It is that time of year when we gain enjoyment from Christmas giving, reunions and all the activities that come along with the holiday.
There are multiple ways to enjoy the holidays and visiting different Christmas events is one way to do it.
If you are tired of not finding things to do in NC, and want to start chiming into the Christmas spirit, here are four activities that can be found in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Skate the Square in Fenton is an outdoor ice-skating rink where kids, teens and adults go. Whether they’re pros or have never skated before, all are welcome.
The general admission price is $17, tickets can be purchased online or in person.
Purchasing in person can be quite confusing due to the ticket booth being hidden, but once you find the rink, simply make your way towards the left side of the Paragon Theatre where the ticket booth is located.
The rink is not all that big and it can get packed. The pace at which people are skating is also slow, so if you’re looking for a place to put your well-established skating skills to work, I would recommend a larger rink.
For learners, Skate the Square is an enjoyable place. There are a lot of other people who are also learning so don’t worry about being the only one embarrassing yourself.
The skating rink itself is located within a mini shopping center which includes stores, dining and entertainment. So there are many other activities you can do while visiting Fenton.
You can shop at stores like Nike, Sephora and LuluLemon. There are dining areas like Honeysuckle Gelato, Msushi and Superica. There is even a fancy movie theater, Paragon Theatres, right in front of the skating rink.
Visiting this skating rink is an overall great experience. From skating to shopping, there are a lot of activities at Skate the Square in Fenton. I totally recommend it.
MG Vision and Lights is a drive-through Christmas light show, but it is not any typical light show. It is an elaborately decorated home that is open to the public with Christmas lights all around.
While making your way towards the entrance, make sure to be considerate of the neighboring homes in the area and respect their properties. Signs are posted to remind you not to block driveways.
Many online sites state that the visit to this Christmas event is free, however, this is false, a $20 fee must be paid to enter the light show.
The money collected through this event is given to charity, so by visiting you’re not only treating yourself but you are also helping those who need it.
The light show is quite short, but if you’re looking for a small activity close by, you should add this to your list of Christmas activities.
Writers note: Direct information about this light show can be found through their Facebook page “MG Global Support Foundation”
Feildstream Farm and Christmas Lights (Raleigh)
8008 Old Stage Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
November 24thth 2023 – December 31st, 2024
During the Christmas holiday, Feildstream Farm brings out their drive-through Christmas light show.
The simple activity of viewing Christmas lights while sitting in your vehicle can be really enjoyable.
Your ticket must be purchased through their online website before arriving. The entry fee is $20.
Before you even reach the employee who will scan your ticket, you will go through a beautiful tunnel of lights.
While you make your way through the tunnel, signs are posted encouraging you to join a radio station that plays Christmas carols.
Feildstream Farm is a perfect place for children. Throughout the light show, there are sections for different Disney movie characters, including characters from Cars, Frozen, Toy Story and Mickey Mouse. There are also characters from other franchises such as Superheroes and The Wizard of Oz.
This light show can also be enjoyed by teens and adults. People of all ages enjoy these characters, which makes this place unique.
As you make your way towards the exit, you will see Santa waving goodbye and wishing everyone a merry Christmas.
This drive-through light show is definitely worth visiting. It’s not far from Durham, it is unique and most importantly, it’s a great way to spend the holidays.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival (Cary)
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, North Carolina 27518
November 17th 2023 – January 14th, 2024
The Booth Amphitheatre presents the NC Chinese Lantern Festival yearly.
This festival has many walk-through lantern displays. And many of them are larger than human size!
Every year, artisans handcraft new displays. As you walk around, you’ll be able to see the amazing works up close.
This means you can visit every year, and each year you will encounter new crafts.
It is an incredible and enjoyable walk-through. In addition to the displays, there are performances every hour after 5:30 p.m. and food trucks.
This festival is very popular, so you will encounter traffic on your way there. But this place is worth the wait!
Due to its popularity, I strongly encourage you to reserve tickets at least a day before you plan to visit. This way your tickets are cheaper and your entrance is ensured.
Date-specific tickets are $16 for ages 13 and up when ordered in advance and $18 when purchased the day of.
Buying tickets in person is possible, however they sell out fast.
One of the most popular areas of this festival is its play area. Here, light-up circular swings are set up. But what makes it so popular is the smoke balls that are blown out by machines. They’re like bubbles that have a solid look to them, but once touched they pop and dissolve into smoke.
Every part of this festival is so amazing that once you visit, you will want to visit again.
Nice !