Carolina Inn 12 Days of Christmas

Where: The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill

When: December – January 5

In honor of the classic song, the Carolina Inn will hold a variety of holiday related events that will range from a holiday market to breakfast with Santa to a live tap performance. The Inn will be beautifully decorated for the occasions.

 

Christmas by Candlelight at Duke Homestead

Where: Duke Homestead, Durham

When: Friday, Dec 6 & 13, 5:15 – 9:15 pm

Part of Durham’s 150th anniversary focusing on “Spirit, Sacrifice, and Celebration,” Historic Duke Homestead will be recreating Christmas from times past. Costumed interpreters will lead a tour through the historically decorated homestead. Visitors will have the opportunity to decorate a Christmas tree in Victorian style and listen to carolers around a blazing fire.

 

Winter in the Garden Holiday Festival

Where: NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill

When: Saturday, Dec 7, 5 – 9 pm

Celebrate the holiday season at the beautiful NC Botanical. There will also be plenty of crafts, an a cappella performance, puppet storytime and photo opportunities with the one and only Santa Rameses Jr.

 

27th Annual Boylan Heights ArtWalk

Where: Boylan Heights, Raleigh

When: Sun, Dec 8, 12 – 5 pm

Artists will line the historic neighborhood’s sidewalks, porches and yards, selling a wide range of ‘glasswork, jewelry, metalwork, woodwork, fiber, clay work and ceramics, photography and prints, multimedia, paintings‘ and more. This is a great place to get a special Christmas gift while supporting local artists. There will also be food available for purchase.

 

Hillsborough Candlelight Tour

Where: Throughout downtown Hillsborough

When: Sunday, Dec 8, 1 – 7 pm

According to the event website: “a self-guided tour, Hillsborough Candlelight Tour invites guests to create family holiday traditions while exploring the town’s many historic treasures, visiting the local merchants, and becoming a ‘citizen for the day!’ Visitors should expect to find more to do than can be accomplished in one afternoon, so relax and enjoy the stroll!” There will also be “pop up” readings from local authors in what has been described as America’s Little Literary Town by the Wall Street Journal.

NCAA Men’s College Soccer Cup

Where: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary

When: Fri-Sun, Dec 13-15

The final leg of the championship tournament, four teams will face off to see who’s taking home the NCAA trophy. Come out to see the best college players give it all they got!

Christmas in the Piedmont

Where: Bennett Place, Durham

When: Sat, Dec 14, 10 am – 4 pm, and Candlelight Tour Sat, Dec 6 – 9 pm

Once just another simple farmhouse, Bennett Place served as the location for the largest troop surrender of the Civil War. The historic site will be recreating life in the Piedmont during the war. There will be cooking demonstrations, “soldiers” showing what Christmas was like in the field and a visit from Santa.

 

First Night Raleigh

Where: Fayetteville Street, Raleigh

When: Tues, Dec 31, Children’s Celebration 2 – 6 pm (At NC Museums of History and Science), Main Event 7 pm – Midnight

First Night is Raleigh’s New Years Eve bash full of food, fun and a giant acorn. Come out for live performances, a Ferris wheel and more. Starting at 2 pm, there will be Children’s Celebration for those that aren’t quite ready to stay up to watch the acorn drop at midnight.