Cary Tree Lighting Celebration

A full day of holiday activities and performances in Downtown Cary Park, building to the official tree lighting at 6 p.m.

Eleven hours is an unusually long run for a tree lighting, and it means this is a day-long festival with a ceremony at the end rather than a half-hour ceremony with some stalls.

How the day is shaped:

• Activities and programming from 9 a.m.
• Performances through the afternoon
• Tree lighting at 6 p.m.
• Runs on to 8 p.m.

One thing to plan around: Academy Street closes between Park Street and Dry Avenue from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you are driving in, that changes your approach and your parking, so look at the decks rather than assuming street parking near the park.

Practical notes:

• Arrive well before 6 p.m. if you want to see the lighting itself with a clear view
• Early December evenings here are properly cold once the sun goes
• The park has real seating and covered areas, unlike most tree lighting venues
• Free throughout

Our read: the daytime hours are the underrated part. Most people arrive at half past five for the ceremony and miss a full day of programming that is considerably easier to enjoy with young children.

Downtown Cary has plenty of places to eat within a short walk, which makes an early dinner before the six oclock ceremony a straightforward plan rather than a gamble.