101 North Carolina Festivals: January

African American Cultural Celebration. Photo by the North Carolina Museum of History.

African American Cultural Celebration

Raleigh | ncmuseumofhistory.org

Join the statewide kickoff to Black History Month at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, for more than 20 years, the annual African American Cultural Celebration has brought together African American community members, organizations, authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, scholars, and more, around a central theme to highlight the contributions that African Americans, past and present, have made to North Carolina’s history and culture.

Chinese Lantern Festival

Cary | boothamphitheatre.com

The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is a large-scale, immersive light festival that takes place at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC. It features hundreds of meticulously crafted, large-scale lanterns illuminated by thousands of LED lights, along with cultural performances and food vendors. The festival, hosted by Tianyu Arts & Culture, draws thousands of visitors each year and celebrates Chinese culture and traditions, particularly the Lantern Festival which marks the end of Chinese New Year. 

Winterlights

Manteo | elizabethangardens.org

Stroll along enchanted garden paths and discover the joy of the season with holiday lights, sights and sounds transforming The Elizabethan Gardens into an illuminated winter wonderland. The radiant glow of the gardens, traditional holiday décor and fantastical displays are a true spectacle to behold.