Best Christmas Light Displays in the Triangle for 2020 — with a map you can add to!

 

Looking for the biggest, best Christmas lights in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area for the 2020 Christmas season? Here are a few of the most spectacular displays.

Some of these displays are professional operations, but many of them, often synchronized to Christmas music, are put on by regular people, at their own expense, and it takes an incredible amount of time and creativity. So visit and let them know you appreciate it. If the attraction is free, donations are generally appreciated.

We’ve separated out the free and ticketed attractions, so if you’re just interested in the free ones, just keep scrolling!

New for this year, we’re putting together a Google map with all the light on this page, and more! To see the map, just scroll down past the pictures of the lights.

If you want to submit a display for the map please fill out this form. The map can include any great display that anyone finds, but in order to have the display listed on this post, we need permission from the homeowner. If you are a homeowner who would like to be included on this page, just email jody@triangleonthecheap.com. If you maintain a website or Facebook page for the display, please let us know.

If a radio station is listed, tune your car radio to that station to listen to the coordinated music. Please be considerate of these folks’ neighbors.

Important: If a website or Facebook page is listed, make sure to visit and check out any changes in the hours, start dates, and any additional information that you need to know. When the plans are changed, for weather or other reasons, we are usually not notified here.

Some families show videos and pictures of their works in progress as well.

Have you subscribed to Triangle on the Cheap yet? You’ll receive one email a day and be in the know. Start 2021 out the cheap way!

Do you know of a light display that should be included in the list? Please send information to jody@triangleonthecheap.com. I’ll need to see a website or Facebook page so that I know the homeowner wants the information shared.

You might also be interested in:

• Day by Day Guide to the Holidays in the Triangle
• Subscribing to Triangle on the Cheap’s emails
• Holiday markets in the Triangle 
• Free and cheap things to do this week

Ticketed Christmas Light Displays 

Fieldstream Farm Christmas Lights
8008 Old Stage Road, Raleigh
Every day from November 21st to December 31st, 2020.Monday to Thursday: 6:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Friday: 6:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
Sunday: 5:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
$20 per car. More for vehicles that carry more than 8 people.
Enjoy displays with over a million LED lights, including a massive drive-through light tunnel and a 40-foot Santa
2020 update: confirmed

Nights of Lights
Dix Park, 75 Hunt Drive, Raleigh
Dates and times: Select nights from December 16th 31st, 2020 
5:30 p.m to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.
$15/car. $30/vehicle that holds 9 or more. There will be discount nights TBA December 28th and 29th
This is a new drive-through light show at Dix Park. The 1.3 mile route will wind through the park, with illuminated trees, festive light displays and local art installations, all with the towering oaks, rolling hills and open fields of Dix Park as the backdrop.
2020 update: New for this year!

Lights on the Neuse
1620 Loop Road, Clayton, NC
November 27, 28. December 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
$10 per person. Age 2 and under are free.
You’ll need to buy a timed ticket, which may sell out. The ticket will include the hayride around the farm and a picture with Santa. Santa will be keeping his distance, but will be close enough to hear all Christmas wishes. Please bring your own camera. Some of the attractions from previous years won’t be available in 2020.
2020 Update: Confirmed

Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms
703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC 27596
November 26th to December 27th, 2020. $20 per vehicle.
The Festival of Lights returns in 2020, but as a drive-through attraction. The path is a mile long with over a million lights.
2020 update: Confirmed. Follow the above link for more details.

Drive-Through Christmas Village at Tobacco Farm Life Museum
December 4, 5, 11, 12
$10 per car
The Tobacco Farm Life Museum will co-host a special drive-through Kenly Christmas event the first two weekends of December. The Museum will be decorated as a life-size Christmas Village, the miniature porcelain decorations many families traditionally use to decorate their homes with during the holiday season.

Visitors will be able to drive through the grounds of the Tobacco Farm Life Museum and enjoy the Christmas Village come to life from the comfort of their own vehicles.

The Kenly Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Kenly are partnering with the museum to bring our community a safe holiday event this year. Downtown Kenly businesses will also be decorated for the season.
2020 update: Confirmed

Denton Farm Park
4259 Handy Road, Denton, NC 27239
November 27, 28, 29. December 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27
Cars/minivans: $20
Commercial vans/mini-buses: $25
Motorcoaches/buses: $100
Enjoy a Country Christmas celebration from the comfort of your vehicle! Drive through a Christmas light extravaganza, see live nativity scenes, stop by the Craft Barn to browse hand-crafted treasures, or pick up a snack, and enjoy food and refreshments from our on-site food truck.
2020 update: Confirmed

Broken Plow Farm’s Lights of Christmas
Broken Plow Farm, 1851 Avents Ferry Road, Sanford
2020 update: Please check back soon

Scroll down for the Christmas Light Map!

