Wilsons Mills
Wilsons Mills, NC · Events
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What to Do in Raleigh in December 2026
This December, soak up the season with twinkling light displays, holiday classics on stage and festive markets across the Triangle. Each holiday season, it’s a delight to see homes transformed with twinkle lights, but few do it better than the folks on Winter Song Road in North Raleigh’s Bedford community. Jenn Nowalk, who has lived on the street since 2012, is one of many neighbors who help bring the display to life. What began during COVID, when neighbors gathered around firepits, has grown into a holiday tradition involving about 30 homes on Winter Song Road, with neighboring streets joining in. Hundreds of thousands of lights are strung around tree trunks and in swags across the road, complementing the individually decorated homes. Highlights include a light tunnel, a 26-foot illuminated Fairybell tree, a giant Yeti, a talking Santa, a selfie station and even the occasional snow machine. “When you put this many together in one area on the same street, it shines bright and is really impactful,” Nowalk says. “It’s become a place where memories are made, traditions are started and the simple magic of the holidays comes to life.” Kids also hand out candy canes and collect donations for Triangle Spokes Group, a nonprofit that provides new bikes to local children. Nowalk, a co-founder of the group, has helped coordinate the charitable efforts, which have raised more than $50,000 in recent years. To cut down on traffic, visitors are encouraged to park at the Shoppes at Bedford (3607 Falls River Ave.) and walk up Winter Song Road. For more festive lights, consider visiting the Stonehenge, Ridgewood or Boylan Heights neighborhoods, which are also known for their elaborate displays. — Katie Mangee.