Looking for free family fun, holiday magic, National Cookie Day treats, and evening entertainment across the Triangle? Today’s event guide is packed with giveaways, light shows, parades, live music, and activities happening from early morning through late night.
⭐ All-Day Highlights
🍪 National Cookie Day Freebies & Deals
All Day | FREE | Various Locations
Celebrate National Cookie Day with free treats and special deals at participating shops nationwide.
🎅 Free Santa Photos at Bass Pro Shops
All Day | FREE | Multiple Locations
Stop by Santa’s Wonderland for free photos and a festive holiday experience.
⛸️ The RINK – Outdoor Skating at Red Hat Amphitheater
All Day | $6–$15 | Red Hat Amphitheater
Skate under the skyline at Raleigh’s seasonal outdoor ice rink.
🎁 Send 2 FREE Bags of Cookies to a Friend
9:00 a.m. | FREE | Online (while supplies last)
Pepperidge Farm is giving away full-size cookie packs you can send to someone special.
🌿 Sculpture in the Garden
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | FREE | NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill
Enjoy outdoor art installations with a suggested $5 donation.
🌤️ Morning & Midday Events
🎨 Plein Air Drawing & Painting at Historic Oakwood Cemetery
9:00–11:00 a.m. | FREE | Raleigh
🥫 Free Food Giveaway – Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | FREE | Hopkins Chapel Baptist Church, Zebulon
📚 Bilingual Storytime
10:30–11:00 a.m. | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham
🎄 Evening Holiday Events & Light Shows
🎅 Clayton Christmas Village & Tree Lighting
5:00–7:45 p.m. | FREE | Clayton Town Square
✨ Phillips Farms Walk-Through Christmas Light Show
5:00–9:00 p.m. | $15 | Cary
🎄 Holiday Nights at American Tobacco
5:30–8:30 p.m. | FREE | Durham
🎆 Piper Lights in Wake Forest
5:30–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Wake Forest
🚒 Contentnea Fire Department’s Christmas Light Display
5:30–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Wilson
🎶 Lake Myra Christmas Lights
5:30–10:00 p.m. | FREE | Wendell
📞 Calls From Santa (Registration Required)
6:00–8:00 p.m. | FREE | Virtual
🎄 Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Main/Vance Street
🎵 Live Music, Games & Nightlife
🎸 Live Music: Multiples
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest
🎲 Game Night
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner
🎧 Vinyl Nights
6:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham
🏮 NC Chinese Lantern Festival
6:00–10:00 p.m. | $16.74–$30.64 | Cary
🎶 Bearded Bee Live Music
6:00 p.m. | FREE | Wendell
🎄 Siler City Christmas Parade
7:00 p.m. | FREE | Downtown Siler City
🎄 Franklinton Christmas Parade
7:00 p.m. | FREE | Downtown Franklinton
🎷 24th Annual Advent Evening of Jazz at St. Ambrose
7:00 p.m. | FREE | Raleigh
🎶 Raleigh Uke Jam
7:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh
🎵 Music Bingo
7:00–9:00 p.m. | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary
🕹️ Level Up & Sip
7:00–10:00 p.m. | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham
🎲 Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery
7:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Durham
🏒 Air Hockey Tournament
8:00–10:00 p.m. | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham
🎶 Jazz Jam Open Mic
8:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary
🎤 Thursday Karaoke
9:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh
🎳 Skee Ball Tournament
9:00–11:00 p.m. | FREE | Boxcar Bar & Arcade, Raleigh
For more daily events, local guides, and Raleigh happenings, keep checking DoRaleigh.com.
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