Line-up announced for downtown Raleigh's New Year's Eve celebration

Starting at 2 p.m. in City Plaza, First Night will feature a DIY Festival at the N.C. Museum of History, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and outdoors on the Bicentennial Plaza with workshops and demonstrations from professional artists and performers. Adults and children can create time capsules, practice hand lettering and make rhythm instruments. Art Putt, a miniature golf course and interactive art installation, will start on Fayetteville Street with illuminated art by local neon artist Nate Sheaffer.

At 5:30 p.m., performances will begin on the City Plaza Main Stage with music from Cane Mill Road and the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble. Later into the night, there will be more than 30 other indoor and outdoor performances in venues across downtown Raleigh.

Other artists and presenters scheduled to appear include Kate Rhudy, Amythyst Kiah, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, William Weisser, the Jolly Raleigh Singing Trolley, LUMENS Virtual Reality experience, African American Dance Ensemble, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, North Carolina Opera singers, Shana Tucker, Comedy Worx, Transactors Improv Company and SEED Art Share.

The "Fantastical First Night Ferris Wheel" will return this year along with a new “F-5” giant swinging pendulum that will light up Fayetteville St.

Both amusements will open to the public at 2:00 pm.

The countdown to the 2018 acorn drop will begin at 10:30 p.m. with Raleigh’s own Ira David Wood III and his son, Ira David Wood IV, returning as the countdown master of ceremonies.