Looking for something to do with friends and family Thanksgiving weekend, 2024? Here is a big list of things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and beyond. More will be added! What do you think should be on the list?
We’ve highlighted a few major attractions and fun ideas, but please scroll down for a more comprehensive day-by-day list.
On Triangle on the Cheap, we generally focus on the cheap, and preferably, free, events, but we are including some pricier events in this list, in case a splurge is a possibility for you. But there are still lots of cheap stuff to do!
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Christmas Lights
Check out our big list of magnificent Christmas light displays in the Triangle. Some are on farms or other venues and have an entry fee, but many are absolutely free. There’s even a Google Map to help you plan your trek!
Go Ice Skating
Enjoy outdoor ice skating in the Triangle. Follow each of these links to learn the details.
The RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater
Skate the Square at Fenton
Ice skating at Downtown Cary Park
Smash Something
Need to let off some steam? Go to The Scrap Exchange’s SmashFest on Friday, November 29, 2024. This free event has a fun, festival atmosphere as you smash stuff! Enjoy live music, screenprinting, community partner tables, food trucks and more. Smashables will be available for purchase. This is a fundraiser for The Scrap Exchange. Smashing takes place from 3 to 7 p.m. and bands play 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Repticon
Repticon will be at North Carolina Fairgrounds on November 30 and December 1, 2024. Get up close to some of the most fascinating animals on earth. Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5-12, and free for children ages 4 and under.
Santa’s Wonderland
Take the kids to Bass Pro Shops, 801 Bass Pro Lane, Cary, or 201 Cabela Drive, Garner, and you and get a free picture of them with Santa. This is going on every day through Christmas Eve. You need to make reservations in advance. We also have a growing list of other opportunities for a free picture with Santa in the Triangle.
Shop at a Holiday Market
Instead of going to the big box stores for Black Friday, check out our big list of holiday markets around the Triangle. You’ll get to shop for unique gifts and, in many cases, even meet the artist who created it.
Hillsborough Last Fridays
The last Friday of the month, Hillsborough presents Hillsborough Last Fridays Art Walk, which features live music throughout the town, special interactive arts events and displays, street performers, art gallery receptions, and much more. It’s definitely worth checking out!
Sculpture in the Garden
North Carolina Botanical Garden is hosting Sculpture in the Garden through December 8, 2024. It’s closed on UNC Chapel Hill university holidays, including Thanksgiving. It’s free to visit, but a $5 donation is suggested. Check out over 60 sculptures in the garden.
Try one of these hikes
Get outside and try one of these 15 hiking trails around the Triangle. If you’ve got young kids in your pack, try one of these Triangle hikes that are especially great for kids. Also, several North Carolina State Parks are offering guided hikes Thanksgiving Weekend.
Go Christmas Tree Shopping
Many of the Christmas tree farms and lots open the day after Thanksgiving. Check out our list of Christmas tree farms and lots in the Triangle. At many, you can choose your own tree and have it cut for you. Others offer Fraser Firs pre-cut, from the mountains.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
North Carolina Museum of Natural Science in downtown Raleigh is closed on Thanksgiving Day but open the rest of the weekend. Admission is free.
North Carolina Museum of Art
As with the other two state museums, North Carolina Museum of Art is closed on Thanksgiving Day, but open the rest of the weekend, and is free to visit.
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
This is one of the “splurge events,” but is not to be missed! After a year off, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary from November 16, 2024, to January 12, 2025. You can save a little bit of money by purchasing tickets for specific days, in advance. There are also discounts for seniors (age 55+), military, college students, and kids ages 3-12. Kids under 3 are admitted or free.
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