Christmas Eve Services in Raleigh (2026)

Christmas Eve Services
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated November 7, 2026 · Checked weekly

13 churches in the Raleigh area with Christmas Eve services on Thursday, December 24, 2026. 2 have posted 2026 times so far; the others held Christmas Eve services in recent years and usually post their times in late November or December. Every listing links to the church's own page, so you can check the latest schedule before you go.

The short version

  • 13 churches with Christmas Eve services on Thursday, December 24, 2026. 2 have posted 2026 times so far.
  • Earliest family service: 4:00 PM at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.
  • Latest service posted: 8:00 PM at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.
  • Services in Spanish are listed.
  • 7 church traditions, listed in the same format, alphabetically.

Planning the rest of the season? See Christmas events for kids in Raleigh and Christmas train rides in North Carolina.

Kelsey Lizee Cecil with Rally, the real corgi

Why we made this

A story my mom wanted to write. So I wrote it for her.

On Christmas morning in 2020, I found out I was pregnant with my son, Holden.

Read Kelsey’s story

That same day, my mom went into a coma. She never woke up. Two months after her memorial, I lost my dad too.

My mom had spent years telling me about a story she wanted to write: a little corgi named Rally who rides the train to visit his "grand-paw-rents." She never got the chance. So I wrote it for her.

Rally Takes the Train is a picture book about Rally's first train ride. He packs his turtle toy, his green bone and his orange ball, and meets the conductor. Then he goes through a dark, scary tunnel and finds the light on the other side. Every page is hand-painted in real watercolor. My kids will never meet their grandparents, but this book is how they get to know them.

In college I was a religion minor, and I believe Rally Takes the Train was made for all children, from all religions in the world.

Christmas could have become the hardest day of my year. Instead, I decided to use Rally to bring Christmas magic to as many families as I can.

Kelsey Lizee CecilLearn more about the book (opens in a new tab) →

Christmas Eve service times in Raleigh

Thursday, December 24, 2026. Times from each church's own page.
TimeChurchService
4:00 PMHoly Name of Jesus CathedralFamily
5:00 PMVictory ChurchCandlelight
6:00 PMHoly Name of Jesus CathedralMass
8:00 PMHoly Name of Jesus CathedralMass · Spanish

Churches with Christmas Eve services in Raleigh

Showing all 13 churches. Filters, calendar, directions and church links unlock free with your email.

Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

Catholic · Boylan Heights / Dix Park

  • 4:00 PMFamily Mass
    Family
  • 6:00 PMMass with the Gospel Choir
  • 8:00 PMMass with the Combined Spanish Choirs
    Spanish
  • Midnight (Dec 25)Midnight Mass with Bishop Zarama

715 Nazareth Street, Raleigh, NC

(free with email) Directions to Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral (opens in a new tab)(free with email) Church schedule for Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral (opens in a new tab)

More Raleigh area churches with Christmas Eve services

These churches held Christmas Eve services in past years. Most post 2026 times in late November and December; we check every week.

Christmas Eve services by tradition in Raleigh

Churches whose tradition we have confirmed, grouped by tradition in alphabetical order, in the same format.

Anglican Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (1)

Anglican services in other cities

Baptist Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (2)

Baptist services in other cities

Catholic Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (2)

Catholic services in other cities

Methodist Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (2)

Methodist services in other cities

Moravian Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (1)

Moravian services in other cities

Nondenominational Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (2)

Nondenominational services in other cities

Unitarian Universalist Christmas Eve services in Raleigh (1)

Unitarian Universalist services in other cities

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi researches Christmas events for kids in Raleigh.

  • New events every weekWe research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Raleigh.
  • Exclusive access to free eventsFind the free Christmas events in Raleigh before they fill up.
  • Every button on this pageFilters, add to calendar, directions and every church link open right away.
  • Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendarEarly access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
  • One-tap add to calendarSave any service or event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.

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More Christmas Eve services near Raleigh

All Christmas Eve services in North CarolinaAll Christmas Eve services in the United States

More Christmas for families in Raleigh

Family Christmas plans in and around Raleigh, from Rally’s own guides.

Questions about Christmas Eve services in Raleigh

What day is Christmas Eve in 2026?

Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, 2026. Most churches in the Raleigh area hold services from the afternoon into the evening, and some hold a service at or near midnight.

How many churches in the Raleigh area hold Christmas Eve services?

This page lists 13 churches in the Raleigh area with Christmas Eve services. 2 have posted 2026 times so far; the rest held Christmas Eve services in past years and usually post times in late November or December.

What is the earliest Christmas Eve service in Raleigh?

Of the times posted so far, the earliest is 4:00 PM at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.

What is the latest Christmas Eve service in Raleigh?

Of the times posted so far, the latest is 8:00 PM at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.

Which churches in Raleigh have a family or children's Christmas Eve service?

Churches with a family or children's service posted for 2026 include Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. Family services are usually earlier and shorter, often with a children's pageant or simple songs.

Are there candlelight Christmas Eve services in Raleigh?

Yes. Victory Church lists a candlelight service for 2026. Times are on each listing above.

Are there Christmas Eve services in other languages in Raleigh?

Yes. Spanish: Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.

Are there Christmas Day services in Raleigh?

Yes. Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral also lists a Christmas Day service on Friday, December 25, 2026.

Which parts of the Raleigh area have Christmas Eve services?

Churches on this page are in Boylan Heights, Downtown, Five Points, North Hills, North Raleigh, Northwest Raleigh, South Raleigh and Wade Avenue and more. Each listing has its address and a map link.

Which church traditions hold Christmas Eve services in Raleigh?

The 13 churches on this page include 2 Baptist, 2 Catholic, 2 Non-denominational, 2 United Methodist and 1 Anglican (ACNA) and others. Baptist: First Baptist Church Raleigh and Hayes Barton Baptist Church. Catholic: Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community.

Which Raleigh churches have not posted 2026 Christmas Eve times yet?

Church of the Apostles, Edenton Street United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church Raleigh, Hayes Barton Baptist Church, North Raleigh United Methodist Church, Providence Church, Raleigh Moravian Church, Southbridge Fellowship, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh and Unity of the Triangle held Christmas Eve services in recent years but have not posted 2026 times. We check their pages each week.

Which Raleigh churches had a family Christmas Eve service last year?

Edenton Street United Methodist Church and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh held a family or children's Christmas Eve service last year. Their 2026 times are not posted yet.

When do churches in Raleigh post their Christmas Eve times?

Most churches post between late November and mid December. We check every church on this page each week and add 2026 times as soon as they appear on the church's own page.

Is there a Baptist Christmas Eve service in Raleigh?

Yes. This page lists 2 Baptist churches in Raleigh with Christmas Eve services, including First Baptist Church Raleigh (Downtown) and Hayes Barton Baptist Church (Five Points). Their 2026 times are not posted yet.

Is there a Catholic Christmas Eve Mass in Raleigh?

Yes. This page lists 2 Catholic churches in Raleigh with Christmas Eve services, including Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral (Boylan Heights) and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Community (North Raleigh). Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral has posted 2026 times starting at 4:00 PM.

How is this list put together?

We list every church we find in Raleigh that holds a Christmas Eve service, in the same format. Churches with 2026 times come first, with family services at the top and then by start time. No church pays to be listed or to be placed higher.

Is this page connected to any church or faith?

No. Rally Takes the Train is a children's book. This is a free public listing of Christmas Eve service times and addresses, and it does not endorse any church or faith.

How can a church add or correct its listing?

Church staff can email kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com with the church's name and a link to its Christmas Eve page. We check corrections against the church's own page, usually within 24 hours.

Where can I find Christmas Eve services elsewhere in North Carolina?

Our page for North Carolina lists every city we cover in the state, with Christmas Eve services by city and by tradition.

Where can I find Christmas events for kids in Raleigh?

Our guide to Christmas events for kids in Raleigh lists Santa visits, holiday lights, shows and free events for 2026, each checked on the host's own website.

Rally Takes the Train book cover

Rally Takes the Train is a picture book about a corgi’s first train ride to visit his grand-paw-rents. Our story

A free public listing. Rally Takes the Train is a children’s book and does not endorse any church or faith. Every church is listed the same way, and no church pays to be listed or placed higher. Times come only from each church’s own page; check it before you go. Church staff: send corrections to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com.

Kelsey Cecil
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