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Raleigh New Years Eve 2024

New years eve in Raleigh, North Carolina. First Night fireworks, Acorn Drop, hotels & restaurants for NYE 2023-2024

Did someone say an Acorn Drop? Raleigh has been the main focal point of the new years eve celebrations that encompass the area known as the Research triangle for some time now. Covering Raleigh itself and nearby Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh has some great events and fireworks to see in the new year in style.

The big party in Raleigh for NYE will hopefully once again be the First Night and Acorn Drop event, taking place throughout the downtown area, but across the wider area there are loads more options to help you see in the new year in style.

First Night Raleigh

City Plaza is the central hub for the First Night celebrations, but there are stalls and events right across the downtown area, with live music and dancing at several venues for a party that usually attracts crowds estimated at up to 80,000.

The main events normally get underway at 2pm, with the start of 4 hours of entertainment aimed at the city's children, before moving on to the People's Procession at 6pm, which culminates in the early countdown and family fireworks display at 7pm in the City Plaza.

There's a Funky Ferris Wheel and Sky Hawk Ride to enjoy, food vendors to explore and of course the countdown to midnight and fireworks!

To attend the First Night events you will need to buy a pass, which gains you access to all of the activities and performances. The day pass is priced at only $16 which is great value for so much entertainment. Full details will be available once announced here.

The Acorn Drop

There is live First Night entertainment throughout the evening at various venues (the main stage is at City Plaza) before the climax of the evening at midnight, where along with the spectacular fireworks we have the unique spectacle of an Acorn Drop! There is also a Funky First Night Ferris Wheel on Fayetteville Street - both are open from 2pm.

There are usually some top live performers too.

The Triangle's Official New Year Celebration

With the grand billing as The "Official" New Years Eve celebration, the party at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel is a long running and very popular event.

Get more details and secure your tickets online here.

The Avett Brothers at PNC Arena

The new years eve show at the PNC Arena will this year welcome The Avett Brothers, joined with singer-songwriter Marcus King. Tickets available here.

New Years Eve Hotels

As well as the Sheraton event already mentioned, there will be several top Raleigh hotels hosting new years eve parties if you prefer to keep your celebrations in house, although if you're just looking for somewhere to bed down after attending the First Night party you'll find no shortage of options too.

You can search, check availability and book all of the top Raleigh new years hotels here.

Bars & Restaurants

Elsewhere, the local hotels, bars and restaurants host an impressive range of parties to mark the occasion - top venues include the Raleigh Marriott City Center Downtown, North Raleigh Hilton and the Progress Energy Center.

If you're looking for somewhere to dine out in Raleigh on new years eve there is an excellent range of locations to choose form, with most cuisines and budgets covered. Top recommended joints are the Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern, Crawford & Son, Caffe Luna and 42nd St. Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill. Top veggie choice is Azitra Restaurant. See the full range of local eateries here.

NYE Live Stream

Places to watch live online - there's no live TV coverage of the celebrations that we're aware of, but there are some decent webcam views of the city skyline available which should help you catch a look at the fireworks if you so desire:

Raleigh webcams

Latest NYE News

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