919 Magazine Christmas 2023

Brier Creek, Leesville, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Cary, Bethesda, Durham, RTP, Bedford, Wakefield, Wake Forest and North Raleigh

THINGS TO DO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

WHERE TO SEE THE REAL SANTA CLAUS PARADES, PARADES & MORE PARADES LOTS OF UNIQUE HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES THE BEST IN LIVE SEASONAL MUSIC

IT'S A WONDERFUL

Christmas IN THE 919

Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova

NOV/DEC 2023

919Magazine.com

Volume 12 | Number 2

THE BIGGEST

Holiday Events IN RALEIGH, N.C.

The 919 offers a wide variety of holiday events and activities.

From performing arts productions to lighting displays and much more.

For additional information on these selected events and many more, go to visitraleigh.com.

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November/December 2023

Photo

by Benigno Hoyuela

NC CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL NOV. 17-JAN. 14

The 8th Annual North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival brings 50 larger-than-life lantern displays to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. Made up of thousands of LED lights, displays light up the skies and mesmerize visitors on this one-hour walking tour.

Beyond beautiful lanterns, the ticketed festival also welcomes a showcase of Chinese culture, featuring nightly performances featuring martial arts, traditional dance, acrobatics, drum performances and more.

More than 200,000 visitors are expected to come from across the state to see the glowing works of art. Parking is free at venue-owned parking lots. Koka Booth Amphitheatre is located at 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary. Ticket prices are $11 for youth and $16 for adults Sunday through Thursday, and $15 for youth and $20 for adults on Friday and Saturday. Both any-night tickets and twilight tickets are also available, Tickets are available onsite at the box office, or online at boothamphitheatre.com/events-tickets/ events/chinese-lantern-festival.

November/December 2023

SKATE THE SQUARE AT FENTON

WENDELL WONDERLAND

Fenton – a mixed-use, 440,000 sq. ft. district in Cary – has an outdoor skating rink for the holiday season. Surrounded by food, shops and wintry holiday cheer, the skating rink will be open every day through Feb. 5 (cost is $17 for $17 for 75 min.; $14 on Mon). In addition, Fenton will have a Tree Lighting event on Nov. 18; Carriage Rides Nov. 24-Dec. 31; a Holiday Makers Market on Dec. 9; and a Menorah Lighting on Dec. 12.

A perfect chance to experience historic downtown Wendell lit up for the holidays, with a visit from Santa Claus, trolley rides through town, lighting of the town tree, live music, hot chocolate, food trucks, a craft market and more. The Lake Myra Christmas light show will also be in full swing, featuring more than 400,000 lights – and it's all free.

NOV. 5-FEB. 5

NORTH COUNTY SYMPHONY NOV/DEC

North Carolina Symphony plans several special holiday performances: Holidays at Hogwarts (Nov. 22-25), Handel's Messiah (Dec. 1 and 2), Holiday Pops (Dec. 8-9) and A Candlelight Christmas (Dec. 22-23).

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DEC. 1

LIGHTING OF WAKE FOREST DEC. 1

A chance to visit beautiful downtown Wake Forest to experience the wonder and magic of the holiday season. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown Inc., this year's ceremony begins with musical performances by local groups followed by the lighting of a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree and Santa's exciting arrival upon a Wake Forest fire truck.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 4

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919 | CHRISTMAS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Photo

by Jakob Owens Photo

by Raspopova Marina

A GIFT TO CARY CELEBRATION DEC. 2

SANTA PAWS IN DURHAM DEC. 1

TRADITIONAL VICTORIAN HOLIDAY DEC. 1, 8

Duke Homestead State Historic Site is hosting a special “Christmas

by Candlelight” at 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 and Friday, Dec. 8 Participants can celebrate an old-fashioned traditional Victorian holiday with the Duke family in 1870, with evening candlelight tours conducted by costumed interpreters.

The event also includes Christmas games, live music, singing, cookies, and more.

Tickets are $8 per person and are available on the Eventbrite website.

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Durham Parks & Recreation hosts Santa Paws from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 1, at Durham Armory, 212 Foster St. in Durham.

The free event includes: • Pet pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus • Holiday “Pup-Up” market • Ugly sweater contest • Canine food drive Photos with Santa are sponsored by Assorted Poppies Photo and will be $10 per session.

All proceeds are being donated to Carolina Boxer Rescue.

No preregistration required.

APEX ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARADE DEC. 2

Christmas carols, a marching parade, shopping and food vendors and a visit from Santa in charming historic downtown Apex.

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Enjoy visiting Santa, skating, snowball fights and more at A Gift to Cary Celebration at Downtown Cary Park.

Programming from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. will include special live performances, Cary’s official tree lighting ceremony, unique photo opportunities, a skating rink, Santa’s workshop, which will offer a wide range of creative activities, and many more surprises.

Tree Lighting will at 6 p.m.

For more information, visit downtowncarypark.com.

More holiday events in Cary: • Cary Players present A Gift to Remember, Dec. 1-4 • Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade, Dec. 9 • Holiday Pops with the Concert Singers of Cary, Dec. 9 • Menorah Lighting, Dec. 13 • Kwanzaa Celebration, Dec. 29

LIGHTING OF WAKE FOREST DEC. 2

A holiday season kick-off event at the new Downtown Cary Park (official park opening is Nov. 19), featuring Santa, an ice skating rink, snowball fights, photo opportunities, the official tree lighting ceremony and more surprises.

