This December, the Cary Jaycees parade route goes right past the doors of two of downtown's newest restaurants. Both opened in late August on the same stretch of East Chatham Street the parade uses on December 12.
That changes how to plan the season. The Town's Heart of the Holidays calendar runs from mid-November into January. Most of the big moments land on two Saturdays, though, and on the few blocks where East Chatham meets South Academy. If you know which streets close when, and where to eat before they do, you'll have an easier time than if you just know the event names.
The corner where the season happens
Start with the intersection of East Chatham and South Academy. Lloyd's Full Service fills the restored service station there. It opened Wednesday, August 26, at 107 E. Chatham St. The building dates back more than 70 years. The News & Observer reported that chef Dennis Bernard, who previously worked at Chicago's Blackbird and The Publican, runs the kitchen. His menu of updated American classics includes pork schnitzel, a signature burger and a breakfast-for-dinner plate.
On Saturday, August 29, K38 Baja Grill opened its first Cary location a short walk east at 147 E. Chatham St. The Wilmington-based restaurant was founded in 1993 and serves Mexican-inspired food.
The Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade starts on E. Chatham at Ward Street and heads down E. Chatham to S. Academy. It turns left at that corner and ends at Dry Avenue in front of the Cary Arts Center. The Tree Lighting Celebration a week earlier closes Academy Street from Park Street to Dry Avenue. One block of Chatham and a few blocks of Academy carry most of December.
December 5 puts nearly everything on one Saturday
The first Saturday in December is the heaviest day of the season. Here's how the Town and Downtown Cary Park list it:
| Time on Dec. 5 | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Tree Lighting Celebration with a holiday market, Santa photos, performances and food trucks | Downtown Cary Park |
| 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Photos with Santa | Gathering House, Downtown Cary Park |
| 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Academy Street closed, Park St. to Dry Ave. | Downtown |
| 2 to 5 p.m. | Victorian Christmas | Page-Walker Arts & History Center |
| 6 p.m. | Official tree lighting | Downtown Cary Park |
Two longer events also start that day. The Gingerbread Competition runs December 5 through 13, and the Gifting Tree Project runs December 5 through 20, both in downtown Cary. Neither has to be seen on the 5th. Both are easy reasons to come back downtown on a quieter weekday.
Victorian Christmas is the gentlest stop on the list. The Town of Cary describes the Page-Walker, a historic 1870s hotel, decked out for the season. Carolers in Dickensian costume, a kids' Christmas craft, and cookies and cider are part of the afternoon. It ends at 5 p.m. That leaves an hour to walk back toward the park before the 6 p.m. lighting.
The Academy Street closure starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 10 p.m. That makes Chatham the easier side of downtown for an early dinner. Lloyd's posted Saturday hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in The Raleigh Local's October writeup, so the restaurant is open across the whole tree-lighting window.
Parade day: Chatham closes and fills with spectators
On Saturday, December 12, the 47th annual Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade runs from 2 to 4 p.m. The Jaycees describe a lineup of bands, mascots, local businesses, community groups and churches. The closures are wider than the route itself. The Jaycees list route restrictions from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and full closures from 1 to 4 p.m. on these streets:
- E. Chatham, from S. Academy to the Urban Park traffic circle
- S. Academy, from E. Chatham to Dry Ave.
- East and West Circle Drive
- E. Cedar, from N. Walker to Ward
- Ward and Hunter streets
- Dry Ave., from S. Harrison to S. Academy
There's no designated parade parking, and parking is not permitted on E. Chatham or S. Academy along the route. The Town counts more than 2,000 free parking spaces downtown. It also lists four public decks: Cedar Street at 136 E. Cedar, Walnut Street at 113 Walnut, Town Hall at 121 Wilkinson, and Academy Street at 206 S. Academy.
E. Cedar between N. Walker and Ward is on the closure list, so check how the Cedar Street deck sits relative to the closed blocks before you plan to drive out of it mid-parade. The Walnut Street and Town Hall decks sit off the closure list. That makes them the easier choices if you want to leave right after the last float passes.
Where to eat on the route, and just off it
A 2 p.m. step-off means lunch falls during the setup closures, and an early dinner comes right as the streets reopen. Both new Chatham Street restaurants sit inside the closed stretch, so getting there on foot is the easy part.
- Lloyd's Full Service, 107 E. Chatham St. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday is 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Weekday dinner runs Wednesday through Friday, 4 to 9 p.m., and it's closed Monday and Tuesday. Keep that in mind for the weeknight events below.
- K38 Baja Grill, 147 E. Chatham St. Its first Cary location sits on the parade's opening stretch between Ward and Academy.
- Lawrence Barbecue, 150 E. Cedar St. Owned by Jake and Brandi Wood, it's been downtown since mid-September 2025. Cary Magazine describes a full kitchen, bar, raw bar with oyster service, indoor dining and a patio. Its block of Cedar is inside the parade closure, a few steps from the Cedar Street deck.
On December 5, the tree lighting's food trucks cover the park itself. The sit-down tables are all on Chatham and Cedar.
Quieter dates for smaller groups
The big Saturdays draw the crowds. The rest of the calendar is better if you have toddlers, a dog or a short evening.
Letters to Santa, Nov. 16 to Dec. 6. The Santa mailbox stands in Academy Plaza at Downtown Cary Park. The Town asks that letters include the child's name and a return address.
Cary Night Market, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. It's on the Downtown Cary Park calendar.
Downtown lights, Nov. 25 through Jan. 4. The Town says decorations will light downtown streets, storefronts and public spaces for the whole stretch. Its holiday decorations map marks the locations. A weeknight walk from the park toward Chatham works well with a Wednesday through Friday dinner at Lloyd's.
More Santa photo sessions. The Town's Santa events page lists these 2026 sessions. Bring your own phone or camera.
- Friday, Dec. 4, 5 to 8 p.m., Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road
- Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1 to 3 p.m., Gathering House, sensory friendly. The Town says lights and music are softened, capacity is reduced and sensory bags are available.
- Sunday, Dec. 13, 2 to 5 p.m., Bark Bar at Downtown Cary Park, dog photos
- Friday, Dec. 18, 5 to 9 p.m., Gathering House
The Carpenter Fire Station Road session is the one way to see Santa without heading downtown at all.
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting, Dec. 7, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. It's held at the Great Lawn Pavilion in Downtown Cary Park.
Celebrate Kwanzaa at The Cary Theater, Dec. 19, noon to 2 p.m.
NC Chinese Lantern Festival, Nov. 21 through Jan. 10, 2027. It's listed on the Town's Heart of the Holidays page and runs past New Year's.
New tables elsewhere in Cary this fall
Downtown isn't the only part of Cary with new places to eat this season. The Cary Report covered La Pause Parisienne, a French bakery and café with pastries, breads, coffee and a patio at 160 NE Maynard Road, Suite 114. Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café opened August 31 at 1 Fenton Main St. in Fenton. Ala Rahi, serving Persian and Mediterranean food, opened October 23 at 1080 Darrington Drive. In west Cary, Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant was scheduled to open November 9 at Parkside Town Commons.
If you're mapping out your December and want a local's take on parking, timing or where to grab a table near the parade route, Phillip Singer is happy to help. Let's Connect, and I'll share what I know about downtown Cary this season.
