Durham Holiday Events 2026: Walkin' in the Bull City Wonderland

It's the most wonderful time of the year - Durham has transformed into a magical winter wonderland of twinkling lights and holiday fun. Kids from one to 92 can savor the holiday season and experience days packed with holiday cheer from November through Kwanzaa celebrations on New Year's Day.

No one does the holiday season quite like Durham. Where else can you walk into a baseball stadium and get transported to the North Pole? Celebrate Kwanzaa with an African American Dance Ensemble? Give Major the Bull a pet while attending a tree lighting ceremony? Nowhere but the Bull City.

Now's the time for a holiday trip to Durham. Whether you're driving in from Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Greensboro or flying to Durham for a winter getaway, the Bull City is filled with festive shows at downtown theaters, gift shopping at merry holiday markets, twinkling light displays, gatherings under the tree (and water tower) and maybe even a sighting of a certain man in a red suit.

Holiday Light Displays in Durham, NC

Between its wholesome snowflake street decorations to light-strewn tobacco warehouses and not one, but TWO holiday "tree" lighting events, you can bask in the glow of holiday lights in Durham without the hours-long car line. Here are the most dazzling and bright displays of the season.

FestiBull of Lights: An Immersive Light Experience

When: November 19 - January 2, 5:30 - 9 p.m.
Where: Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Cost: $14.35 - $53.30

Get ready for the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to turn into a winter wonderland this holiday season, full of sparkling lights, dazzling displays and seasonal activities. The Festibull of Lights will be a magical experience for all ages. Hop aboard the NC by Train Holiday Express on your way to meet Santa. Make some holiday arts and crafts before feasting on festive food and drinks then roast your own s'mores for desert. General Admission starts at $14.35 and train rides, igloo rentals and fire pits are available for extra charges.

Downtown Durham Tree Lighting at CCB Plaza 

When: November 21, 4 - 8 p.m.
Where: CCB Plaza, 201 N. Corcoran St.
Cost: Free

Gather the whole family for a Downtown Durham holiday tradition! Start the afternoon by taking advantage of the Bullpen — downtown’s social district — where you can enjoy a beverage from a local bar while you stroll and shop for gifts from local businesses. 

Meet up in the downtown hub of the CCB Plaza from 4-8 p.m. for food and drinks like hot chocolate from The Parlour and Chai from Cheeni. The whole family will enjoy the live music performances, a visit from Santa and the lighting of downtown's holiday tree.  

After the big event, Weird Production's will be hosting the unveiling of the 2026 Weird Window displays across downtown Durham. Local artists each transform a window of a local business into their own offbeat festive display. The magical holiday storefronts will be on display from November 21 until early January. 

Mangum Family Christmas Lights

When: November - December 31, 2026
Where: 7510 Guess Rd.
Cost: Free

Join the Mangum Family for their annual Christmas Lights display. Mary Jane and Terry Mangum are Christmas light fanatics and have been hosting a free drive-in synchronized light show at their 25-acre land on Guess Road since 2013. Get cozy in your car and tune in to 90.3 FM to watch over 100,000 lights dance along to festive music. The light show will be on until New Year's Eve. 

Museum of Life and Science Holidays in the Park

When: Select nights beginning December 1
Where: 433 W Murray Ave
Cost: $18-$39

Ready for lights, shimmering pathways and train rides? Head over to the Museum of Life and Science to stroll shimmering pathways and illuminated displays at Holidays in the Park. The whole family will enjoy a ride through colorful lights aboard the Ellerbe Creek Railway.

Lucky Strike Tower Lighting at American Tobacco Campus

When: December 2, 5 - 9 p.m.
Where: American Tobacco Campus, 300 Blackwell St.
Cost: Free

Gather on the lawn at American Tobacco Campus for a fun, and free family holiday tradition. Gather 'round the Lucky Strike Water Tower for music before kicking off December with a tower of festive, colorful lights. The holiday lights will be on display through New Years so you can stop by and take in the glow.

Christmas and Holiday Events In Durham, NC

Durham turns into one big celebration in the winter, offering a holiday experience you can't find anywhere else. Celebrate Christmas Bull City style with a visit to Black Santa and a night spent making winter-wonderland memories at Duke Homestead during Christmas by Candlelight. Kwanzaafest is always a can't-miss event. Even Durham's businesses put on their holiday best, with shimmering lights, ornate displays and fun holiday themed menus and events.

Durham Holiday Parade

Where: Downtown Durham, Main Street
When: December 12, 2026, 10 a.m.
Cost: Free

Kick off the holiday season with Durham's annual parade, a family-friendly event full of live music, impressive performances and fantastic floats. Rain or shine, the Durham community will show up for this one. See hometown marching bands, local community groups and maybe even a guest appearance from Santa at this parade.