Add to the Triangle Christmas Light Map

Free Christmas Light Displays

These attractions are totally free to visit, but in some cases donations are accepted, usually for a charity. Please pay special care to be considerate of neighbors. And before you head out, follow the links, which usually go to a Facebook page, to make sure that the display is taking place, since weather and technical difficulties, or life in general might interfere with the plans.

The Nelsons’ Christmas Lights
3909 Falmouth Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604
Dates and times: Starting Saturday, November 28th, and then Thursday through Saturday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, 6 p.m to 9 p.m.
Free
This display has music, inflatables, moving parts, and lights, with a Candyland theme.
2020 update: confirmed

Lake Myra Christmas
10 S. Cypress St, Wendell, NC 27591
Dates and times: November 25th to December 31st, 2020. 
Sunday to Thursday: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted
One of the biggest and most popular light shows in the Triangle!
2020 update: confirmed.

Holland Road Lights
409 Holland Road, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
November 26th (Thanksgiving) to a few days after New Year’s
This musical light show includes 20-25 thousand lights. On New Year’s Eve they change things up and do a dance party light show! Tune into FM 90.9 to listen.
2020 update: confirmed

Castle Combe Drive Lights
605 Castle Combe Drive, Rolesville, NC 27571
6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night
Light show synchronized to music
2020 update: confirmed

 

 

Houston Family Lights
9021 New Century Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Running December 4th through New Year (at least)
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each evening
Light display is synchronized with music.
2020 update: confirmed

Lights on the Meadow
9301 Hay Meadow Court, Raleigh
Look at the sign at the beginning of the display to see what radio station to tune to.
2020 update: confirmed! Check back soon for the 2020 schedule.

Christmas Lights on Holt Road
1012 Holt Road, Apex
November 26th – 29th, December 4th to 6th, December 11th to 13th, December 18th to 26th
Follow above link for times, rules and schedule changes.
2020 Update: Confirmed

Lights on Cedar
206 W Cedar Avenue, Wake Forest
November 27th to December 31st, 2020
5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night
2020 Update: Confirmed

Goldman Family Lights
6331 Deerview Drive, Raleigh
Starts the Friday before Thanksgiving, November 20th, 2020.
Check Facebook page (above) for updates, especially due to weather.
Listen to WGFL 90.9 to hear music synchronized to the lights.
2020 update: Confirmed

Glen Iris Christmas
24 Gennessee Drive, Zebulon
Opening night is December 4th, 2020.
Check Facebook page (above) for the 2020 schedule.
2020 updated: Confirmed

Meadow Lights
4546 Godwin Lake Road, Benson, NC 27504
2020 Update: This light show is not happening in 2020, but will be back in 2021.

Piper Lights
5725 Fixit Shop Road, Wake Forest, NC
November 27th through January 1st. 
5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Admission is free but donations are accepted
Drive through 7 acres of Christmas lights! This year there will not be a train or candy store.
2020 update: Confirmed

Ambrose Lights
3401 Cartway Lanes, Raleigh, NC
Expects to start November 30
2020 update: Confirmed

Fleming Family Lights
228 Rothes Court, Clayton, NC
From November 29th, 2020, to January 1st, 2021
5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night
2020 update: confirmed

Johnson Family Christmas Light Show
101 Chestone Ct, Cary, NC
2020 update: Please check back soon.

Mangum Family Christmas Lights
7510 Guess Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
November 22nd, 2020, through New Year’s Eve
Sunday to Thursday: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tune in to 90.3 FM to hear synchronized music. Check Facebook page (above) to see if there are any changes due to weather.
2020 update: Confirmed

Gebhardt Family Lights
1033 Hortons Creek Road, Cary, NC 27519
Planning to open Friday, November 27th. And then 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Light show synchronized to music.
2020 update: Confirmed.

 

Google Map of Christmas Lights

Add to the Triangle Christmas Light Map

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More upcoming holiday events

Check out our huge list of holiday events in the Triangle, or look at a few of them here:

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Monday, November 30, 2020

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Friday, December 4, 2020

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Monday, December 7, 2020