Christmas Events for Kids in Cary (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 4 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Cary for 2026, and here is what he found: 10 family events, 3 of them free. The magic runs from November 20 (Waverly Tree Lighting) through December 18, with Light the Square (November 21), Santa Igloo Mini Sessions with Jessie Peloso Photography (November 28) and A Peter Rabbit Christmas (from December 4) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our North Carolina Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Cary

  • 10 Christmas events for kids in Cary
  • 3 free events, including Tree Lighting Celebration, Photos with Santa and Santa's Workshop
  • Meet Santa: 6 chances, including Waverly Tree Lighting (November 20) and Santa Igloo Mini Sessions with Jessie Peloso Photography (November 28)
  • Parades and tree lightings: Waverly Tree Lighting (November 20), Light the Square (November 21) and Tree Lighting Celebration (December 5)
  • Also on the list: 4 Christmas shows, 2 Christmas markets, 3 story times and 6 craft workshops
  • Season: November 20 (Waverly Tree Lighting) to December 18 (Photos with Santa)
  • Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10

Free Christmas events for kids in Cary

Tree lightingFree

Tree Lighting Celebration

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Cary's official tree lighting is an all-day affair spread across Downtown Cary Park. The morning starts with the Cary Farmers Holiday Market and Santa photos at the Gathering House, and from 2:00 p.m. the Nest Pavilion has a snowball fight area, face painting and an art cart while Reindeer Games run in the Park Street Arena. Community groups perform on the Great Lawn before the tree is lit on the Frantz Square Lawn.

It all happens on Saturday, December 5, 2026, and it is free and open to the public. Key times: farmers market 9:00 a.m. to noon, Santa photos 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., holiday vendor market on S. Academy Street noon to 8:00 p.m., kids' activities 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., performances 3:00 to 5:15 p.m. and the lighting ceremony at 6:00 p.m. Academy Street is closed between Park Street and Dry Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Parent tip: The children's activities all end at 6:00 p.m., exactly when the tree is lit, so arrive by mid afternoon to fit in the snowball fight and face painting first. Academy Street is closed to cars all day, so plan to park a few blocks away and walk in.

Host
Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

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Coming up on this page

  • 6 Santa
  • 6 Crafts
  • 4 Shows
  • 3 Lights
  • 3 Free

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Santa visitFree

Photos with Santa

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Santa settles into the Gathering House at Downtown Cary Park for a day of family photos while the park around him is dressed in lights and holiday decorations. The first session falls on the same Saturday as the town's Tree Lighting Celebration.

Santa is there on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the park says it is free and open to everyone. He comes back on December 8, with a separate sensory-friendly session that day, and on December 18. Adults have to stay with their children the whole time.

Parent tip: The park warns that there may be a wait and that the line can close about 30 minutes before 5:00 p.m. if it is busy, so aim to join it by mid afternoon at the latest. If your child finds crowds and noise hard, ask the park about the December 8 sensory-friendly session.

Host
Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Cary Park, Gathering House, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday craftsFree

Santa's Workshop

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On parade morning the park turns its Academy Pavilion and Plaza into a drop-in craft workshop. Families make their own ornaments and small handmade gifts to give away or keep, then walk over to watch the Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade.

Santa's Workshop is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The park lists it as free, open to the public and suitable for all ages. It is not a drop-off program, so a parent or guardian stays with each child.

Parent tip: The workshop ends at 1:30 p.m. and the parade steps off at 2:00 p.m. a short walk away, so craft first and leave a little early to claim a curb spot on Academy Street. Bring a bag to carry finished ornaments so they survive the parade.

Host
Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Cary Park, Academy Pavilion and Plaza, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Cary

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Tree lighting

Waverly Tree Lighting

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Waverly Place switches on its tree with a beach music band on stage: The Embers featuring Craig Woolard play live through the evening. Kids can have a photo taken with Santa at no charge and sit down at the craft tables while the music is going.

The lighting is on Friday, November 20, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Waverly Place, 302 Colonades Way in Cary. The center's listing says the Santa photos are free and does not mention tickets or sign-up for the evening.

Parent tip: This is one of the earliest tree lightings around Cary, a full week before Thanksgiving, so it is a good chance to get the Santa photo done before the December lines. Waverly Place is open air, so bring jackets for a three-hour evening outside.

Host
Waverly Place (opens in a new tab)
Address
Waverly Place, 302 Colonades Way, Cary, NC 27518 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
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Tree lighting

Light the Square

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Fenton's yearly tree lighting fills the afternoon before the lights come on. There is a Christmas market of local vendors, a kids' area with crafts and games, outdoor ice skating, and photo spots with holiday characters and backdrops. A stage show with music and dance closes the day.

