The Triangle Event Guide Saturday December 6th Edition
If you’re planning a festive Saturday around the Triangle, you’re in luck — today brings concerts, markets, parades, Santa sightings, food trucks, botanical strolls, comedy, seasonal light shows, and dozens of all-day experiences for every age. Whether you’re in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, or Wake Forest, the Triangle is glowing with winter magic, family fun, and seasonal culture.
From the Chatham Artists Guild Open Studio Tour and historic trolley tours to free cookies at the Museum of Durham History and multiple local holiday markets, consider this your one-stop Saturday planning guide.
🎄 All-Day & Morning Highlights
Holiday Kiln Opening at Mark Hewitt Pottery
10AM–5PM | FREE | Pittsboro
Browse handcrafted North Carolina pottery during an annual kiln opening — a local favorite perfect for holiday gifts.
Cary Gingerbread House Competition
All Day | FREE | Downtown Cary
Admire gingerbread creations from locals and pros alike.
Museums on Us (Bank of America)
Free admission for cardholders | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh
Bring your Bank of America card for free children’s museum entry.
Cars & Coffee Morrisville
8AM–11AM | Imperial Center, Durham | FREE
A lively morning meetup for auto lovers — classic, modern, exotic, and custom builds.
Durham Craft Market
8AM–12PM | Durham Central Park | FREE
Shop local makers outdoors before the afternoon rush.
Home Depot Kids Workshop: Holiday Cocoa Mug
9AM–12PM | FREE | Multiple Locations
Bring the kids for hands-on seasonal crafting.
🎅 Holiday Markets, Parades & Seasonal Pop-Ups
Youngsville Christmas Parade
10AM–11AM | FREE | Downtown Youngsville
Chapel Hill–Carrboro Community Parade
10AM | FREE | Carrboro Town Hall
Angier Christmas Parade
10AM | FREE | Depot Square
MAKRS Holiday Fest
11AM–6PM | FREE | City Plaza, Raleigh
Jolly Raleigh Holiday Market
11AM–5PM | FREE | Raleigh Iron Works
Durham Holiday Patchwork Market
12PM–4PM | FREE | Durham Armory
Merry Market at Boxyard RTP
11AM–3PM | FREE | RTP
Victorian Christmas at Page-Walker
2PM–5PM | FREE | Cary
🎁 Santa Sightings, Photos & Family Fun
Wake Forest Photos with Santa — 10AM–3PM – FREE Santa at Yates Mill — 10AM–6PM – FREE Storytime with Santa — 2PM–4PM – FREE at Boxyard RTP Santa on the Roof — The Durham Hotel — 11AM–2PM – FREE Pictures with Santa — Cary Park — 10AM–5PM – FREE Santa at Garner Tractor Supply — 5PM–9PM – FREE Santa at Lake Myra Christmas Lights — 7PM–9PM – FREE Petco: Free Pet Photos with Santa — 2PM–4PM – FREE
🌿 Arts, Heritage & History Experiences
Joel Lane Museum House — Colonial Christmas Open House
11AM–3PM | FREE | Raleigh
Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours
11AM–3PM | $6–10 | Mordecai Historic Park
African American Walking Tour – Third Ward
All Day | $5–10 | Pope House, Raleigh
Jonkonnu at Stagville
4:30PM | FREE | Durham
Celebrate an African American holiday tradition with music, drumming, and storytelling.
🎡 Seasonal Lights & Outdoor Experiences
The RINK — Ice Skating at Red Hat Amphitheater
All Day | $6–15 | Raleigh
Illuminate Art Walk
4:45PM | FREE | Downtown Raleigh
Lake Myra Christmas Lights (Wendell)
5:30PM–10PM | FREE
Piper Lights (Wake Forest)
5:30PM–10PM | FREE
Contentnea Fire Department Christmas Lights
5:30PM–9PM | FREE | Wilson
Phillips Farms Christmas Light Show
5PM–9PM | $15 | Cary
Lights on the Neuse — Holiday Hayride
6PM–9PM | $11 | Clayton
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
6PM–10PM | $16.74–$30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary
🎤 Saturday Afternoon & Evening Highlights
Free Improv Comedy
6PM–8PM | FREE | Holly Springs
Live Music Across the Triangle
Blackbird Brewery — 6PM–9PM Fortnight Brewing — 6PM–9PM Southern Peak Brewery — 6:30PM–9PM Williams House Craft Taproom — 7PM–10PM Fainting Goat Brewing — 7PM–10PM Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse — 7:30PM Bearded Bee Brewing — 7PM Holly Springs, Apex, Selma, Wendell — karaoke & performances into late night
Oddville – Art Show of the Awesomely Strange
6PM | $10–15 | The Fruit, Durham
🍻 Nightlife, Comedy & Late Festivities
Ugly Sweater Karaoke Party
7:30PM | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing, Raleigh
Boots & Brewz (Country Night)
8PM–Midnight | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon
Live Comedy + Craft Beer
7PM–9PM | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner
Plan Your Perfect Triangle Saturday
Whether you’re exploring holiday light displays, enjoying family markets, grabbing free Santa photos, or heading to local breweries for live music, today is packed with over 100 experiences across the Triangle.
Bookmark this guide → share it with friends → and enjoy a full day of festive local life!
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