WRAL First Night Raleigh returns for New Year’s Eve 2023, offering a fun, jam-packed way to welcome 2024. Head to Downtown Raleigh on Saturday, December 31st, 2023, for an exciting, low-cost New Year’s Eve celebration.
The festivities include the Children’s Celebration, which starts at 2 p.m., outdoor musical performances at City Plaza in the afternoon, and performances and activities in multiple indoor venues in the evening. Then at night, the highlight of the celebration — music on the outdoor Main Stage, the Raleigh Acorn Drop and a fireworks show.
Read on for a list of performers (when available), activities, and even where to park.
Check out our list of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events in the Triangle, both for adults and kids. Keep checking back as this list grows!
Tickets for First Night Raleigh
Tickets are available for purchase now.
Ticket prices:
- $16 for ages 13+
- $12 for ages 6-12
- Free for children under age 5
Your ticket includes:
- Ferris Wheel
- Main Stage live music at City Plaza
- Fireworks and Acorn Drop at midnight
- Access to large scale outdoor art installations
- Live music at any of the indoor venues
- Children’s Celebration, including the early countdown at 7 p.m.
You do not need a ticket to walk around Fayetteville Street or to purchase food and beverages.
Main Stage
- Countdown to Midnight/Fireworks: 12:00
- Rich Aucoin: 11:00-11:55
- Professor X (DJ set): 10:30-11:00
- Shame Gang: 9:30-10:30
- Raleigh Rockers (breakdancing): 8:45-9:15
- LesTheGenius: 8:00-8:30
- SHWNxSBTG (DJ set): 7:15-8:00
- Early Countdown/Fireworks: 7:00
- ¡Tumbao!: 6:00-6:50
Daytime Activities
The Children’s Celebration takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. on Fayetteville Street between Morgan and Hargett.
The celebration will include plenty of entertainment and activities for families. (Check back soon for details.)
Then, at 6 p.m., the People’s Procession begins, led by Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Helping Hand Mission Band and NCSU Pipe & Drum.
It starts at Bicentennial Plaza, proceeds down Salisbury and ends at City Plaza, at the intersection of Davie and Fayetteville Street.
There will be entertainment and an early countdown at 7 p.m., complete with the Acorn Drop and fireworks.
Performances
The Main Stage is at City Plaza, 400 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC. There will be performances there from 2 p.m. to midnight. Visit firstnightraleigh.com/performances/ for an updated schedule, as well as information on each performer.
In addition to the Main Stage, there will be live music at several indoor venues, TBA. All are included with your ticket.
Performers include:
- Tanajah
- Dexter Moses Trio
- Fruits of Our Labor
- Shame Gang
- Stand-up Comics
- Emanuel Wynter
- CJ Monet
- Lesthegenius
- Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road
- Elora Dash
- D’Alex Thomas
- Comedy Worx
- Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble & Gregg Gelb Quintet
- Zoe & Cloyd
- Tubao
- Paperhand Puppet Intervention
Indoor Venues and Street Activations
- Amusement Ride II: 2:00-11:00, Fayetteville Street between Hargett and Martin
- Ferris Wheel: 2:00-11:00, Fayetteville Street at Hargett
- Paperhand Puppet Intervention: 3:00-7:00
- The Peoples Parade: 6:00, State Capitol to Davie Street
- D’Alex Thomas: 6:00-7:15, Neptunes
- Story Charlemagne: 7:00-8:00, The Self Care Market Place
- Zoe & Cloyd: 7:00 and 9:00, Church of the Good Shepherd
- Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble & Gregg Gelb Quintet: 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00, First Baptist Church (Salisbury St)
- Comedy Worx: 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00, Standup: 10:00
- Dexter Moses Trio: 7:30-9:00, Neptunes
- Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road: 8:00 and 10:00, Church of the Good Shepherd
- Elora Dash: 8:00-8:45, Kings
- CJ Monet: 8:30-9:30, The Self Care Market Place
- Emanuel Wynter: 9:15-10:00, Kings
- Community Jazz Jam: 10:00, First Baptist Church (Salisbury St)
- Stand-Up Comics: 10:00, Transfer Co Ballroom
- Tanajah: 10:00-11:00, The Self Care Market Place
- Fruits of Our Labor: 10:15-11:00, Kings
Activities
All are included with your ticket. Learn about all the activities.
- Funky Ferris Wheel
- Teslaac
- Glow lanterns
- Glow fireworks craft
- Glow tattoos
- 2024 bracelets
- Glow roller bookmarks
- Instrument tent
- Glow masks
- Photo booth with glow frames
- Neon Volley
Countdown
At 11:59 p.m., the countdown begins at City Plaza. Midnight will be celebrated with the famous Raleigh Acorn Drop and fireworks!
Where to Park for First Night Raleigh
Please check out this parking map for Downtown Raleigh. In all there are over 70 parking decks and parking lots.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in:
- Signing up for Triangle on the Cheap's daily email
- Free events this week
- Day by Day list of holiday events
- What Christmas food can dogs eat?
- Best Christmas Lights in the Triangle
- Christmas tree farms and lots near the Triangle
- Free pictures with Santa in the Triangle
- Holiday Markets in the Triangle
- Christmas Trains in North Carolina
More New Year Events in the Triangle
Check out our list of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events in the Triangle, or look at a few of them here:
