The Triangle Event Guide – Weekend Edition December 20–21st

Explore the DoRaleigh.com Triangle Event Guide Weekend Edition for December 20–21, 2025. Discover free holiday events, markets, light displays, Santa photos, live music, and family activities across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill.

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Looking for things to do in the Triangle this weekend? The DoRaleigh.com Triangle Weekend Event Guide rounds up the best free and low-cost holiday events happening across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Morrisville, Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Wake Forest, Hillsborough, Clayton, and beyond. From Santa photos and holiday markets to live music, light displays, and winter solstice celebrations—there’s something for everyone.

🎄 Saturday, December 20, 2025

All-Day Highlights

Burger King Deal – Free Jalapeño Cheddar Bites with $5 purchase | FREE | Participating locations

Santa’s Wonderland – Free Santa photos & activities | FREE | Bass Pro Shops (multiple locations)

African American Walking Tour (Third Ward) – Multiple times | $5–$10 | Pope House, Raleigh

The RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater – Outdoor skating | $6–$15 | Raleigh

Nordstrom Santa Photos – Cardmembers only | FREE | Streets at Southpoint

Morning & Midday

Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am–12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

Meet Santa + Free Seedlings | 9:30 am–12:00 pm | FREE | Western Wake Farmers’ Market, Morrisville

Santa Express Train Ride | 9:30 am–4:00 pm | $18.61 | New Hope Valley Railway

Breakfast with Santa + Toy Giveaway | 10:00 am–12:00 pm | FREE | Tarboro Road Center, Raleigh

Lowe’s Kids Workshop: Sleigh Ride | 10:00 am–1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores)

Holidays with the Popes | 10:00 am–4:00 pm | FREE | Pope House, Raleigh

Handcrafted Holiday Market | 10:00 am–5:00 pm | $5 | NC State Fairgrounds

NCMA Loves Anime Winter Bazaar | 10:00 am–7:30 pm | FREE | NC Museum of Art, Raleigh

Holiday at the Farm | 10:00 am–3:00 pm | $12–$25 | 1870 Farm, Chapel Hill

Sensory-Friendly Film | 11:00 am | FREE | Carolina Theatre, Durham

Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours | 11:00 am–3:00 pm | $6–$10 | Mordecai Historic Park

Afternoon

Fenton Makers Market | 11:00 am–4:00 pm | FREE | Cary

Magic of Christmas with Santa | 11:30 am–4:00 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP Durham

Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm–2:00 pm | FREE | Orchard Park

Pop-Up Raleigh Art & Vintage Market | 12:00 pm–5:00 pm | FREE | Trophy on Maywood

An Afternoon with Black Santa | 2:00 pm–4:00 pm | FREE | Kappa Center, Raleigh

3rd Saturday Vintage + Maker Market | 3:00 pm–7:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing, Durham

Ugly Sweater Party | 3:00 pm–Late | FREE | Boxcar, Raleigh

Free Wine Tasting | 4:00 pm–6:00 pm | FREE | Taylor’s Wine Shop

Evening & Night

Illuminate Art Walk | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh

Winter Solstice & Lantern Walks | 5:00 pm | FREE–$10 | Multiple locations

Christmas Light Displays | 5:30 pm+ | FREE | Wendell, Wake Forest, Wilson

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | 6:00 pm–10:00 pm | $ | Koka Booth Amphitheatre

Live Music, Karaoke & Holiday Parties | 6:00 pm+ | FREE | Breweries & venues across the Triangle

Black Nativity Durham | 8:00 pm | $15–$20 | Hillside High School

✨ Sunday, December 21, 2025

All-Day & Morning

Burger King Deal – Free Cini Minis with $5 purchase | FREE

Santa’s Wonderland | FREE | Bass Pro Shops

Outdoor Skating at The RINK | $6–$15 | Raleigh

Handcrafted Holiday Market | 10:00 am–3:00 pm | $5 | NC State Fairgrounds

Holiday at the Farm | 10:00 am–3:00 pm | $12–$25 | Chapel Hill

Afternoon

Pay-What-You-Can Yoga | 11:00 am | $1–$10 | Raleigh

Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm–3:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh

African American Walking Tour | 2:00 pm | $5–$10 | Pope House, Raleigh

Winter Solstice Hike | 2:00 pm–3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Santa’s Workshop | 3:00 pm–5:00 pm | FREE | Smithfield Free

Tuba Christmas Concert | 4:00 pm | FREE | Apex

Evening

Illuminate Art Walk | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh

Menorah Lightings | 5:00 pm+ | FREE | Cary & Morrisville

Christmas Light Displays | 5:30 pm+ | FREE | Wake County & beyond

Lights on the Neuse | 6:00 pm | $11 | Clayton

Chinese Lantern Festival | 6:00 pm–10:00 pm | $ | Cary

Sunday Open Mics & Live Music | 7:00 pm+ | FREE | Durham & Fuquay-Varina

Why Use the DoRaleigh.com Triangle Weekend Event Guide?

✔️ Curated free & family-friendly events ✔️ Easy planning for Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill & surrounding towns ✔️ Perfect for holiday weekends and last-minute plans

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