12/1
22 & GOOD 4 U: A Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo Night
Well good for you, you look happy and healthy. … And good for us that this Taylor Swift x Olivia Rodrigo DJ-run dance party is coming to The Pour House (!). Grab some face stickers, don your best red ’fit, and get ready to dance the night away to your fave pop tunes. 22andgood4u.com
12/1
Holiday Wine Walk
Sip and shop your way through the Village District to kick off the holiday season, with tickets benefiting the Frankie Lemmon School. So grape. shopvillagedistrict.com
12/1
Runaway Gin
“Run like an antelope” to Lincoln Theatre to catch this Phish tribute band out of Charleston rock it out in Raleigh. lincolntheatre.com
12/1–3
David Koechner
Whammy! Comic legend David Koechner (of The Office, Anchorman and The Goldbergs fame) is headlining Goodnights Pop-Up at The Village District. … And our favorite traveling salesman Todd Packer will be hosting The Office trivia on Saturday night for a bit of hilarious (possibly offensive?) fun. goodnightscomedy.com
12/1–11, 13–18
Holiday Express
All aboard! After a two-year hiatus, Pullen Park’s Holiday Express is making its festive return, complete with a train ride with holiday lights, inflatables and carnival games, s’mores, an appearance from Santa himself (!), and more. raleighnc.gov
12/2
The Breakfast Club
Fight for your right to party and unleash your ’80s big-hair don’t-care inner child for a night of glam rock ballads. lincolntheatre.com
12/2
Dave Koz
Hear those sleigh bells jinglin’during Dave Koz’s 25th Anniversary Christmas Tour with special guests Rick Braun, Peter White, Keiko Matsui and Rebecca Jade. davekoz.com
12/2
First Friday
Let’s p(art)y! Get your art fix with this month’s installment of First Friday with a host of events and exhibits in DTR. downtownraleigh.org
12/2
NC State v. Pitt
Look for the Pack to put the “Pitt” in pitiful and send the Panthers home from PNC with an L. … And be sure to show out for the pregame tailgate in Raleighwood at Carter-Finley (!). gopack.com
12/2–4
Wheelwod Games 2022
Got gainz? Athletes from around the world will test their fitness in areas including functional fitness, strongman, gymnastics, endurance and weightlifting.May the strongest one win! wheelwod.com
12/2–12/16
Canned Food Drive and Holiday Meal Distribution
Got cans? Bring canned goods and nonperishable food items to Brookside Bodega for its Christmas Meal Giveaway with Life Changing Community Development Dec. 20. Food donations will be paired with turkeys and distributed to community members in need! brooksidebodega.com
12/2–18
Cinderella 2022
If the shoe fits… wear it to see the fairy tale magic of Cinderella dancing the night away whilst meeting her Prince Charming—with the help of her fairy godmother, of course. Just be sure to make it home before midnight! raleighlittletheatre.org
12/2–1/14
Illuminate Art Walk
See DTR light up (literally!) for the holiday season as you stroll Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South taking in large-scale interactive and light-based art pieces. … And not to be missed is the new centerpiece exhibit, Sonic Runway, a special installation with the ability to convert audio into light patterns shooting down a long corridor of arches (!). It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, indeed. downtownraleigh.org
12/3
14th Annual Winter Chill Tennis Tournament
The Abilities Tennis Association of NC is all about showing love to all—and serving up inclusive fun! During its 14th annual Winter Chill tournament, 70 athletes from across the state with intellectual abilities will hold court at NC State. Get served! atanc.org
12/3
2022 Reindeer Romp 5k
“Run, run Rudolph!” Lace up those sneaks for a chilly 3.1-mile jog around Raleigh’s greenway trail to benefit Girls on the Run. boothamphitheatre.com
12/3
Annual Gingerbread House Competition
“Not the gumdrop buttons!” For this 12th annual sweet competition, local competitors’ crafty gingerbread houses will be on view in select downtown Cary businesses, with the winners displayed all December long at the Cary Arts Center. townofcary.org
12/3
Christmas Open House
The Joel Lane Museum House is opening its doors to the public once again! The oldest house in Raleigh (!) will feature costumed actors, crafts for the kids and live music from the Triangle Folk Ensemble. joellane.org
12/3
The Holly Jolly Joshua Show
Said to “cheer up even the scroogiest of scrooges,” award-winning puppeteer Joshua Holden is bringing the holly jolly spirit to Carolina Theatre with singing, tap dancing and puppets that’s sure to put a smile on your face. carolinatheatre.org
12/3
Museum 120 Birthday
And she doesn’t look a day over 119. Cheers to 120 years of bringing the past into the future at history powerhouse and Smithsonian affiliate North Carolina Museum of History via this special day of celebration feat. free admission to the museum’s ticketed exhibit The Power of Women in Country Music, birthday treats, a birthday promotion in the Museum Shop, a scavenger hunt and more. ncmuseumofhistory.org
12/3–4
Oakwood24
Lace up your sneaks for a longgg trek (translation: ~100 miles!) alongside local ultramarathon runner Jon Frey as he finishes the fifth annual Oakwood24, a run/walk event that helps raise funds for Healing Transitions. Sounds like something worth walking for! oakwood24.com
12/4
Boylan Heights Art Walk
These boots were made for walking… through Boylan Heights for its 30th annual ArtWalk featuring artists and craftspeople selling their art from porches, yards and sidewalks in the DTR neighborhood. boylanheights.org
12/4
Chatham Rabbits
Hop on over to Lincoln Theatre to relish in this NC- based duo’s “immediate, personal and available” sounds. lincolntheatre.com
12/4
Raleigh Holiday Market
Get your holiday shopping on at this local market featuring 35+ vendors and one-of-a-kind handmade goods.. mademkt.com
12/4
Nutcracker with a Twist
A spin on the classical ballet version, DanceArt Studio’s take on The Nutcracker mixes up the classic Christmas tale with different dance styles, a quintet brass band and acapella singers. And we’re on the tips of our toes to see it! dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
12/4
A Very Cheeni Holiday Open House
Cheeni just got its ABC permit (!), and to celebrate they’ve created a whole event focused on the restaurant’s brand-new cocktail menu! Taste and cheers your way through the drinks while snacking on small plates and shopping around the bazaar. Cheers! cheeniraleigh.com
12/6
V for Victory Holiday Party
If you knead an extra reason to nosh on pizza, look no further than this fundraising event by V for Victory. Support local families fighting cancer while snacking on an array of pizzas, wings and apps—with Santa on site for photo opps, to boot. The best part? 100% of proceeds go towards the cause (!). ’Tis the season for giving! vpizza.com
12/7–11
Disney on Ice: Frozen & Encanto
If the cold never bothered you anyway, head to PNC Arena to watch not one, but two Disney princesses sing and dance on skates. disneyonice.com
