Festive Fridays

All Events in Series

Raleigh for the Holidays!

Location

Gipson Play Plaza

Category

Arts & Culture

Raleigh for the Holidays graphic banner 2025

Event Details

Celebrate the season with fun for all ages at Festive Fridays at Dix Park!

 

Tree Lighting

Friday, December 5

Enjoy holiday crafts, activities and a merry and bright tree lighting in Fountain Plaza. We've also heard the Grinch may pay us a visit! Tree lighting happens at 5:30 pm.

 

Reindeer Ride

Friday, December 12

Decorate your bike or scooter, throw on your favorite holiday outfit, and join us at the Traffic Garden for a close out celebration with our community partner. And at 6:30 pm, join the holly jolly group ride through Dix Park!

 

Silent Disco Night

Friday, December 19

Dance under the stars in your ugliest holiday sweater and celebrate the season! Enjoy making winter solstice crafts like lantern making and creating memorial/wish ribbons to honor loved ones or set intentions for the coming year.

 

Food & Beverage

House of Many Porches Market is serving up special holiday drinks along with snacks, coffee, beer and wine all evening. There will also be food trucks during the events.

Food Truck Calendar

 

Know Before You Go

Festive Fridays are open to all ages with activities for adults and children to enjoy. 

No registration needed. See you at the park!

Use Gipson Play Plaza Address: 715 Biggs Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603

  • Via Western Boulevard: Enter at Hunt Drive
  • Via Lake Wheeler Road: Enter at Goode Drive
  • Via Centennial Parkway: Enter at Blair Drive
  • Follow Signs towards Gipson Play Plaza

Recommended Parking: Lot G, Lot E, Lot C

Parking Map

Dix Park is committed to ensuring Gipson Play Plaza, including its amenities and programs, is accessible to all.

Parking & Arrival

  • Public Parking Lots B, D, E, G adjacent to Gipson Play Plaza have ADA parking spaces, accessible curb cuts and sidewalks into the park.  
  • There is a visitor drop-off/pick-up zone near the House of Many Porches Market on Palmer Drive.  

Entrances & Pathways

  • All entrances and pathways are accessible including ADA grade paths on either side of the Grand Stair.
  • The permeable surface of the Sensory Maze and Picnic Grove is accessible.
  • A portion of the Picnic Grove surface includes a stabilizing binder for a more stable and level surface.

Playgrounds

  • All play areas (Slide Valley, Watermill Mountain, Sand Bowl, Sensory Maze, Swing Terrace) have at grade access points with accessible interactive play features.
  • The play towers have an wheelchair accessible route through the first level that includes the sway bridge and transfer platform for the slide.
  • Two additional slides have transfer platforms.
  • There are three transfer platform access points in the sand play area.
  • The mega swing includes nest/basket swings.

Restrooms & Facilities

  • Restrooms are fully accessible.
  • House of Many Porches Market is fully accessible. Ramps are at the front and back of the building.
  • Picnic Grove tables are accessible including spaces for wheelchair positioning.
  • Water fountains are accessible.

Service Animals

  • Service animals are welcome in the park.

Programs & Events 

Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form or contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.

Dix Park Staff at 919-996-3255 or events@dixpark.org.

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