November/December 2023

WF HOLIDAY ARTISANS MARKET

HOLLY SPRINGS WINTERFEST

HAPPY HOLLY DAYS PARADE

ARTS Wake Forest will present the annual Wake Forest Holiday Artisans Market at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Holiday Market will be held rain or shine inside and outside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 401 S. Brooks St. in Downtown Wake Forest, NC. A 50/50 raffle supporting ARTS Wake Forest will also be held with tickets selling for $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. The winner will receive half of the total amount collected in the raffle.

2023 Holiday Artisans Market will be a juried market featuring handmade items from potters, painters, photographers, woodworkers, fiber artists, jewelry artists, and more. Scroll down to find a Gallery of creations by the artists and artisans who will participant in our market.

The Holiday Artisans Market is held in conjunction with Wake Forest’s annual Downtown Holiday Open House.

Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce’s free WinterFest celebration at Ting Park includes local performers, fun kids activities, a coat drive for Note in the Pocket, a snow machine, an artisan market, a lighted tree trail – and Santa. Information at 919-567-1796.

Floats, bands, dancers, decorated vehicles, horses, marching groups and other entertainment take to the streets in Holly Springs.

Information at 919-567-1796.

DEC. 2

FUQUAY-VARINA CHRISTMAS PARADE

DEC. 8-9

A CHRISTMAS CAROL PRESENTATIONS DEC. 8-10

Celebrating 50 years of magic in 2023, this Theater in the Park production from local passionate mind Ira David Wood III has wowed more than a million guests throughout the years.

The beloved musical comedy, in which Wood himself puts on an incredible performance as Scrooge, is among the Raleigh area's top holiday traditions and most anticipated performing arts event of the year. This year is expected to be Wood’s last year performing as Scrooge.

DEC. 9

FROSTY 10K, 5K RUN DEC. 9

A percentage of each registration goes to support the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry to provide food and products to families in need. The 10K event starts and stops in downtown Wake Forest.

Information and registration information at fsseries.com.

52ND OAKWOOD CANDLELIGHT TOUR DEC. 9, 10

Walk through history at the 52nd Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour on December 9 and 10 in Raleigh. Tours are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Historic Oakwood homes mostly date from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.

For information, visit historicoakwood.org.

DEC. 3

A local tradition, the FuquayVarina Christmas Parade includes marching bands, Santa Claus, decorated floats and more for attendees that line the streets.

ROLESVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE DEC. 3

Rolesville’s annual Christmas Parade is 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of VisitRaleigh.com November/December 2023

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THE NUTCRACKER AT CAROLINA BALLET

MASTER CHORALE ENSEMBLE

DEC. 14-24

DEC. 12

Hailed by critics as the area's premier choral ensemble and the recipient of a Raleigh Medal of Arts award, The North Carolina Master Chorale has performed choral masterworks Photo

by Chris with an orchestra since Briggs 1942. Joy of the Season fills Meymandi Concert Hall with nearly 200 voices, guest choirs, a brass ensemble, percussion, and piano.

Grace, grandeur and mysterious illusions.

Carolina Ballet's holiday classic is a can't-miss tradition for locals, visitors, families and friends. Artistic director Zalman Raffael unveiled an updated version of the production in 2022, featuring new choreography, sets, costumes and more that will dazzle audiences again in 17 performances at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts this year.

CELTIC ANGELS CHRISTMAS

CARY KWANZA CELEBRATION

DEC. 15-17

Wake Forest’s Renaissance Centre for the Arts presents four performances of “Celtic Angels Christmas” Friday-Sunday, Dec. 15-17.

Showtimes are Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m.

Captivating audiences of all ages with the magic of the season, Celtics Angels Christmas is a joyous celebration from start to finish, encompassing vocal and instrumental holiday and Irish favorites – and is paired with show-stopping world class champion Irish dancing and a fully live band.

Celtic Angels Christmas features the quintessential vocals of dynamic divas that enthrall and delight with their jaw dropping performances and spine-tingling harmonies.​Musical arranger Peter Sheridan marries the old and new worlds with traditional

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and contemporary Irish and holiday tunes. Brought to life by the talented Trinity Ensemble, every performance guarantees that hands will be clapping, and toes will be tapping.

Finally, under the watchful eye of Irish Step Dance Director Sarah Costello, the Celtic Knight Dancers seem to defy gravity as they command the stage with their powerful, percussive presence.

This wonderfully nostalgic journey will have you dashing through the snow to the local snugs of Ireland, where a step is expected, sing-alongs are mandatory, and a good time is had by all.

The Renaissance Centre will provide stadium seating for all four performances with tickets ranging from $35-45 plus tax.

Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check, or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. in Wake Forest.

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DEC. 29

Cary’s Kwanzaa Celebration is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 29 at the Cary Arts Center.

The program — a communal, cultural celebration that honors African-American people and their heritage — will feature the best the Triangle offers in traditional Kwanzaa performers and presenters that embrace African culture through dance, drumming, storytelling and the visual art.

Darrell Stover — a cultural historian, science communicator and performance poet — will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The event also features storyteller Willa Brigham and percussionist Bradley Simmons and much more.

For more information, contact robbie.stone@carync.gov.

For more information and view previous issues of 919 Magazine, visit 919magazine.com.

November/December 2023