Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Raleigh with First Night. Here’s what to know before you go
New Year’s Eve is a pretty big deal in Raleigh.
The downtown scene explodes with art installations, carnival rides and main-stage live music to ring in the new year, counting down to the beloved Acorn Drop at midnight.
First Night Raleigh, a near-annual event in our state’s capital city since the early 1990s, begins in the early afternoon and wraps up just after the clock strikes midnight.
To help you plan your outing, we’ve gotten all the information you’ll need about tickets, parking, activities and more. Here’s what you should know before heading out.
Where is First Night Raleigh?
Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. The main outdoor music stage will be at City Plaza, located at 443 Fayetteville St.
What’s the schedule for First Night Raleigh?
Tickets include access to all the First Night activities, both in the daytime and evening.
Here’s some of what the event will entail, according to their website:
A “People’s Procession” parade before the early midnight countdown (see below for details)
Carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel
Glow crafts for children, including parade lanterns, parade masks, bubble paint prints and more
Live music and other performances throughout downtown Raleigh
The annual Acorn Drop at midnight
Is First Night Raleigh meant for children?
Yes, there is a lot of programming for little ones.
Daytime activities (2-8 p.m.) include:
- Carnival rides
- A dance party with DJ Rickey Smith
- Glow crafts
- The “People’s Procession” at 6 p.m. (more below)
The Early Countdown at 7 p.m. drops the famous acorn and sets off the fireworks hours before the clock strikes midnight.
How much are tickets to First Night Raleigh?
Ticket costs are as follows:
All tickets are $16 each as of Wednesday, Dec. 25.
Admission is free for children 5 and under.
You can purchase tickets online at eTix.com. You can also purchase tickets at local Harris Teeter locations, their website says.
A ticket includes outdoor rides and activities, including the Ferris wheel, fireworks and the acorn drop at midnight, plus the Children’s Celebration and early countdown. It also includes access to all the live music performances both on the Main Stage at City Plaza and at indoor venues throughout downtown Raleigh.
Proof of ticket is required for entry, though anyone is able to walk around downtown and access the food/drink vendors.
Who is performing at First Night Raleigh?
There are many performers taking the stage at First Night Raleigh, and musical performances are spread out among multiple stages and venues.
There will be dozens of performers taking stages across downtown Raleigh, including:
- Christian James
- Magic Al
- Fancy Gap
- Elora Dash
- Dante High
- Triangle Youth Jazz
- Gregg Gelb Quintet
- Jo Gore
- Kayla King
- Halle Wood
- NCSU Pipes & Drums
- Paperhand Puppet Intervention
You can find performers at:
- The Main Stage at City Plaza
- First Baptist Church (99 N Salisbury St.)
- Copperline Plants (23 W Hargett St.)
- The Self Care Market Place (12 W Martin St.)
- The Pour House (224 S Blount St.)
- ArtSpace (201 E Davie St.)
- First Baptist Church (101 S Wilmington St.)
- Transfer Co. Ballroom (500 E Davie St.)
- Church of the Good Shepherd (125 Hillsborough St.)
Source: artsplosure.org/events#firstnightraleigh
Does First Night Raleigh have free parking?
No, there are no designated free parking spots for the event.
Raleigh’s free two-hour parking program will not be in effect for First Night, according to the city of Raleigh. Event parking at these decks will be $10.
For a map of all the parking locations in Raleigh, including ADA accessible spots, visit downtownraleigh.org.
Is First Night Raleigh still happening if it’s raining?
Yes. This is a rain or shine event.
Be sure to keep up with First Night’s website and/or social media pages if the weather forecast is looking bleak.
What are food options for First Night Raleigh?
You can purchase food from vendors at the event.
Note: Food and drink options are available for anyone, not just First Night Raleigh ticket holders.
What is the People’s Procession parade at First Night?
Thousands of First Night attendees join in the interactive parade, which begins at 6 p.m. and ends before the 7 p.m. early countdown with fireworks and the (early) acorn drop.
The procession begins at Bicentennial Plaza before making its way down Salisbury Street and ending at the intersection of Davie and Fayetteville Street.
The parade is led by Paperhand Puppet Intervention, the Helping Hand Mission Band and the NCSU Pipe & Drum team.
Any other questions?
Check out FirstNightRaleigh.com or call 919-832-8699.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Raleigh with First Night. Here’s what to know before you go."
