Experience The Triangle: Selected Winter Highlights in Raleigh, North Carolina

In the heart of North Carolina, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill form the Research Triangle – a center for research. The Airbus A350 now also takes you to this vibrant region in winter. In addition to numerous sights, many great events and highlights await visitors during the cold season.  

Ugly can be so beautiful. For the Christmas Edition of the Geek and Grub Market on December 14 2025 in Durham, about 25 miles from Raleigh, the motto is: "Put on your ugliest Christmas sweater and celebrate with us." Of course, there will also be lots of geeky products on offer from more than 50 local craftspeople and artists, as well as delicious food and warming drinks.  

At the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival, thousands of handmade lanterns will light up the Koka Booth Amphitheatre until January 11, 2026. A wide variety of designs create magical themed worlds that you can wander through. There will also be cultural performances and a variety of food stands.

North Carolina is evolving rapidly: an increasingly diverse population, cities in transition, and a changing environment. The exhibition “Then and There, Here and Now” at the North Carolina Museum of Art, running until January 18, 2026, invites visitors to engage with the works of contemporary artists who reflect the state's transformation in very different ways – sometimes nostalgically, sometimes critically, but always emotionally and visually powerful.

• Consider renting a car if you want flexibility for day trips — destinations around the Research Triangle are often spread out.
• Try Carolina barbecue (vinegar-based “Eastern/North Carolina style” vs. "tomato-/pepper-based Piedmont/Lexington style"). The difference can make a great conversation starter.
• Book a brewery tour or visit craft beer taprooms. Raleigh has a lively craft beer scene that’s especially popular on weekends.