Where are the best Christmas lights in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the rest of the Triangle? Read on! We have a huge list!
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 often appreciated.
We’ve separated out the free and ticketed attractions, so if you’re just interested in the free ones, just keep scrolling!
We’re putting together a map with all the lights! Keep scrolling or jump directly to the map. But we’ve just gotten started!
If you want to submit a display for the map please fill out this form. Or, feel free to 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.
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.
One more thing: before you fuel up, check out this list and map of the cheapest gas in the Triangle!
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 in the Triangle
Lights on the Neuse
Lights on the Neuse
1620 Loop Road, Clayton, NC
Dates from November 28 to December 27, 2025. Check website (link above) for specific dates and times.
$11 per person for ages 3 and up. 2 and under are free.
You can buy a timed ticket, or purchase a ticket at the gate, if available. The ticket will include the hayride around the farm. Santa won’t be there, but you can take a picture with his sleigh. Please bring your own camera. The wagon ride is about 20 minutes. Stop by the concessions stand for hot chocolate, cider or coffee. Decorate a cookie in the sugar barn.
2025 Update: Confirmed
FestiBull of Lights
FestiBull of Lights
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
409 Blackwell Street, Durham, North Carolina
November 28, 2025, to January 1, 2026, except Christmas Day
5:30 to 9 p.m.
General admission is $12 per person. children under age 2 are admitted for free
Light display, meeting Santa and Wool E. Claus, holiday craft zone, scavenger hunt, Christmas Tree Alley, and holiday slide. Extra cost for NC by Train Holiday Express, around the field.
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, North Carolina
November 15, 2025, to January 11, 2026 (except Christmas Day)
Ticket prices vary per night.
Although not Christmas lights, this bright nighttime display is a popular attraction every year.
2025 Update: Confirmed
Hill Ridge Farms
Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms
703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC 27596
Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving) through December 28, 2025, with the exception of Mondays and Tuesdays, and Christmas Eve
5 to 9 p.m. most night
$19.95 per person. Kids 2 and under admitted for free.
Tickets include wagon ride, train ride, and many fun farm attractions.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Naylor Family Farms
Naylor Family Farms
6016 US 401 N, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
November 29 to December 23, 2025, on Friday to Sunday. Also, December 22 and 23.
4 to 9 p.m.
$18.62 per person. Children 2 and under are free with paying adult. One free child per paid pass.
Tickets include a hayride through the lighted winter wonderland, live nativity, pictures with Santa under the giant 30-foot Christmas tree, meet and greet with the Grinch, the petting zoo, giant tube slides, corn crib, giant swings and much more.
Details and tickets here.
2025 update: Confirmed
Denton Farm Park
Denton Farm Park Country Christmas Train
4259 Handy Road, Denton, NC 27239
November 28 to 30. December 5-7, 11-14, and 18-23, 2025
Adults: $25. Children 5-17: $10. Children 4 and under: Free.
Santa pictures are extra.
Ride the Christmas Train through the farm. See Christmas lights and watch a movie about Christmas. There will be a live nativity scene, elves, and more. Visit the church, the service station, the Gingerbread House, the doll museum and more. Meet Santa. (Santa pictures are extra.)
2025 update: Confirmed.
Christmas Lights on the Farm
Christmas Lights on the Farm
NC Hwy 222 W, Middlesex, NC
Dates from November 28 to December 23, 2025. )
$15
Tickets include a hayride to the Field of Lights, bonfires, pictures with Santa, and a visit to Santa’s workshop. Candy, hot chocolate, s’mores and more are for sale.
2025 update: Confirmed.
MG’s Vision & Lights on Holt Road
MG’s Vision & Lights on Holt Road
1012 Holt Road, Apex, but please approach from Davis Drive and turn right at Old Jenks Road and Holt Road.
Opening night is Thanksgiving, November 27, 2025. Dates throughout the season.
$20 per car in advance. $27 at the gate.
Please check the above link for information.
This is a huge, elaborate, drive-through light display at a private home. The event raises money for various causes. There is generally a day or two without admission charges, but there will be very long lines.
2025 update: Confirmed (but check Facebook page for details.)
Rogers Family Lights
700 Bay Bouquet Lane, Apex, NC
Check for hours on the Facebook page (above)
This light show is synchronized to music. The show is in memory of their son, Caden who passed away from SMA. Donate to help find a cure for SMA at curesma.com.
2025 update: Confirmed
Festival of Lights at Sweet Valley Ranch
Festival of Lights
Sweet Valley Ranch
2990 Sunnyside School Road, Fayetteville, NC
November 28-29, December 5-6, December 12-14, December 19-23, and December 26-27, 2025
Check website for pricing.
