Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready Raleigh. From light displays to holiday performances and festive parties, winter is where the City of Oaks thrives.

Gather the family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 45+ winter events happening between December and January.

Holiday events

The Rink Presented By UNC Health | Thursday, Dec. 1-Monday, Jan. 16 | Times vary | Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh | $6-$11 | In addition to a large outdoor ice skating rink, this winter wonderland has fire pits, a 20-ft decorated tree, games, and a snack bar.

29th Annual Jingle Ball Gala | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7-10:30 p.m. | NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., Raleigh | $130 | Enjoy a night of live music, dueling pianos, raffles, cocktails, and elevated food to raise money to buy children Christmas presents.

Vita Vite Hallmark Movie Event | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 2-6 p.m. | Vita Vite Downtown, 313 W. Hargett St., Raleigh | Get cozy with a Hallmark movie, wine, games, and trivia.

Raleigh Fashion Fest: Holiday Shop & Show | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 5-9 p.m. | Crabtree Valley Mall, 4325 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | $0-$75 | Benefiting the American Cancer Society, this show will feature one large-format collaborative fashion show directed by Models for Charity.

Sonic Runway at Burning Man in 2016. | Photo by Jordan Laboucane, courtesy of Rob Jensen, Warren Trezevant, and Creos

Light displays

NC Chinese Lantern Festival | Wednesday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 | 6-10 p.m. | Koka Booth Amphiteatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary | $11-$35 | This year's event features 40+ new displays, all crafted by Chinese artisans and comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of lights.

State Tree Lighting & Holiday Open House | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 5:30 p.m. | North Carolina State Capitol, 1 E Edenton St., Raleigh | Free | Listen to holiday music performed by The Raleigh Concert Band, visit with Santa, and enjoy cookies and cider — stick around to tour the decorated Capitol.

Illuminate Art Walk | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023 | 12 a.m.-12 p.m. | Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South districts, Raleigh | Free | Sip N’ Stroll your way through this year’s light installation featuring an international exhibit that’s made appearances at Burning Man.

Enjoy a free performance at the Museum Park at the NCMA. | Photo provided by The Justice Theater Project

Holiday performances

The Nutcracker - Cary Ballet Company | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 2 and 7 p.m | Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh | $35-$45 | Set to Tchaikovsky's timeless score, watch this story of a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve.

Southern Songbirds: Tift Merritt Sings the Women of Country Music | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 7 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy this concert series in conjunction with the traveling The Power of Women in Country Music exhibition.

Try this: The Christmapolitan served in a classic coup glass at The Haymaker. | Photo by RALtoday

Food and drink

The Dessertery | Wednesday, Nov. 30-Friday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh | $15-$25 | This holiday-themed cafe features a wide variety of desserts to choose from (think: cheesecake, petit fours, and cupcakes) and a hot chocolate bar with 50+ toppings.

Specifically tailored to kids

Evening with Elves | Friday, Dec. 9 | Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | $12 | Enjoy roasting s'mores outdoors, arctic museum play, and a special visit from the Snowflake Fairy.

Gingerbread Jamboree | Saturday, Dec. 17-Sunday, Dec. 18 | Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy creating a sweet treat masterpiece with friends and family.

Holiday shopping pop-ups

Enjoy fireworks over downtown Raleigh at The Willard Rooftop. | Photo provided by The Willard

New Year's Eve celebrations

New Year's Eve Gala | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | NC Museum of Natural Sciences, 121 W. Jones St., Raleigh | $150-$175 | Celebrate the New Year in style... '80s style, that is — enjoy four floors of food and late-night snacks, open bars, craft cocktails, a DJ, two dance floors, and a live ’80s cover band.

2023 Raleigh New Year's Eve Party - Gatsby's House | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. | Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, 421 South Salisbury St., Raleigh | $89-$825 | A little party never killed nobody... dance the night away at this Gatsby-themed party featuring an open bar and four NC DJs.