Ultimate Holiday Lights Guide for the NC Coast, Triangle & Triad
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Holiday lights bring a sense of wonder and magic to the season unlike anything else. Here at NC Pro Realty, we are self-professed holiday light-lovers! There is nothing quite like ooh-ing and aah-ing over a magnificent display of twinkling lights – preferably with a mug of hot cocoa in hand!
To help you experience that same sense of joy and wonder, we have rounded up a list of local holiday lights to check out in each region that we serve, from the Coast to the Triangle to the Triad!
COAST
Lake Linda’s Christmas Lights
218 Old House Rd., Hampstead, NC 28443
November 28 & 29: 5:30 – 10:30 pm
November 30 & December 2: 7-11 pm
December 3-31 Sunday-Thursday 5:30-10:30, Friday – Saturday 5:30-11 pm
January 1: 5:30-10:30 pm
This family-run musical light show features 250,000 lights and 15 inflatables spread over several acres and synchronized to over thirty songs. Look for Santa’s mailbox where you can drop off your letter to the big guy (he’ll even reply with a personal note)! Free admission; Toys for Tots donations welcome.
NC Holiday Flotilla & Festival in the Park
Various locations, Wrightsville Beach
November 29 – 30
Kick off the weekend’s festivities with a tree lighting ceremony and visit with Santa at Wrightsville Beach Town Hall on Friday at 5:30 pm. Then enjoy the Festival in the Park on Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm at Wrightsville Beach Park. Finish with the grand finale of the boat parade and fireworks starting at 6 pm. Free admission.
Christmas at the Barnyard
844 Roberts Road, Newport, NC 28570
November 29-30; December 5-7, 12-14, 19-21
5-8 pm
Enjoy a festive visit with friendly farm animals under hundreds of Christmas lights. Cozy up by the fire with some hot chocolate and cap off the evening with a visit to Santa Clause in his sleigh. A special live nativity will take place December 15 at 5 pm. Admission is $7 per person over two years old. Hot chocolate and live wreaths available for purchase (cash only).
Leland in Lights
102 Town Hall Drive, Leland, NC 28451
December 7 at 6 pm
Santa and Mrs. Claus will make their grand entrance alongTown Hall Drive and lead the annual tree lighting and start of Leland in Lights, a dazzling display of lights throughout Founders Park. Climb aboard the miniature train and tour the lights which include an illuminated arbor, motion-sensor displays that sing and dance to Christmas music, and lighted cutouts for a memorable family photo. Step into Santa’s Workshop for a magical visit with jolly old St. Nick beginning at 6:30 pm. Free admission.
Christmas Train and Light Spectacular
Wilmington Railroad Museum, 505 Nutt Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
November 29-30; December 13-14, 20-21, 26-28
6:30 – 8 pm
Walk into a winter wonderland at the railroad museum where 25,000 lights sparkle with holiday magic and musical animations capture your imaginations. Say hello to Santa and enjoy some delicious holiday treats! Admission is $ per person over two years old.
*Enchanted Airlie
300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC 28403
While this magical event is already sold out for this year, we had to mention it so you could put a note on your calendars for next year! Festive lights, music and flowers transform the gardens into a truly magical holiday experience. Plan to buy tickets early next fall as they sell out fast!
TRIANGLE
Meadow Lights
4546 Godwin Lake Road, Benson, NC 27504
November 22 – December 31
Sunday – Thursday: 5-10 pm
Friday & Saturday: 5-11 pm
No holiday bucket list is complete without a visit to the largest and oldest Christmas attraction in eastern North Carolina! Be filled with childlike wonder at magical lights displayed on over thirty acres. Hop aboard one of the small trains for an up-close tour of ten acres of lights – with windows on three sides, you’re sure to have an excellent view! Select the perfect holiday treat at the Old Country store which sells drinks and over 300 varieties of candy. View the story of the life of Jesus Christ from birth to resurrection, displayed using twenty custom mannequins spread over six scenes. Santa visits every night through Christmas Eve and you can get your picture with the big guy for $6. Free admission; Train tickets are $3 per person.
Mangum Family Christmas Lights
7510 Guess Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (Durham County)
November 22 – December 31
Sunday – Thursday (and Dec. 26-31): 5:30 – 10 pm
Friday & Saturday (and Dec. 20-23): 5:30 – 11 pm
Tune into the North Pole South Broadcasting Company (90.3 FM) and enjoy a fabulous family light display with over 100,000 lights synchronized to music. The Cosmic Color Ribbon Tree is quite the sight! Two different groups of songs alternate every other night, so this light display is worth a return visit. Free admission.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival
Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary, NC
November 22 – January 12
Tuesday – Sunday (and 12/23 & 12/30) 6-10 pm
Walk into an enchanting wonderland of light displays and cultural performances. In its fifth year, the festival has all new larger-than-life lanterns made up of thousands of LED lights. Peruse artisan crafts and view a wide variety of cultural performances including juggling, dancing, acrobatics, martials arts, contortion, Chinese drumming and more. Holiday treats and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission is $20 for visiting any night; advance tickets for a specific date are $15 for adults, $10 for ages 3-12 and free for ages 2 and under.