Light the Square is on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the stage show begins at 6:00 p.m. Fenton's page does not list an admission price or say whether skating costs extra, so check with Fenton before you go if skating is the main draw.

Parent tip: The kids' area and market run for three hours before the 6:00 p.m. stage show, so younger children can do crafts and games first and you can decide later whether they have the energy to stay for the performances.

Host
Fenton (opens in a new tab)
Address
Fenton, 201 Fenton Gateway Dr, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
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Santa visit

Santa Igloo Mini Sessions with Jessie Peloso Photography

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Each family gets ten private minutes with Santa Stan in Fenton's igloo, with a photographer capturing the visit instead of posing a single shot. Children are encouraged to bring a wish list, a favorite Christmas book to read with him or a song to sing, and photos can be taken inside the igloo or outside beside the big decorated tree.

Sessions run on Saturday, November 28, 2026, between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at The Igloo, 850 Lower Garden Lane. A session costs $255 plus tax, includes more than 35 photos and has to be booked ahead through Jessie Peloso Photography. Pets are not allowed at this one.

Parent tip: Ten minutes goes quickly, so pick the one thing your child wants to do with Santa (read the book, hand over the list, sing the song) before you arrive. Some photos may be taken outside by the tree, so bring coats that you are happy to see in the pictures.

Host
Fenton (opens in a new tab)
Address
The Igloo at Fenton, 850 Lower Garden Lane, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
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Holiday story time

Toddler Tuesday: Storytime with Santa's Helpers

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Two of Santa's elves, played by performers from Picture Perfect Princess, visit the park's weekly toddler program for a Christmas story time. Children also make holiday crafts and write letters to Santa, which the elves collect to carry back to the North Pole.

The program is on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Academy Pavilion in Downtown Cary Park. You need to register, and sign-up opens at 10:00 a.m. two weeks before the program date. The park's page does not list a fee.

Parent tip: Put the registration opening in your calendar: going by the park's two-week rule, sign-up should open at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17. If your toddler cannot write yet, think about what they want to tell Santa so you can write the letter together.

Host
Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Cary Park, Academy Pavilion, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
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Holiday show

A Peter Rabbit Christmas

  • When: Fri December 4 (5 to 6 pm) and Sun December 6 (2 to 3 pm), 2026 (Performances confirmed on the park calendar for December 4 and December 6; check the park's listing for any added show times.)
  • Where: Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
  • Cost: Registration through the park's listing; no price listed on the organizer's page
  • Ages: All ages
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Cary's youth theatre company, Applause, and Seed Art Share stage this Christmas mystery in the park itself instead of in a theater. Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and the animals from Mr. McGregor's garden go looking for Peter Rabbit, and the audience follows the story through Downtown Cary Park.

The park calendar lists hour-long performances on Friday, December 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., each with a Register Now link. No ticket price is shown. The cast is collecting canned food for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, so bring a can on show day.

Parent tip: The show takes place in the park, and the Friday performance starts at 5:00 p.m. in early December, so dress children for an hour outside around dusk. Choose the Sunday 2:00 p.m. show if you would rather have daylight and warmer air.

Host
Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Cary Park (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday crafts

Paint with Santa at Color Me Mine

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At this yearly pottery studio morning, each child paints a keepsake plate that carries two handprints: their own and Santa's. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit with the children, Santa reads a few stories, and he finishes by handing every child a present that their parents wrapped and dropped off beforehand. A breakfast of pancakes, fruit, juice and water is included.

Paint with Santa runs on Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Color Me Mine in Waverly Place. The Waverly listing does not give a price and points families to the studio's kids events page for details. Parents supply the gift, wrapped and labeled with the child's name, ahead of the event.

Parent tip: The gift Santa hands over is one you provide, so wrap it, write your child's name on it and get it to the studio before the day (ask Color Me Mine for the exact drop-off deadline when you sign up). Bring a camera, as the studio invites families to take their own photos.

Host
Waverly Place (opens in a new tab)
Address
Color Me Mine at Waverly Place, 302 Colonades Way, Cary, NC 27518 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Waverly Place (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday parade

Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade

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The Cary Jaycees send their 47th annual Christmas parade through downtown with marching bands, mascots, local businesses, community groups and churches. It steps off on E. Chatham Street at Ward Street, turns left onto S. Academy Street and finishes at Dry Avenue in front of the Cary Arts Center.

The parade is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Roads close at 1:00 p.m. and reopen once it ends. There is no dedicated parade parking, so spectators use the Town of Cary's public lots, and WRAL plans to live-stream it for anyone who stays home.

Parent tip: Parade rules allow candy to be handed out from the sidewalk but not thrown, so children at the curb are the ones who get it. Streets shut at 1:00 p.m., so park in a public lot and be in place well before then.

