Our Favorite Raleigh Holiday Traditions

Here’s how the RM team gets in the holiday spirit.

There’s ~snow~ place like home for the holidays! Raleigh is already turning into a winter wonderland, with twinkly lights lining the streets of DTR and North Hills and businesses all over town decked out in decorations. To further get you in the spirit, we tapped the Raleigh Magazine team for their fave holiday traditions around town. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, indeed! 

“My Christmas Eve holiday open house”
—Gina Stephens, Publisher, @ginasdawgs

“A Christmas Carol—the Raleigh version”
—Melissa Howsam, Editor-in-Chief, @mahowsam

“Holiday pop-up bars”
—Lauren Kruchten, Associate Editor, @laurenn_nicol

“Going to see the Christmas lights around different neighborhoods.”
—Heidi Reid, Assistant Editor

“Downtown Raleigh tree lighting”
—Debby Serena, Account Executive

“The Rink or the Chinese Lantern Festival”
—Abigail Mason, Contributing Writer

“Going to see The Nutcracker at the Carolina Ballet with my daughter. I grew up going to see The Nutcracker with my mom in Florence, SC, and continuing the tradition with my own daughter has been magical. We do a lunch date before going to the show and spend the afternoon watching the ballet.”
—Elliott Harrell, Contributing Writer

“Driving around and looking at decorations with a Krispy Kreme donut and hot cocoa in hand.”
—Laura Brummett, Contributing Writer

“Going to see The Nutcracker”
—Liz Wynne, Contributing Writer

“The North Hills tree lighting!”
—Emily O’Brien, Contributing Writer

“Bright holiday lights everywhere, especially around Pullen Park”
—Susannah Richardson, Contributing Writer