Community
The month ahead
December 2026 with Kids in Raleigh & the Triangle
89 family events on our calendar · Updated Oct 1
The big ones: Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting, Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony and Morrisville Christmas Tree Lighting. Then each weekend's best, the days off school and what's free.
December by the numbers
- Family events
- 88
- Free
- 25 (28%)
- Busiest weekend
- Dec 4–6 26 events
- Most events
- Raleigh 45 · Carrboro 12 · Durham 11
From more than 20 local calendars, updated daily. Counts each listing once.
Don't miss
The biggest family events in December
Community
Community
Community
Community
Community
Weekend by weekend
What's on each weekend
Dec 4–6
Markets
19th Annual St. Nicholas European Christmas Market
Verify the event details with the organizer before you head out.
Community
Community
Santa Express at New Hope Valley Railway
Plan your day around departures running from 9:30am to 3:45pm.
Community
Dec 11–13
Markets
Community
Community
Community
Dec 18–20
Arts
Family
Family
Dec 25–27
Community
Plan the days off
No-school days in December 2026
- Monday, Dec 21: Teacher WorkdayWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools
- Monday, Dec 21: Winter BreakChapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Tuesday, Dec 22: Teacher WorkdayWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools
- Tuesday, Dec 22: Winter BreakChapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Wednesday, Dec 23: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Thursday, Dec 24: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Friday, Dec 25: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Monday, Dec 28: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Tuesday, Dec 29: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Wednesday, Dec 30: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
- Thursday, Dec 31: Winter BreakWake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
Get every day off in your phone calendar (Wake, Durham, Chapel Hill-Carrboro and each Wake track) →
Costs nothing
Free in December
Markets
19th Annual St. Nicholas European Christmas Market
Verify the event details with the organizer before you head out.
Markets
Community
Community
Classes
Outdoors
In season
Our December guides
Every Thursday
Get each weekend's list before you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's happening in Raleigh for kids in December 2026?
- The biggest family events this December: Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting (Vance Street parking lot, 205 S. Main Street); Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony (Apex Town Hall Campus, 73 Hunter Street); Morrisville Christmas Tree Lighting (Indian Creek Trailhead); Carrboro-Chapel Hill Community Holiday Parade. There are 89 family events on our calendar for the month, and the list grows as venues announce more.
- When are the no-school days in December 2026?
- Monday, Dec 21: Teacher Workday (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools); Monday, Dec 21: Winter Break (Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Tuesday, Dec 22: Teacher Workday (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools); Tuesday, Dec 22: Winter Break (Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Wednesday, Dec 23: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Thursday, Dec 24: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Friday, Dec 25: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Monday, Dec 28: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Tuesday, Dec 29: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Wednesday, Dec 30: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools); Thursday, Dec 31: Winter Break (Wake County Schools, Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools). Our no-school calendars add every day off to your phone.
- What's free for kids in December 2026?
- 19th Annual St. Nicholas European Christmas Market, International Holiday Market in Raleigh, Happy Holly Days Parade and Lighting of Wake Forest are free. The Free Stuff page lists every free family event.
- How is this list put together?
- It updates every day from more than 20 local calendars. Picks are ranked by how rare an event is, how many local calendars list it and how many people on Facebook say they're interested, so a once-a-year festival beats a weekly class. Check the organizer's page before you go.