Christmas by Candlelight at Duke Homestead

Where: Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Rd.
When: December 4 & 11, 5:30 - 9 p.m.
Cost: Free

Jingle all the way over to the Duke Homestead for an 1870's North Carolina Christmas experience. Enjoy storytelling, cookies and cider, live music, singing, and a whole lot of history as costumed interpreters lead you on a candlelit tour. Tickets are available in November for this unique opportunity to see the Duke family home brought to life.

Share Holiday Wishes and Selfies with Santa

The Black Santa Experience

When: December 19, 20, 23 & 24 
Where: Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St.

Book an appointment for the return of The Black Santa Experience at two locations in Durham, where a visit with a Santa of color from Santas Just Like Me and professional photography make a holiday to remember.

Pictures with Santa at The Streets at Southpoint

When: November 13 - December 24
Where: The Streets at Southpoint, 6910 Fayetteville Rd.

Experience the magic of the season at The Streets at Southpoint where you can make progress on your gift list, and have photos taken with Santa. Reserve your spot, or walk up for photos with yourself, the kids or even your pets. For a sensory-friendly Santa experience, look for the Santa Cares days on the booking calendar.

Festive Durham Concerts & Events

Festive entertainment abounds this holiday season! Find your favorite artist performing a holiday concert or your annual night out at the ballet for the Nutcracker. From big holiday productions at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center to Christmas concerts at intimate venues like Motorco Music Hall, there are all kinds of holiday performances to see in Durham. Snap up tickets to turn any Grinch into a Who from Whoville.

Hanukkah Events in Durham, NC

This year, Hanukkah begins at Sundown on December 4th and ends once the sun sets on December 12th. Durham will be celebrating every single day. The Jewish for Good community center plans to hold multiple events throughout the week, from candle making to their annual festival. Durham's two synagogues, Judea Reform Congregation and Beth El Synagogue, plus Jewish Life at Duke will also be holding events.

Kwanzaa Events in Durham, NC

Every year, from December 26 to January 1, Durham Celebrates Kwanzaa. The celebration culminates in the can't-miss Kwanzzfest at the Durham Armory. 

Kwanzaafest

When: January 1, 2027, 12 p.m.
Where: Durham Armory, 212 Foster St.
Cost: Free

Join the African American Dance Ensemble for Durhams 41st Kwanzaafest. The theme for the year will be "Imani: Honoring Heritage, Embracing Culture, and Dancing with Unity." The festival will be an afternoon full of dancing, poetry, performances, music and more. In addition to the performances, Kwanzaa Fest will also feature vendors, arts and crafts and face painting. 

Shop Local Gifts at Durham's Holiday Markets

Durham is full of artists, from ceramicists and jewelry makers to painters and printers. On any given weekend, you can find a market full of these one-of-a-kind pieces of art, especially around the holidays. Some markets are holiday themed, where you can pick up the perfect piece for your friend that always has the best Christmas decorations. Others will have a more broad selection of goods, allowing you to shop local for gifts for all your loved ones. 

Festive Holiday Bars and Drinks in Durham

Durham's bars love to decorate for the holidays, especially in the winter months. Walk into any watering hole downtown and you'll be transported to a winter wonderland with holiday lights strung across the ceiling, garland adorning the bars, fluffy "snow" filling the corners and seasonal cocktails that will have you feeling jolly.

Conniption Bar and Lounge

715 Washington St., Ste B.

Follow the colorful lights along the roofline of Durham Distillery to go around back to their bar, Conniption. Inside, you'll find wall to wall decorations fit for a holiday themed date or a Christmas group get together. To wrap it all up into the complete Christmas package, they also have a winter-themed cocktail menu.

Ponysaurus

219 Hood St.

Even from down the street, you can see Ponysaurus's light display streaming down the patio and all across their outdoor lawn. From standard string lights to full figurines, Ponysaurus goes hard for the holidays. In addition to their indoor and outdoor decorations, this bar also serves Glüwhein and hot cider in the colder months.

The Velvet Hippo

119 W. Orange St.

Everyone's favorite roof top bar gets a whole lot more festive in the winter months. From holiday themed Saturday night dance parties and winter drink menus to tinsel and mistletoe, the Velvet Hippo decks its halls from top to bottom.

Durham Restaurants Open Christmas Day

Looking for places to eat on Christmas Day? Several Durham restaurants stay open, ensuring you can get an easy meal, whether you don't celebrate Christmas or you're just looking to save yourself the trouble of dishes on your holiday. For some classic pub fare on Christmas day, head to Devine's Restaurant and Sports Bar. The Fairview Dining Room at the Washington Duke Inn serves a prix-fixe holiday menu for those looking for something more elevated. If you find yourself downtown on Christmas day, get yourself a plate of duck vindaloo or chicken tikka masala at Barsa New Indian.

Ring in 2027 at a Durham New Year's Eve Party

The Bull City shows out for New Years Eve. Whether you're looking to keep it low-key or crank it up a notch, you're sure to find one of the many New Year's Eve events in Durham to suit your needs. Choose from special holiday menu events, relaxed music performances, dance parties and more.