🌳Christmas, Noon Year's Eve, New Year's Eve, and so much more

Merry Christmas, W.Y.R. neighbors!

As most businesses are taking a much-needed break and time to enjoy the holidays, there aren’t a lot of scheduled events for this week, but never fear! Have family visiting for the holidays, or maybe have kids of your own that need to get out of the house and blow off some steam during the break? We’ve assembled a list of things to do around Wake Forest and the Triangle that’s sure to impress and make your out-of-towners consider becoming in-towners/townies.

In today’s edition of The WYRe:

Let's get to it.

— Dave & Egle

Piper Lights
A beloved Wake Forest holiday light show featuring beautifully decorated scenes that are perfect for an evening drive or a slow stroll.

Happyland Lights
A well-reviewed seasonal outdoor light attraction in Raleigh that’s been steadily growing for 20 years, making for a quick and dazzling stop.

Lake Myra Christmas Light Show
Wendell’s highly rated drive-through holiday lights are especially popular with families and first-time visitors.

Rogers Family Christmas Lights Show
Local residential light show in Apex that has become a seasonal favorite for out-of-town guests.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
One of the Triangle’s most magical seasonal experiences. Walk through thousands of handcrafted lanterns brought to life in elaborate, glowing displays. The festival runs nightly from November 15, 2025, through January 11, 202,6 and is closed on Christmas Day. A standout evening experience for families and date nights alike.

Polar Ice Wake Forest
A popular indoor rink offering public skating sessions and themed holiday skates that are great for kids and families.

United Skates of America
Roller-skating rink featuring a snack bar, arcade, and a clean space for kids with tons of public skating and themed skates.

Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh
A free, self-guided art and light experience featuring large illuminated installations throughout downtown Raleigh. Runs December 5 through January 6 and is perfect for an evening walk with visiting friends or family.

Joyner Park Evening Holiday Walk
A free nightly stroll through Joyner Park in Wake Forest featuring twinkling lights, decorated paths, and a giant Christmas tree. Open December 6 through 28 from 6 to 9 pm, and ideal for photos and relaxed family outings.

Strike and Barrel
Anything but your classic bowling alley. Yes, there’s bowling, but there’s also axe throwing, duckpin bowling, a golf simulator, an arcade, pool tables, food, and cocktails. It’s a great place for the whole family to find something to do.

iSmash - Wake Forest
Break stuff, paint splatter, and axe-throwing. Guilt-free destruction / blowing off steam is rarely ever this fun.

Wake Forest Escape Room
Exciting escape room venue where groups work together to solve puzzles and overcome challenges. Choose between four unique adventures.

Pullen Park
A historic Raleigh park offering rides and winter charm that works well for daytime family outings.

Fieldstream Farm and Christmas Lights
A festive farm experience with holiday lights and seasonal fun that also appears on many visitors’ must-do lists.

Trolls at Dix Park
A family of five GIANT trolls has arrived! Explore Dix Park like never before, taking a whimsical troll trek through pine groves, nature trails, and century-old oaks to find them.

JC Raulston Arboretum
A peaceful, nationally acclaimed, and beautiful garden space that offers a quieter break from the holiday rush.

Murals Trail in Rolesville
Explore Rolesville’s Murals Trail, a walkable collection of vibrant public art installations that debuted in 2023 and reflect the town’s creative spirit and close-knit community. Visitors are encouraged to snap photos and share their stops using #rolesvillemurals.

North Carolina Museum of Art
One of the country’s top art museums with seasonal exhibits and expansive indoor and outdoor spaces.

North Carolina Museum of Life and Science
84 acres of science and nature experiences to spark imagination, creativity, and new ways of thinking about our world. A huge hit with families.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
A free, world-class museum.

Marbles Kids Museum
Hands-on, interactive fun designed for younger visitors. You could spend the whole day here and still not do everything.

Acorn Drop and WRAL’s First Night Raleigh
Raleigh’s signature New Year’s Eve celebration features live entertainment, family programming, fireworks, and the iconic acorn drop. The acorn drop happens twice! Once at 7 PM for families with young kids and again at midnight.

Noon Year’s Eve at Marbles Kids Museum
Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh hosts a classic Noon Year’s Eve celebration from 10 AM to 2 PM with crafts, games, and a kid-friendly countdown at noon. A perfect option for families with younger kids who still want the excitement of “New Year’s Eve” without the late night. Included with museum admission.

Noon Year’s Eve Party at Wake County Libraries - North Regional Library
North Regional Library in Raleigh offers a free Noon Year’s Eve celebration from 11 AM to 12 PM. Expect a simple, low-key countdown that is easy, fun, and ideal if you want a quick win before lunch.

