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Community Events
Scroll for November and December Triangle Community Events! Page last updated 11/16/23.
Art Exhibit — Truth or Dare: A Reality Show
Runs now – March 2024 | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel | Open 24 Hours/day
Highlighting uncertainty and contradiction, the artworks featured in Truth or Dare: A Reality Show emphasize the importance of questioning both knowledge and belief by utilizing illusion to entice, entertain, and explore the contemporary relationship between fact and fiction, presence and absence, reality and imagination.
Durham Farmer's Market
Saturdays through November | FREE | 501 Foster Street Durham, NC 27701
Located at the Pavilion at Durham Central Park. See a map & directions. Below are our hours:
- Main Season Market: Saturdays from 8 am-12 pm (April – November)
- Mid-Week Market: Open Wednesdays from 3-6 pm (April 19, 2023 – mid-October)
- Winter Market Hours: Saturdays from 10 am-12 pm (December – March)
- Thanksgiving Market: Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
During the main season, the Durham Craft Market sets up on the green space at Durham Central Park right next to the farmers’ market. Art Market Durham is hosted by Cecy’s Gallery and sets up every Saturday at the intersection of Hunt Street and Foster Street, right next to the farmers’ market! Though it may seem like one be market, it is actually three separate markets happening each weekend at the same time and place – the more the merrier!!!! We love our neighbors and know that you will, too! So be sure to explore all the offerings on Saturday and you will be amazed at what you will find!
Durham Art Walk/Holiday Market
Saturday, November 18, 10am – 5pm, Sunday, November 19, 1pm – 5pm | FREE |Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Durham
The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market is a festive fine arts and crafts event that kicks off the holiday season in downtown Durham! The Holiday Market invites art lovers to experience a weekend featuring local artists, live music, world-class restaurants, and great shopping, at easily strollable venues in the Durham city center. The Holiday Market is the perfect transition from the harvest to the holidays. Free and family friendly!
Cary Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair
Saturday November 18th, 9am-1pm | FREE |Cary Senior Center, 120 Maury O’Dell Place, Cary
Arts and crafts lovers will enjoy a lovely shopping experience for unique holiday gifts made exclusively by creative friends and neighbors over age 50.
Original, one-of-a-kind art can be purchased from the artist. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Make a morning of relaxing shopping and sipping hot coffee, all while finding great gifts and decorations that are made with love and care!
Chinese Lantern Festival
Friday November 17th, 2023 – January 14, 2024 | Tickets Required | Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
Cue the lights because the region’s most stunning holiday tradition is back! Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre will once again welcome the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival when it returns this winter for an 8th year.
Chinese artisans are already busy crafting more than 40 all new displays, each one comprised of hundreds of parts, and thousands of LED lights. These larger-than-life lanterns will captivate visitors at every turn with amazing craftmanship and artistic beauty. Cultural arts performances will take place each night on the main stage..
Fall Arts on Market
Sunday November 19th, 12pm-4pm | FREE | Southern Village Green, 400 Market Street, Chapel Hill
Fall Arts on Market is a fall community event in Southern Village. Shop for hand-crafted art and gifts made by over 60 artists, artisans, bakers, and makers. Live music, free admission.
Durham Craft Market Shop Small and Local Saturday
Saturday November 25th, 8am-12pm | FREE | Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St, Durham
Shop Small is a nationwide event that is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to shop for the holidays at small, local businesses and to support the artist and maker community. This is a free outdoor market featuring over 50 local artisans and makers to shop from! With members of the Durham Craft Market collective as well as selected guest artists for these events.
Wool E’s Winter Wonderland
Wednesday November 22nd – December 31, 2023| Tickets Required | Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Durham
General Admission Ticket: You can buy this ticket to see holiday light displays and a holiday light show at the stadium. You can also buy food and drinks at the Jingle Bell Bistro and shop at the Winterland Market on certain days.
General Admission + Sledding Ticket: With this ticket, you can slide down Frosty Fun Hill on a tube as many times as you want! You also get all the cool stuff from the general admission ticket. IMPORTANT NOTE: the minimum height requirement for sledding is 42 inches.
General Admission + Sledding + Train Ticket: This ticket lets you slide down the Frosty Fun Hill and take a ride on the Bulls Express Train around the stadium. You can do them as many times as you can during your visit. IMPORTANT NOTE: the minimum height requirement for sledding is 42 inches.
Igloo Reservation: You can book a cozy Igloo in the Infield for you and up to 5 friends. It comes with snacks, and you get 45 minutes to enjoy your private igloo. Just pick a time when you want to go.
Season Pass: If you want to have fun many times, you can get a season pass for $99. It lets you visit as often as you want and do the snowy hill and train rides. IMPORTANT NOTE: the minimum height requirement for sledding is 42 inches.