Drive-thru or wagon tour. You can also visit Tiny’s Winter Wonderland (across the street) to enjoy a visit with Santa, vendors, gift shop amusement rides, food and more.
2025 update: Confirmed.
Highlanders Farm
Highlanders Farm
5784 NC-22, Carthage, NC
November 28 to December 28, 2025
Wednesday through Sunday. Closed December 25.
$20 per car; $30 per passenger barn
Wind through the fields and enjoy the lights! The ice cream shop will be open, serving homemade ice cream, cider and hot chocolate. Updates on Highlanders Farm’s Facebook page.
2025 update: Confirmed
Granville Christmas Farm
Granville Christmas Farm
4534 US-15, Oxford, NC
Dates from November 28 to December 31, 2025. (Every day except December 1 to 4 and December 8-11.)
Vehicle with 1-4 passengers: $20; 5-8 passengers: $35; 9 or more passengers: $45
Drive-thru light show.
2025 update: Confirmed.
2024 update: Confirmed.
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC 27012
November 14, 2025, to January 1, 2026
6 to 11 p.m.
For a family car, van or truck: $20 by cash, or $23 by card.
Commercial vans, limos or minibus: $45 by cash, or $48 by card.
Motorcoaches: $115 by cash, $118 by card.
Discount nights:
- Monday, November 17
- Tuesday, November 18
- Monday, November 24
- Tuesday, November 25
Discount Prices:
- Family (cars, vans, trucks): $10 cash, $13 credit card
- Commercial (vans, limos, mini-buses): $25 cash, $28 credit card
- Motorcoaches and buses: $80 cash, $83 credit card
Free Christmas Light Displays in the Triangle
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.
Please understand that most of these displays are put on by homeowners, so please be very respectful of their property and that of their neighbors.
Some of these light displays are synchronized to music, and some are static.
As soon as we know about the home displays, we will update here!
Raleigh Area
Goldman Family Lights
6331 Deerview Drive, Raleigh
Starts some time the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Check Facebook page (above) for the schedule, and for updates, especially due to weather.
Listen to WGFL 90.9 to hear music synchronized to the lights.
2025 update: Confirmed. Check Facebook page for schedule.
The Nelsons’ Christmas Lights
3909 Falmouth Drive, Raleigh, NC 27604
Season opens November 23, 2025
Check Facebook page (link above) for schedule and updates
This display has music, inflatables, moving parts, and lights.
2025 update: Confirmed
Raleigh Lights
2612 Beehnon Way, Raleigh, NC
This free show typically contains over 78,000 lights. Currently, visitors can enjoy 19+ songs set to lights by tuning your car radio to 90.3 FM! New songs are added frequently and there will be 30 or more by Christmas. Located near the intersection of Lake Wheeler Rd and Tryon Rd in South Raleigh. Also, look for updates on Facebook.com/RaleighNCLights.
2025 update: Confirmed
Holidays on Hemby
1001 Hemby Ridge Lane, Morrisville
Check Facebook page for schedule
The display contains thousands of lights, 117 inflatables, 10 Blow Molds, 5 Wire Freames, a walking path open from 5-10 nightly and an outdoor G Scale train layout. Trains don’t run every night, but schedule will be posted in advance.
2025 update: Confirmed.
2216 Abbey Lane, Raleigh, NC
5 to 9 p.m. nightly. If there’s a 30% chance of rain (or greater) the lights are turned off.
Ambrose Lights
3401 Cartway Lane, Raleigh, NC
Check Facebook page for schedule and updates
2025 update: Confirmed
Luke Family Lights
1205 Nikole Court, Raleigh, NC
Lights and movement synchronized to music.
Stonehenge Neighborhood
The Stonehenge neighborhood in North Raleigh is known or its over-the-top Christmas decorations throughout. Stonehenge is just south of the Northern Wake Expressway. Creedmoor Road goes through the neighborhood.
2025 update: Happens every year, but we have no official confirmation.
Durham and Orange Counties
Lights on Birch Hollow Road
393 Birch Hollow Road, Chapel Hill, NC (Briar Chapel neighborhood)
Opening night November 28, 2025
5 to 9 p.m. through Christmas night.
Christmas animated light show with singing trees and thousands of lights.
Mangum Family Christmas Lights
7510 Guess Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Tune in to 90.3 FM to hear synchronized music. Check Facebook page (above) to see if there are any changes due to weather, and to see the dates/times.
2025 update: Confirmed
Wake Forest and Northeast Wake County
Piper Lights
5725 Fixit Shop Road, Wake Forest, NC
November 28, 2025, to January 1, 2026
Friday and Saturday: 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Sunday to Thursday: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Admission is free but donations are accepted, to help with light repairs and the electricity bill.
