Head to Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough for holiday markets, music, art & craft shows, parades, tree lightings, gingerbread house displays, ice skating shows and see the glow of lighted lanterns on the first day of winter. Celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa as well.
With so many events happening this season, too many to list here, we’ve created a 2024 Holiday Events List to print. Below are highlights of several of our wonderful events to experience in December.
FUN ON THE FARM: Winter Wonderland with Goats, Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm through December 31 at Spring Haven Farm at 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel Hill. Find your own freshly cut tree, see the animals, hop on the Polar Express Tractor Train, sip hot cocoa, create one of a kind Christmas Tree Ornaments and more. Tickets are $14.95 each with kids under 3 free.
LOCAL ART: The Really, Really Super-Local Holiday Art Show featuring works by the 30 Orange County Artists, crafters and artisans begins with an opening reception December 6 from 6-9 pm at the Eno Arts Mill Gallery at 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd., Hillsborough with music, food trucks, wine, local brews and kid’s activities. See exhibit through December 21 Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 pm. The
GINGERBREAD DISPLAY: Stroll though town for the Home for the Holidays: A Hillsborough Gingerbread Display featuring Gingerbread scenes in local shop windows in downtown Hillsborough with the theme "Winter Wonderland" from December 7 – January 5.
Gingerbread House credit Shutterstock
FESTIVALS: The second annual Elfland Christmas Festival is December 6-7 from 6 pm - 10 pm presented by The Farm at Lloyd’s Dairy & Efland United Methodist Church. Come experience a Christmas Village at 226 North Lloyd’s Dairy Rd, Efland with unforgettable Christmas scenes which make amazing selfies, Santa's workshop with arts, crafts and Christmas gifts to browse, hayrides, treats and more. Tickets vary $5 - $15. Head to Christmas in the Groves December 6, 7, & 20, 21 from 6 - 9 pm with free admission to shop the local vendors market in the Decorated Christmas Barn, visit with Santa, see the Live Nativity Animals, dine at local Food Trucks. Tractor Hayride through the Lighted Christmas Forest $10 per person. Visit The Grinch in the Who-ville Maze Wonderland, write a letter to Santa, make an ornament, make a s’more – all $5 each. Children under five free. Purchase tickets on website or at ticket booth at 3510 NC 86 N. Hillsborough.
Elfland Festival website
TREE LIGHTINGS: The Carrboro Holiday Tree lighting. is at 6 pm on December 6 on the lawn of the Carrboro Town Hall at 301 W. Main Street. The Chapel Hill Tree Lighting is December 8 at University Baptist Church Plaza at 6 pm with the community sing-a-long, music by the Tarpeggios and Cookies & Cocoa Fundraiser for International Justice Mission.
PARADES: The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade. begins at 10 am on December 7 at 140 W. Franklin Plaza heading to Main Street and the Carrboro Town Hall.. Can't get enough of parades, head to Hillsborough on December 8 for the Light up the Night Hillsborough Holiday Parade beginning at 4 pm. The downtown parade will travel south on Churton Street from Corbin Street to Margaret Lane and end at the intersection of Margaret Lane and Cameron Street. Arrive early to see the fun Running of the Elves right before the parade.
Chapel Hill Carrboro Holiday Parade by Town of Carrboro
HOLIDAY MARKETS: The Carolina Inn is celebrating Our Favorite Things again this holiday season.. The Carolina Inn Holiday Markets December 8 and 15, 12 pm - 4 pm, at the lawn at 211 Pittsboro St. Chapel Hill, are European style market with a nod of southern flare. With vendors from all over the state, the market will be a wonderful place to shop for hand crafted yuletide gifts from chocolates, to jewelry, to ornaments and more! Also enjoy indulge in a seasonal beverage while strolling through the beautifully adorned halls of the inn for the Biergarten.
Holiday Market at The Carolina Inn by Chapel Hill Magazine
HOLIDAY SWEETS: Head to Maple View Ice Cream Country Store at 6900 Rocky Ridge Road, Hillsborough. for Sundaes with Santa on December 6, 13 & 20 12/6 – 2:45 – 5 pm; 12/13 & 12/20 2:45 pm – 7 pm. Visit with Santa and his Friends from the North Pole. Collecting diapers, baby wipes, pull-ups, gift cards for Sam’s Wish Fund at Kids Path of AuthoraCare (formerly Hospice).
PLAYS: Youth Center Theater Company’s A Christmas Carol at 300-G East Main Street, Carrboro. Shows are December 6-8, 13-15, 20-22. Click for ticket prices and times.
MUSIC: North Carolina Symphony: Messiah & More is December 5 at 7:30 pm Memorial Hall, 208 E Cameron Ave, Chapel Hill. Celebrate the season as Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah, including the Hallelujah Chorus, with the North Carolina Master Chorale.
North Carolina Symphony website
ICE SKATING: The Holiday Show featuring The Nutcracker is December 13 at 6 pm and December 14 at 10:30 am. Tickets for the show are $15 per person. Orange County Sportsplex, 101 Meadowlands Drive, Hillsborough, NC (919) 644-0339,
CELEBRATE WINTER: Each December, the Winter Solstice on December 21 marks the beginning of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the longest night of the year. Come to Hillsborough's Farmers Market Pavilion to shop giftable work by a select number of local artists and enjoy live music, hot drinks, warm food, and more at the Solstice Market both before & after the Solstice Lantern Walk. After sundown, follow a procession along Hillsborough's River Walk with lanterns lighting the collective path toward warmer, brighter days ahead, together. 5-8pm.
Solstice Lantern Walk by Yuma Kobayashi
Celebrate Hanukkah Wednesday, December 25 – Thursday, January 2:and Kwanzza is Thursday, December 26 – Wednesday, January 1.
Header photo Credit Spring Haven Farm.