The Longest Night
Saturdays and Sundays November 25th – December 17th, 3-4:00pm | Tickets Required | Morehead Planetarium 250 East Franklin St Chapel Hill
“The Longest Night: A Winter’s Tale” is a one-of-a-kind fulldome planetarium show that captures its audience with a timeless fable of courage, generosity and renewal. Its story explores the concept that winter is a time for Earth to rest, waiting for new growth in the spring. Its star, a young girl born into a family of nomadic storytellers, embarks on a simple quest that leads her to a dragon’s nest. What will she discover there, and how will it help her save her village? Morehead collaborated with Paperhand Puppet Intervention to develop the story and visuals of “The Longest Night.” The Morehead production team seamlessly wove together live-action video of Paperhand’s world-class puppeteers with beautiful and intricate fulldome animation to create this innovative and imaginative show. Its cast and crew comprised dozens of puppeteers and production professionals, and The Paperhand Band created original music for the show.
Bid For Better: A Giving Tuesday Nonprofit Auction
Tuesday November 28th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm | Tickets $20 per person | Kramden Institute, 5010 NC Hwy 55, Durham
Bring your family and friends to our Giving Tuesday charity auction on November 28th. Discover unique gifts from Triangle-connected nonprofits while supporting their diverse missions on this nationally recognized day to support the important work of nonprofits in our communities.
The auction will feature curated items from 20 plus Triangle-connected nonprofits. Auction items include pieces from local artists, tickets to Triangle-based sporting events, “singular” experiences and even a CAR from Wheels4Hope!
Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference!
Refreshments: Food and Beverage truck options (Pay as You Go)
Parking: Ample free parking available in front and behind Kramden, as well as in the adjacent day care lot
100% of ticket sales will support Triangle nonprofits. Food & Beverage are not included in the ticket price.
Downtown Durham Tree Lighting
Saturday December 2nd, 5pm – 9pm | FREE | CCB Plaza, 201 Corcoran St Durham
Join in for music, shopping, performances and of course, the tree lighting!
Gingerbread House Competition
Saturday December 2nd – December 9th | FREE | S. Academy Street, Cary
Visit Downtown Cary as it is transformed into a walking gallery of amateur gingerbread houses. Local participants work hard to design, create, and display a gingerbread house that is yummy enough for an elf’s visit! All houses will be on display in select downtown businesses on December 2-9, with the winners being displayed all December long at the Cary Arts Center.
Santa's Workshop at Abbotts Creek
Saturday December 2nd, 10am – 12pm | FREE, registration recommended | Abbotts Creek Park, 9950 Durant Road Raleigh
Come join the Raleigh Youth Council at Abbotts Creek Community Center for your personal tour through Santa’s workshop!
Enjoy Art and Craft Activities, Festive Music, and a picture with a very special visitor! In addition, please help put a smile on a child’s face by donating a new toy for children in need. Toy donations are optional but much appreciated.
Age: Families with children 0 to 12 years
Light Up the Night Parade & Tree Lighting
Sunday December 3rd, 4pm | FREE | Churton & King St, Hillsborough
The Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Hillsborough Holiday Parade at 4pm on Sunday, December 3. The parade will travel through downtown Hillsborough, south on Churton St from Corbin St to Margaret Lane and end at the intersection of Margaret Lane & Cameron St. Make plans to walk to the Old Courthouse Square for the annual tree lighting ceremony and community sing along immediately following the parade.
Chapel Hill Carrboro Holiday Parade
Saturday December 9th, 12pm | FREE | West Franklin St, Chapel Hill
Beginning at the intersection of Church and Franklin Street and ending at Carrboro Town Hall. Come out and celebrate the holiday season! Join us for a festive, entertaining, safe, and inclusive community parade to celebrate the winter holiday season. Stake out your curbside spot and watch over forty arts, cultural, and community groups parade down Franklin Street.
Durham Holiday Parade
Saturday December 9th, 10am | FREE | Main Street, Durham
Cheer on dynamic floats, hometown bands, drill teams, schools, and community groups as they make their way down Main Street at the Durham Holiday Parade. The procession will conclude with a guest appearance from Santa.
Gingerbread Cookie Decorating
Thursday December 14th, 2:30pm – 5pm | $8 | La Vita Dolce 610 Market Street, Chapel Hill
Soak up the holiday spirit at La Vita Dolce’s annual Gingerbread Cookie Decorating event! We’ll have everything you need: gingerbread cookies, icing, and candy — and even some holiday tunes. Festive treats like our Gingerbread Latte, S’mores Hot Chocolate, and 10 flavors of made-in-house gelato will be available for purchase (wine and beer also available for the parents). All ages welcome, and no reservations or tickets needed.
OFFICE:
3333 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Suite A100, Durham, NC 27707
MAILING:
PO Box 3374, Durham,
NC 27702
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