Host
Cary Jaycees (opens in a new tab)
Address
Downtown Cary, E. Chatham Street and S. Academy Street, E Chatham St at Ward St, Cary, NC 27511 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Cary Jaycees (opens in a new tab)

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We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our North Carolina Christmas train rides page.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Cary Christmas event for kids happens

The first is Waverly Tree Lighting in Cary on November 20; the last runs to December 18. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

Looking further afield? Our North Carolina Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Raleigh, Durham, NC, Carrboro and Mebane. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.

A story for the drive home

A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

2026 Christmas events are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Cary

Cary's first official Christmas tree was a 37-foot cedar, lit on December 13, 1984, and the town has gathered for a tree lighting every year since. Today the ceremony takes place in Downtown Cary Park, a week before a Christmas parade that the Cary Jaycees have been running since 1979.

How Cary celebrates

Christmas in Cary is built from traditions that neighbors started themselves. According to the Friends of the Page-Walker, a local Boy Scout troop began lining streets with luminaries on Christmas Eve in 1973, the Jaycees launched the Christmas parade in 1979 and hold it on the second Saturday in December, and the town lit its first official tree in 1984. Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker grew out of a 1991 holiday open house with carolers and carriage rides. Newer additions include the Gifting Tree Project along Academy Street, the White Christmas sing-along at The Cary Theater from 2014, and the Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre from 2015.

Christmas last year in Cary

In 2025 the Tree Lighting Celebration was held on Saturday, December 6 at Downtown Cary Park, with the ceremony at 6:00 p.m. ABC11 reported that several hundred people came out in the cold and found a Christmas Village, Santa, food trucks and a snowball fight with fake snow; the station's Lauren Johnson hosted. The Cary Christmas Parade followed on Saturday, December 13 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., running along E. Chatham Street and S. Academy Street. The Chinese Lantern Festival ran at Koka Booth Amphitheatre from November 15, 2025 to January 11, 2026, and the town's Heart of the Holidays decorations stayed up downtown from November 28 to January 5.

Fun facts about Christmas in Cary

From 1989 through the 1990s, South Hills Mall kept five live reindeer from Oregon on display each Christmas and created a mascot called Rodney the Reindeer. The same mall was home to Tom's Train Station, a miniature train display that ran from 1997 to 2015. When Downtown Cary Park hosted the tree lighting on December 2, 2023, the evening included what the park called Cary's first drone light show. The Cary Jaycees count the December 12, 2026 parade as their 47th annual.

Traditions today

  • Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade: Started in 1979 and held on the second Saturday in December, the parade brings bands, mascots, community groups and churches down E. Chatham and S. Academy Streets and ends with Santa.
  • Official tree lighting: The town has lit an official tree every year since a 37-foot cedar was switched on in 1984, and the ceremony now takes place at Downtown Cary Park.
  • Christmas Eve luminaries: A Boy Scout troop began the custom in 1973, and Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls now help neighborhoods line their streets with lights.
  • Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker: What began as a holiday open house in 1991 became an evening of Victorian carolers and horse-drawn carriage rides at the restored Page-Walker.
  • Gifting Tree Project: Families, schools and organizations decorate trees along Academy Street and compete to win donations for nonprofits.
  • Chinese Lantern Festival: The festival began in 2015 at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, where handcrafted illuminated lanterns go on show as a ticketed winter display.

A fact for kids

Cary once had real reindeer at the mall. Five of them traveled from Oregon to South Hills Mall each Christmas starting in 1989, and the mall even had a mascot named Rodney the Reindeer.

Questions about Christmas in Cary

When did the Cary Christmas parade start?

The Friends of the Page-Walker date the Jaycees' Cary Christmas Parade to 1979 and note that it is held on the second Saturday in December. The Cary Jaycees describe the parade on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., as the 47th annual.

When was Cary's first official Christmas tree lit?

Cary's first official Christmas tree was a 37-foot cedar, lit on December 13, 1984. The Friends of the Page-Walker say the town has held a tree lighting with local performers every year since, and ABC11 described the 2025 ceremony as a tradition more than 30 years old.

Where is Cary's tree lighting held now?

The ceremony takes place at Downtown Cary Park, 327 S. Academy Street. The park hosted it on December 2, 2023 as part of its A Gift to Cary Celebration and again on December 6, 2025. In 2026 the lighting is set for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, on the Frantz Square Lawn.

What is the route of the Cary Christmas parade?

According to the Cary Jaycees, the parade starts on E. Chatham Street at Ward Street, travels down E. Chatham to S. Academy Street, turns left onto S. Academy and finishes at Dry Avenue in front of the Cary Arts Center. Roads along the route close at 1:00 p.m. on parade day.

What is Cary's luminaria tradition?