Lake Myra Christmas Lights
10 S. Cypress St., Wendell, NC 27591
November 27 – December 31
Sunday – Thursday: 6-10 pm
Friday & Saturday: 6-11 pm
View this spectacular light and sound show in the heart of Wendell. Park and walk to the viewing area in the front of the display and then prepare to be in awe of the hundreds of thousands of lights twinkling and dancing in perfect harmony to the festive music that fills the air. Santa will be on hand every Saturday at 7 pm and you are welcome to take pictures with your own camera. Free admission; donations accepted.
Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms
703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC 27596
November 28 – December 29
Sunday – Thursday: 5-9 pm
Friday – Saturday: 5-10 pm
Cozy up next to your loved ones on a covered hayride through over a million festive lights (yes, you read that correctly – a million!) Sweeten up your visit with a stop at Granny’s Snack Shack where you can buy everything you need to make s’mores around one of the bonfires. Grab a few more treats at the Country Store, where you’ll old fashioned Christmas candy and fudge. Be sure to visit the Santa House and meet the jolly man himself. Admission ranges from $10 to $12 (free for under 2 years old) and includes a covered hayride and access to fun play areas for the kids.
Fieldstream Farm and Christmas Light Show
Fieldstream Farm, 8008 Old Stage Road, Raleigh, NC 27603
Opening November 28
Sunday – Thursday: 6:30-10:30 pm
Friday 6:30 – 10:30 pm
Saturday 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Prepare to be amazed by over one million sparkling lights at this drive-through Christmas light show. One of the show’s biggest attractions is an astonishing 500-foot tunnel of lights with over 200,000 lights! Admission: $22.74 for vehicles with up to 6 passengers; check website for details on larger vehicles. Purchase tickets in advance here.
Lights on the Neuse
1620 Loop Road, Clayton, NC 27527
November 29 – December 24
Fridays & Saturdays 6 -9 pm
Sundays 6-8 pm
December 19-23: 6-9 pm
December 24: 5-7 pm
Embrace the magic of the season at Boyette Family farms! Breathe in the magic with a tractor-pulled hayride along an entire mile of festive lights. Visit with Jolly Old Saint Nick then pick up some delicious treats in Santa’s Sweet Shoppe such as old-fashioned Christmas candy, hot chocolate or even a s’mores kit to cook in the picnic area. Drop in at the Sugar Barn where you can have some fun at the cookie decorating station. Tickets are $9 for ages 3 and up and include hayride.
Piper Lights
5725 Fixit Shop Road, Wake Forest, NC
November 29 – January 2
(Store, Santa and train run until December 24)
Sunday – Thursday: 5:30 – 9 pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:30-10 pm
This family-run display features seven acres of stunning lights! Drive through the lights then park and ride the free Santa train. Visit the old-fashioned candy shop for a sweet treat and warm holiday beverage. Santa will be at the candy shop everyday from 6:30-9 pm Sunday through Thursday and 6:30-10 pm Friday and Saturday. Free admission.
Sun-Thurs 5-10 pm, Friday-Saturday 5-11 pm
Turn of headlights and turn radio to 90.9 WGFL
Lights on the Meadow
9301 Hay Meadow Court, Raleigh, NC 27603
December 7 – 31
Monday – Thursday: 6-9 pm
Friday & Saturday: 6-11 pm
Sundays: 6-10 pm
This family-run light display has been around for more than twenty years – which means they know exactly how to put on a very merry holiday light show! Tune your radio to 88.3 FM and watch the lights come to life! Free admission.
TRIAD
Tanglewood Festival of Lights
4061 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC
November 15 – January 1
Nightly 6-11 pm
This spectacular drive-through experience features numerous light displays to fill you with the holiday spirit! Stop at the gift shop at the Red Barn, halfway through the light show route, where you’ll find lovely holiday crafts, wood workings and gifts made by local artisans. Check out S’moresville, next to the Gift Shop, where you can buy roasting sticks with marshmallows or s’mores kits. Santa and Mrs. Claus along with Santa’s helpers will be visiting through December 23, until 10 pm Sundays-Thursdays and until the gift shop closes on the weekends. Visits with Santa are free and photo packages are available for purchase. We highly recommend visiting this popular attraction early on weeknights for the shortest wait. Admission is $15 per family vehicle.
McLaurin Farms Christmas Lights
5601 North Church Street, Greensboro, NC 27455
November 28-December 28
Thursdays – Sundays, December 23 & 24 6-9 pm
Enjoy a fun-filled hayride through hundreds of thousands of twinkling holiday lights synchronized to music! Santa visits nightly at 6:30 pm. While you’re there, mail a letter to Santa, make an ornament and visit the gift shop for a free gift! Admission is $5 on Thursdays and $8 all other nights (free for 2 and under). Parking $2.
Country Christmas Train
1072 Cranford Road, Denton, NC 27239
November 29 – December 27
open weekends and select weekdays - check website for dates.
Fridays and Saturdays: 4:30 – 11 pm
Sundays & select weekdays: 4:30-10 pm
Climb aboard the Handy Dandy Railroad and embark on a merry tour of beautiful light displays set up at this family-owned historical park. See the Nativity story, sing carols in the historic church, or grab a sweet treat at the Gingerbread House. Need a few more gifts? Visit the gift shop and Craft Barn. Admission is $16 for adults, $5 for children and free for ages four and under.
Festival of Lights
Downtown Greensboro
December 6
6 – 9 pm
The holiday season comes alive in Greensboro! Enjoy the community sing, lighting of the community tree in Center City Park, carolers, acoustic performances and delicious treats – and keep an eye out for Santa in Hamburger Square! Free admission.
