raleigh
- Christmas markets in Raleigh
Are you going to experience Illuminate Art Walk this year? Let us know what you’re excited for in the comments!
Stay Connected to Raleigh
Join our free email community to receive free checklists, guides, insider tips, personal stories, fun finds, and the best events in Raleigh each week. We'll show you how to stay connected to Raleigh and love where you live! Join Below 👇
“Your weekly newsletter is a lifesaver for me. Yesterday we didn’t know what to do, I just check your list of events for the weekend, and we ended up in Cary at the Carolina Circus Festival. We had a great time so thanks a lot for all your good work 😊 we really appreciate you” Subscriber
