Christmas 2026 in Apex: Tour of Lights map, Chanukah Festival Dec. 6, Nutcracker Dances, Christmas Play, gingerbread contest, Grinch drive-in movie Dec. 18.

Last checked Oct. 25, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates come from the Town of Apex community calendar, seasonal tours page and each organizer’s own page. Check before you go.

Updated Oct. 25: Nutcracker Dances on Dec. 4 starts at 7:30 p.m., per The Halle; added the Dec. 5 Rotary parade, the Dec. 4-13 Snowman Stroll and the Dec. 4-18 holiday exhibit.

December in Apex runs from the tree lighting on the Town Hall campus to a nightly lights tour, a menorah lighting, a weekend of Nutcracker dances and a Christmas play at The Halle, and a Grinch drive-in at Pleasant Park. Questions about town events go to Apex Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources at 919-249-3402; The Halle’s box office is 919-249-1120.

The tree lighting and the Apex Rotary Christmas Parade have their own page: see Christmas parade and tree lighting in Apex.

December at a glance

Date Event Where
Friday, Dec. 4, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony Town campus, 73 Hunter St.
Dec. 4-6 Infinity Ballet: “Nutcracker Dances” The Halle, 237 N. Salem St.
Dec. 4-13 Snowman Stroll on Salem passport Downtown shops
Dec. 4-18 Holiday Exhibit and Auction The Halle galleries
Saturday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m. Apex Rotary Christmas Parade Salem Street
Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 to 6 p.m. Chanukah Festival and menorah lighting Apex Senior Center, 63 Hunter St.
Thursday, Dec. 10, 6 to 8 p.m. Gingerbread Decorating Competition Apex Senior Center
Dec. 11-13 Christmas Play and Musical The Halle
Friday, Dec. 18 Drive-in movie: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Pleasant Park, 3400 Pleasant Plains Road
Nightly in December Holiday Tour of Lights (2026 map to come) Across town

Holiday Tour of Lights

Apex homes and businesses volunteer their light displays for the town’s Holiday Tour of Lights, and the town publishes a map with the most efficient way to see every stop. In 2025 the tour ran nightly Dec. 6-31, from 6 to 9 p.m. As of Oct. 25 the 2026 dates and map had not been posted; we will add them when the town does. The Halloween version, the Tour of Frights, runs through Oct. 31 on the same page.

Chanukah Festival and menorah lighting

3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Apex Senior Center, 63 Hunter St. The festival is organized by Chabad of Cary and marks the start of the eight-day festival of lights with games, crafts and food, ending with a menorah lighting on the town campus. It is rain or shine. All Town Hall campus lots are open except the arc lot between Town Hall and the John M. Brown Community Center; accessible parking is at the community center and Town Hall. There are no road closures. More from Chabad of Cary.

On stage at The Halle

  • Infinity Ballet: “Nutcracker Dances,” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4; 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5; and 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. A one-hour family version of Clara’s dream. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students 16 and under, with assigned seats (details).
  • 19th annual Holiday Exhibit and Auction, Dec. 4-18 in The Halle galleries, free, with an opening reception 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Greenery displays by local businesses, schools and residents go to a silent auction that ends at 1 p.m. Dec. 18 (details).
  • Christmas Play and Musical, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 (doors 7 p.m.); 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $12 for children 16 and under (details).

The Halle sells tickets at its box office and on Etix only, and does not give refunds or exchanges.

Gingerbread Decorating Competition

6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Apex Senior Center. Teams of two to six, with at least one adult, get a workspace and a base kit of gingerbread pieces, icing and candies, then guest judges award prizes in several categories. No glue guns or outside materials. Only one teammate registers, through the town’s registration page.

Grinch drive-in at Pleasant Park

The town’s drive-in movie shows “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) on Friday, Dec. 18, at Pleasant Park, 3400 Pleasant Plains Road. The calendar lists 4:45 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 plus tax per vehicle at The Halle or on Etix; the ticket is your parking pass, spots are first come, first served, and you can listen on the car radio or bring chairs.

Santa and other December traditions

Santa and Mrs. Claus appear at the tree lighting on Dec. 4, along with a free photo and ornament with Southbound Santa. The town’s Family Basketball Ham Toss, presented by Lowes Foods of Apex, was held Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, at the John M. Brown Community Center; the 2026 date had not been posted (details). Downtown’s Snowman Stroll on Salem passport promotion runs Dec. 4-13; details are on our holiday shopping page.

Christmas week: closures and trash

  • Town offices and facilities are closed Thursday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 25.
  • Trash and recycling run as normal Monday through Thursday; Friday’s routes are collected Saturday, Dec. 26. Yard waste is not collected Dec. 24 or 25 (holiday notice).
  • The American Tobacco Trail in Wake County is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
  • Christmas trees, stripped of lights and decorations, go out with yard waste. See our trash and recycling guide.

Related: Christmas parade and tree lighting, New Year’s Eve in Apex and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Christmas lights in Apex?

The town publishes a Holiday Tour of Lights map of homes and businesses with light displays. In 2025 it ran nightly Dec. 6-31 from 6 to 9 p.m.; the 2026 map had not been posted as of Oct. 25.

Is there a menorah lighting in Apex?

Yes. Chabad of Cary holds a Chanukah Festival from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at the Apex Senior Center, ending with a menorah lighting on the Town Hall campus.

When is the Apex tree lighting in 2026?

The tree lighting is 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, on the Town Hall campus, 73 Hunter St. Our Christmas parade and tree lighting page has the full program.

How do I get tickets for the Grinch drive-in movie in Apex?

Buy a $10-plus-tax vehicle ticket at The Halle or on Etix. The ticket is your parking pass at Pleasant Park on Friday, Dec. 18.