On Christmas Eve, Cary neighborhoods set out luminaries in front of their homes. The Friends of the Page-Walker trace the custom to a local Boy Scout troop in 1973 and say Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls now take part as well.

What is the Gifting Tree Project in Cary?

The Gifting Tree Project lines Academy Street in downtown Cary with decorated trees. Local families, schools and organizations each decorate one and compete to win donations for nonprofits. The Friends of the Page-Walker noted that 2020 was the project's ninth year.

What is Victorian Christmas at the Page-Walker?

It began in 1991 as a holiday open house after the Page-Walker was restored. The Friends of the Page-Walker describe an event with Victorian carolers and horse-led carriage rides, held together with the town tree lighting on the Town Hall campus at the time they wrote in 2020.

When did the Chinese Lantern Festival come to Cary?

The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival began at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre in 2015. For the 2025 season it ran from November 15, 2025 to January 11, 2026 at Koka Booth Amphitheatre with thousands of handcrafted lanterns, and ABC11's holiday guide noted that tickets were required.

Did Cary really have live reindeer at Christmas?

Yes. From 1989 through the 1990s, five reindeer brought from Oregon were displayed at South Hills Mall during the season, and the mall created a mascot named Rodney the Reindeer. The detail comes from residents' memories collected by the Friends of the Page-Walker.

Was there a Christmas train display in Cary?

Families who visited the reindeer at South Hills Mall could also see the miniature trains at Tom's Train Station. The Friends of the Page-Walker record that the display operated from 1997 to 2015.

How did Cary celebrate Christmas in 2020?

Much of it moved online or outdoors. The Jaycees' parade and the tree lighting were both held virtually, Victorian Christmas and the White Christmas sing-along were canceled, and Chinese lanterns were placed around downtown Cary for free viewing because the amphitheater was closed.

What is Heart of the Holidays in Cary?

Heart of the Holidays is the Town of Cary's name for the holiday season in downtown Cary, with lights, seasonal displays and competitions. For the 2025 season the town kept decorations on display around downtown from November 28, 2025 to January 5, 2026.

Sources

  1. Cary Me Back: Cary Christmas traditions (December 12, 2020), Friends of the Page-Walker
  2. Cary Christmas Parade, Cary Jaycees
  3. Christmas tree lighting ceremonies held in Cary, Durham to ring in holiday season, ABC11 WTVD
  4. Christmas parades and holiday events across central NC: 2025 Holiday Guide, ABC11 WTVD
  5. Cary's Official Christmas Tree Lighting is Just Around the Corner: Here's What to Know, The Cary Report
  6. Downtown Cary Park Ushers In the Holiday Season With "A Gift to Cary" Celebration, Downtown Cary Park
  7. Heart of the Holidays Celebration, Town of Cary

Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every North Carolina city.

Cary Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What is the best Christmas event for kids in Cary to start with?

The Tree Lighting Celebration at Downtown Cary Park on Saturday, December 5, 2026 covers the most ground in one visit. It is free, Santa is at the Gathering House from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., kids' activities such as the snowball fight area and face painting run from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., and the tree is lit at 6:00 p.m.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Cary?

Yes. Downtown Cary Park lists three as free and open to the public: the Tree Lighting Celebration and Photos with Santa on December 5, 2026, and Santa's Workshop on December 12. At Waverly Place, the tree lighting on Friday, November 20 includes free photos with Santa and kids' crafts.

Where can kids meet Santa in Cary?

Santa is at Waverly Place for the tree lighting on November 20, 2026, and at the Gathering House in Downtown Cary Park on December 5, with return visits on December 8 and 18. For a longer visit, Fenton has booked private igloo sessions on November 28, and Color Me Mine hosts Paint with Santa on December 6.

Are there Christmas shows or tree lightings for families in Cary?

Cary has three tree lightings in 2026: Waverly Place on November 20 with live music by The Embers, Light the Square at Fenton on November 21 with a 6:00 p.m. stage show, and the town's official ceremony at Downtown Cary Park on December 5. A Peter Rabbit Christmas, a youth theater show staged in the park, plays December 4 and 6.

Which Cary Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?

Toddler Tuesday: Storytime with Santa's Helpers on December 1, 2026 requires registration, which opens at 10:00 a.m. two weeks ahead. A Peter Rabbit Christmas has a registration link on the park calendar. The Santa Igloo Mini Sessions at Fenton must be booked and cost $255 plus tax. Paint with Santa is arranged through Color Me Mine.

What can families do before the Cary Christmas parade?

On Saturday, December 12, 2026, Downtown Cary Park runs Santa's Workshop from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Academy Pavilion and Plaza. Children make ornaments and handmade gifts for free, and the park times it so families can finish and then watch the Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade, which runs from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Cary?

Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s North Carolina Christmas train rides guide. This Cary guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Kelsey Cecil
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