Update: A Gift to Cary Celebration at Downtown Cary Park Affected by the Weather...

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, most of the events and activities below have been canceled. The only events still happening are photos with Santa in Academy Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the tree lighting at 6 p.m., which you can livestream.

Celebrate the holiday season in the brand new Downtown Cary Park!

A Gift to Cary Celebration takes place at Downtown Cary Park, 327 South Academy Street, Cary, North Carolina, on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 10 pm.

Look for updates in the Facebook event.

We’ve put together a huge list of holiday events in the Triangle, including parades, festivals, markets, Santa visits, and more. Check out our growing day by day list of holiday events in the Triangle!

The celebration will be a full day of programming and events.

Ice Skating: There will be an ice skating rink from December 2, 2023, to January 12, 2024. It will be free to skate — at least during A Gift to Cary. When we have more information about the skating rink, we will share it.
Free pictures with Santa
Tree lighting at 6 p.m.
Holiday Light Show
Artisan vendors
Community performances
Snowball play zone
Imagine Circus holiday characters
Photo Christmas cards with your dog
Food Trucks
Beer
Wine

Schedule of A Gift to Cary

10 a.m. — Shuttles begin running from Cary Academy
10 a.m – 4 p.m. — Photos with Santa (Academy Pavilion)
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Snow Machine and Snowball Fights (The Nest)
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. — Community Performances (Great Lawn Pavilion)
1 – 9 p.m. – Skating Rink (Park Street Courts)
6 p.m. — Cary’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony (Great Lawn Pavilion/Frantz Square)
6:15 p.m. — Drone Light Show #1 (In the Sky Above Cary Arts Center)
6:30 – 8 p.m. – Sons of Serendip Performance (Great Lawn Pavilion)
8:05 p.m. – Drone Light Show #2 (In the Sky Above Cary Arts Center)
10:45 p.m. — Last shuttle departs the Park

Parking

Free shuttles to the Park are available for visitors who park at the Town Hall Parking Deck (121 Wilkinson Ave, Cary, NC 27513) and the Cary High School parking lot off of SE Maynard Rd ( 638 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511). Shuttles will run from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The last departure from the Park will be at 10:45 p.m. ADA accessible shuttles will be available.

Make the most of the free GoCary bus service to easily access the Park. All eight GoCary bus routes conveniently connect at the Cary Depot which is less than half a mile from the Park. To plan your trip or access the GoCary Ride Guide please, visit GoCary.org.

A rideshare drop-off location for the Park is available on S. Walker St. near The Walker building.

Free public parking is available in the following areas:

Parking Deck Located behind the Cary Regional Library – 113 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511
Gravel Parking Lot Next to the Parking Deck on Walnut Street – 105 Walnut St, Cary, NC 27511
Designated Street Parking Throughout Downtown
Town Hall Parking Deck – 121 Wilkinson Ave, Cary, NC 27513
ADA Parking ONLY – Cary Elementary School (bus entrance) – 400 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27511

Please note, the following parking lots and areas will not be open to the public:

S. Academy St. will be closed to vehicular traffic from Park St. to Dry Ave from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The parking lot on Charlie Gaddy Lane (Old Library Site)
The parking lot behind Cary Elementary located off Faculty Drive
Vendor/Event Support Parking only – The First United Methodist Church – 117 S. Academy St., Cary, NC 27511

Double-Check Before You Head Out!

We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.

However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake.

Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.

More Holiday Events in the Triangle

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

Downtown Cary Park

321 South Academy Street
Cary, NC

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