The top places to see Christmas lights in Cary this season are North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (Nov 21 – Jan 10), Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show (Nov 27 – Dec 31) and FestiBull of Lights (Nov 19 – Jan 2). We've mapped 4 displays in Cary and 37 more nearby (13 home displays, 7 tree lightings, 7 parades). 35 are free. 2 are synced to music. Tap any display for dates, hours and directions.
Tap + Tour on a few displays to get one driving route you can send to your phone (how it works). Missing a house or show in Cary? Add it free.
Christmas lights in Cary: common questions
What are the best Christmas lights in Cary?
Popular picks this season include North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (Nov 21 – Jan 10), Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show (Nov 27 – Dec 31), FestiBull of Lights (Nov 19 – Jan 2) and Holidays in the Park at the Museum of Life and Science (From Dec 1). In all, 41 displays are mapped in and around Cary, from decorated houses and neighborhoods to ticketed light shows.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in Cary?
Free options include North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, Christmas by Candlelight at Duke Homestead, Naylor Family Farms Winter Lights and Lights on the Neuse. 35 of the 41 displays near Cary are free to visit; most home and neighborhood displays cost nothing to drive by.
Is there a drive-thru Christmas light show near Cary?
Yes. Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show (Ticketed, see website), Naylor Family Farms Winter Lights (About $18 per person (2025); 2 and under free) and MG's Vision & Lights on Holt Road (About $20 per car in advance, $27 at the gate (2025)). Drive-thru shows usually charge per car, and buying tickets online ahead of time is often faster.
Are there Christmas lights synced to music in Cary?
Yes. Raleigh Christmas Parade and Holidays on Boone Street. Synced displays broadcast their soundtrack on a low-power FM station so you can listen from your car.
When do Christmas lights start in Cary?
The earliest Cary-area displays turn on Nov 19, and most are running by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Many stay lit through New Year's; check each display's page for its exact dates and nightly hours.
Want your house to look like this?
Professional Christmas light installers in Cary hang, maintain and take down your lights, or install permanent lights you control from your phone. Tell us about your house and get free quotes.