Drive through 7 acres of Christmas lights!
2025 update: Confirmed
Wood Family Light Shows
6600 Austin Creek Drive, Wake Forest, NC
Opens December 6, 2025
Runs every Friday through Sunday through January 1, 2025
6 to 9 p.m.
On December 6, 2025, opening night will include refreshments, gifts for children, pyrotechnics and fireworks. Free event.
Lights on Cedar
206 W Cedar Avenue, Wake Forest
Typically starts the night after Thanksgiving
5 to 10 p.m.
2025 update: Confirmed
Houston Family Lights
9021 New Century Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Starting by December 6, 2025 (at the latest.)
Light display is synchronized with music. Make sure to check the Facebook page for any changes in schedule. You can stay in the car and listen to 90.3 FM if it’s cold!
2025 update: Confirmed
Eastern Wake County and Wilson
Lake Myra Christmas
AKA Downtown Wendell Light Show
10 S. Cypress St, Wendell, NC 27591
Check back for confirmation on dates. November 26 to December 31, 2025
5:30 to 10 p.m. every night
Admission is free, but donations are accepted
One of the biggest and most popular light shows in the Triangle! Bring a lawn chair and watch the show, or walk on the walkway through the lights! Santa will be there select nights. Check the Facebook page for any updates due to weather.
2025 update: Confirmed.
InflataBoyds
Knightdale Station
306 Banner Blue Court, Knightdale
Starting November 28, 2025
You’re welcome to park, walk around and take pictures.
2024 update: Confirmed
Contentnea Fire Department’s Christmas Lights in Wilson
4146 NC Highway 42 W, Wilson, NC
November 28 to December 31, 2025 (Soft opening November 22)
Free
A favorite in Wilson! The fire department puts together an incredible light show, including a 60-foot tall Christmas tree and more than 25,000 lights. Santa will be there most nights, for a donation. December 2 and 8, 2025, are set aside for people with special needs, with registration required.
2025 update: Confirmed
Cary and Apex
Downtown Cary, including Downtown Cary Park
All throughout Downtown Cary, especially on Academy Street
Find a spot to park and walk through this winter wonderland! It’s one of the most festive places in the Triangle, starting November 28, 2025. The Town of Cary has even provided an interactive map of festive spots. Click on this link and then scroll down.
Gebhardt Family Lights
1033 Hortons Creek Road, Cary
Check Facebook page for details. Should start around November 28, 2025
Light show synchronized to music.
2025 update: Confirmed
Fuquay-Varina
Holland Road Lights
409 Holland Road, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
November 29, 2025, to January 2, 2026
5 to 10:30 p.m.
Light up your holiday season with a visit to Holland Road Lights — a dazzling, free, music-synchronized spectacle featuring over 40,000 lights, all choreographed to festive tunes you can hear on FM 90.9.
While the show is completely free, visitors are invited to support local charities through donations that help benefit the Fuquay-Varina Emergency Food Pantry and Mama’s House of Thrift.
Look for updates on the Facebook page.
2025 update: Confirmed
Light Show Geek
5425 Downtown Grove Ct., Fuquay-Varina, NC
34,000 lights synchronized to music. Check Facebook page for the schedule and for updates, especially due to weather.
2025 update: Confirmed
Johnston County
143 First Light Trail, Clayton, NC
They have candy canes and “reindeer food” for you to enjoy. There’s also a snow machine sand a life-sized sled.
4546 Godwin Lake Rd, Benson, NC 27504
November 21 to December 31, 2025
5 to 10 p.m.
Free admission.
30 acres of lights, including a 37-foot tall display. Train rides ($3 per person), old-fashioned candy store, Santa every night (through December 24 — free to visit, $8 to take a picture), carousel ($3 per person), concessions.
There is no charge to see the lights. All of the lights are visible from the road or parking lot. However the train takes you through the main field of lights and gets you much closer. Any age can ride.
2025 update: Confirmed
Ashley Heights Lights Clayton
340 Ashpole Trail, Clayton, NC
Synchronized Christmas light show! When you arrive, please park out front, turn off your headlights, and tune your radio to 89.5 FM. For your safety, please keep parking lights on. Please don’t block driveways, don’t litter, and please keep your volume low.
As you exit, please continue down the road and use the cul-de-sac to turn around, avoiding using any driveways. Check Facebook page for hours and any changes.
2025 Update: Confirmed
Franklin County
Check back soon.
Google Map of Christmas Lights
Add to the Triangle Christmas Light Map
Various locations
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