Children’s Celebration at First Night Raleigh
Held along Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh from 2 PM to 6 PM, this is the kid-friendly portion of First Night Raleigh. The programming is designed specifically for families and early evening crowds, making it a great lead-in to dinner or an early bedtime. Stick around for the first acorn drop at 7 PM!

Family Friendly NYE Glow Party in Rolesville
This ticketed glow-style New Year’s Eve dance party runs from 6 PM to 8:15 PM and features an early countdown, music, and high-energy fun. It is built for families and early-to-bed celebrators who still want a festive night out.

New Year’s Eve in the Ozdust Ballroom at Broadsides
Broadsides in Wake Forest hosts a downtown-style New Year’s Eve party starting at 8 PM. This is a great option if you want to dress up a bit, grab a drink, and celebrate locally without committing to Raleigh crowds.

Tassels and Top Hats NYE Party at Homeslice Tavern
Homeslice Tavern in Youngsville kicks off its themed New Year’s Eve party at 9 PM. A fun, high-energy local option if you want a traditional late-night celebration close to home.

New Year’s Eve Party at Tonic Bar and Social Club
Live music with the Laure Nicole band, a midnight toast, and a ton of fun. No reservations required and no cover.

New Year’s Eve at The Wine Barrel
Ring in 2026 with style, great food, and unforgettable vibes. Tickets required.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Party at Real McCoy’s
From 5 PM - 1:30 AM, enjoy a special New Year’s Eve dinner menu with a champagne toast at midnight. DJ and dancing from 9 PM - 1 AM.

Town offices in Wake Forest, Youngsville, and Rolesville will be closed from December 24 through December 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday.

Wake Forest and Rolesville
Thursday trash and recycling routes will be collected on Friday, and Friday routes will be collected on Saturday. Collection will run one day later than normal and extend into Saturday.

Youngsville
Thursday trash and recycling routes are expected to shift to Friday; however, this change has not been fully verified. Residents should monitor town communications for confirmation.

Wake Forest
Beginning Monday, December 29, town crews will collect live Christmas trees during regular yard waste service. Trees will be ground into mulch, which will be available to residents for free upon request.
To prepare trees for collection, remove all decorations, tinsel, nails, stands, and bags, and place the tree behind the curb.

Youngsville
Live Christmas trees under 6 feet tall will be collected with brush. All decorations, tinsel, and tree stands must be removed before placing trees curbside.

Rolesville
Live Christmas trees will be accepted by the town’s yard waste contractor if they are fully stripped of decorations and meet size requirements. Trees must be placed curbside on a scheduled yard waste service day.
The two collection dates closest to the holidays are December 27 and January 10.
Additionally, select Wake County locations accept Christmas trees for recycling into mulch for county parks. Residents should visit the county’s website for details on drop-off locations and guidelines.

Incredible Science | NC Museum of Natural Sciences | 1:30 PM

Starry Night Snowman: Paint & Sip | The Makery | 7-9 PM Register

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Preschool Open Play (1-5yo) | Joyner Park CC | 8 AM-4 PM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-1:30 PM

Open Play Basketball (35+) | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-7:45 AM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 8-11:30 AM

STEM Build (Lego) | Joyner Park CC | 12-4 PM

Homeschool Rec (basketball & volleyball) | Joyner Park CC | 12-2:30 PM

Youth Open Play Basketball (17 and under) | Joyner Park CC | 3-5 PM

Open Play Pickleball | Joyner Park CC | 6:15-11:30 AM

Toddler Story Time | Wake Forest Community Library | 9-9:55 AM

Open Play Basketball (18+) | Joyner Park CC | 12-1:30 PM

Noon Year’s Eve | Marbles Children's Museum | 12 PM

🏀 Duke Men’s Basketball plays Georgia Tech at 4 PM at home. You can watch the game on ACCN.  

_{This section’s not sponsored. We just think it’s stuff worth knowing. We’ll always tell you when something’s sponsored.}

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Forecast captured on the Wednesday before this newsletter edition. The weather around here changes fast, so double‑check closer to the day before finalizing plans.

Live Music | Gatehouse Tavern | 7-10 PM
Raleigh Assasins | Tonic Bar | 7-10 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Steel County Express | Real McCoys | 9 PM-12 AM

Tony Jonez | Blackbird Brewery | 4-7 PM
Jared Place | Fortnight Brewing WF | 6-9 PM
JT Parrothead | Tonic Bar | 7-10 PM
Live Music | Wakefield Tavern | 7-10 PM
Dual Band Night with Crusader opening for Killing The Void | Real McCoys | 9 PM-1 AM

Richard Strather | Burnt Barrel | 1-4 PM
Busker Night | Tonic Bar | 6-9 PM

Thanks for reading today’s edition of The WYRe. We wish you a Merry Christmas!

See you around town!
TheWYReNewsletter.com

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