Winter Activities To Do With The Kids in Raleigh, NC

You don’t need snow to celebrate the winter season. Raleigh, North Carolina might not be known for its high accumulations of snowfall, but it is home to many exciting family-friendly winter activities. These are some of the best upcoming events that are perfect for celebrating the winter and holiday season.

Chinese Lantern Festival

Located in the city of Cary at the Cary Booth Amphitheater, the North Carolina Chinese Festival is a staple during the winter months. With more than 20 unique displays, thousands of LED lights, and the famous Chinese Dragon on top of the lake, this is an event you simply do not want to miss. Each one of the lighted lanterns is full of history, culture, and beauty. The event will also include Chinese dancers, jugglers, and Kung Fu performers. With the event running for two full months during the winter season, you have many opportunities to plan a fun family evening out. Tickets start at $15 per adult, $10 for kids, and children under the age of two are free.

Piper Lights

Piper Lights runs throughout the entire month of December and into the first week of January. Located in Wake Forest, this free event is perfect for a family-friendly holiday winter celebration. What originally started as a lighted manger scene over 30 years ago, this light show has since transformed into an entire holiday winter celebration. With Santa visits, a Santa train ride, delicious holiday treats, holiday shopping vendors, and the best holiday lights in the area, this is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season with your children.

Ice Skating

If it doesn’t get cold enough to ice skate outdoors, you can always head indoors to the Raleigh IcePlex. This all-inclusive ice rink is fun for both adults and children. It offers adult and youth hockey leagues, ice skating lessons, learn-to-skate programs, and even birthday parties. If you get tired of skating, you can always find entertainment at the on-site rock-climbing wall, computer room with free WiFi, and full gaming room. All of the available entertainment options make this the perfect family-friendly winter outing.

Lake Myra Christmas Lights

This event runs until the end of the year and is a famous winter celebration spot in the city of Raleigh. Staying ahead of the times, the Lake Myra Christmas light event was one of the first light shows to time their lights to recorded music. The light show features over 40,000 twinkling lights, all synced up with your favorite holiday songs. This thirty-minute show is free and is well-known on the east coast, so make sure you plan ahead. Special family evenings are also available that include free hot chocolate and other holiday celebration events. The show changes its lighting fixtures and theme every year, so it is worth returning year after year.

Don’t let a lack of winter snow ruin your winter fun. With a little imagination and some planning, you can find many options to entertain the family around Raleigh, NC.

Image via Flickr by -ted under use of CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original

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