Raleigh–Cary · NC
Things to do with kids in Raleigh — December 2026
21 family events in December 2026. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page. Dates are in Eastern Time.
What’s on now in Raleigh →Events
- Community
Through Jan 10
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Paid
- Community
Through Dec 17
Pullen Park Holiday Express
Pullen Park
From $21
- Community
Wed, Dec 2
Christmas at Historic Oak View: 1850–1950
Historic Oak View County Park
Free
- Arts & crafts
Wed, Nov 4 · 10:00 AM
What's in the Box? Preschool Art Mornings at NCMA
North Carolina Museum of Art
From $12Ages 3–5
- Tree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 4:30 PM
Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony
Apex Town Hall Campus
- Tree lightings
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Lighting of Wake Forest
Centennial Plaza
- Parades
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Apex Rotary Christmas Parade
Downtown Apex, Salem Street
- Outdoors
Sat, Nov 7 · 8:30 AM
Birding with Vernon at Lake Crabtree
Lake Crabtree County Park
FreeAges 8+
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Nov 7 · 10:30 AM
Family-Friendly Tours at NCMA
North Carolina Museum of Art
FreeAges 5–11
- Tree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Light the Springs — Holly Springs Tree and Menorah Lighting
Holly Springs Cultural Center
All ages
- Arts & crafts
Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM
Teens Sketch in the Galleries
North Carolina Museum of Art
Free
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
The Nutcracker — Cary Ballet Company
Fletcher Opera Theater, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Paid
- Markets and festivals
Sun, Dec 6 · 3:00 PM
Apex Chanukah Festival
Apex Senior Center
- Hanukkah
Wed, Dec 9 · 10:30 AM
Artful Story Time: Happy Hanukkah!
North Carolina Museum of Art
Free
- Sports & play
Wed, Nov 4 · 6:00 PM
Teen Dungeons and Dragons Night — Leesville Community Library
Leesville Community Library
Free
- Nutcracker and shows
Thu, Dec 10 · 7:00 PM
The Nutcracker — Carolina Ballet
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Paid
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11 · 7:30 PM
Holiday Pops and Ugly Sweater Night — NC Symphony
Meymandi Concert Hall, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Paid
- Outdoors
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Beech Bluff Explorers: Raccoon Roundup
Beech Bluff County Park
FreeAges 3–5
- STEM & discovery
Sun, Nov 8 · 10:00 AM
Dueling Dinosaurs Sensory Friendly Mornings
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
All ages
- Arts & crafts
Sun, Dec 13 · 12:00 PM
Pop-Up Art: Giant Snowflakes at NCMA
North Carolina Museum of Art
FreeAll ages
- Outdoors
Through Dec 30
Winter Warriors Mini Camp at Beech Bluff
Beech Bluff County Park
From $108Ages 8–12