Happy New Year! Acorn drop marks beginning of 2024 at WRAL First Night Raleigh
Midnight - The acorn just dropped to signal the beginning of 2024! Happy New Year!
11:50 p.m. - Just 10 minutes left until the acorn drops!
11:34 p.m. - Country duo Velvet Rodeo is stopping by downtown Raleigh for a special performance and interview.
11:10 p.m. - WRAL's Dan Haggerty is starting off the new year with a new jacket.
10:45 p.m. - Brooke Simpson joined us to talk about her plans for 2024. She has some big stuff coming up! Plus, she talked about her voice over work.
10:30 p.m. - What is your New Year's Resolution? WRAL News asked people in downtown Raleigh what they were planning for 2024. We got some great answers, especially from children!
7:11 p.m. - The early acorn drop helped bring the children's celebration to a close at WRAL First Night Raleigh. The fireworks began a few minutes later and continued to entertain crowds in downtown. Bundle up if you plan to go out tonight! Temperatures were expected to be dropping to the upper 30s by 8 p.m. and reaching the low 40s around midnight. Skies will be partly cloudy throughout the night.
8:30 p.m. - Crowds are gathering in downtown Raleigh for WRAL First Night. Temperatures were expected to reach the low 40s around midnight, so bring a jacket if you plan to go out tonight. WRAL's coverage of New Year's Eve in downtown Raleigh will begin at 10 p.m. on FOX 50. Throughout the broadcast, expect special guests and live music.
9:45 p.m. - WRAL's live coverage of First Night Raleigh will start at 10 p.m. on FOX 50. The hour will include a live look at downtown Raleigh and a special performance from singer and Broadway star Brooke Simpson.
Tens of thousands are expected to crowd the streets of downtown for WRAL First Night Raleigh on Sunday.
The annual New Year's Eve celebration includes the Sky Hawk and Tesla AC amusement rides, a Ferris wheel and music and dance performances covering a 20-block area of downtown Raleigh.
Alicia Melgar is among those looking forward to the celebration.
"It’s like good energy, everybody’s hype, everybody’s having a good time," she said.
"What I love about First Night Raleigh is that mix of new things you can experience and things we do every year," said First Night Program Director Cameron Laws.
Festivities began in the early afternoon City Plaza outdoor musical performances and the Children’s Celebration.
There will be musical performances, children's activities and ticketed indoor events across multiple venues throughout downtown Raleigh. Black Friday Market, Self Care Marketplace and Kings are among the businesses with performances and installations to check out.
"It's going to feel like all of Raleigh is here, and then all their friends from everywhere else from North Carolina has come with them. It's this incredibly energetic scene," Laws said. "
The People’s Procession was held at 6 p.m. It was led by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Helping Hand Mission Band and N.C. State's pipes and drums. Following that, there was an early acorn drop and fireworks.
Indoor activities and some rides require a ticket. They are $16 for adults and $12 for children ages 6 to 12 and on sale now through WRAL First Night Raleigh's website.
Walking around to enjoy the atmosphere – and the midnight acorn drop and fireworks show – is free.
"No matter what you are doing on First Night, everybody wants to end up at the acorn drop," Laws said. It's so popular we do it twice."
Hotel employees like Kenny Garcia are thankful for the visitors.
"We're expecting a big influx of a lot of people, obviously we’re getting a lot of people from all over the state," he said. "We’re in the capital city. We can’t let Charlotte have all the fun."
This year’s headliner is Canadian singer Rich Aucoin. He was named Sirius XM Indie Awards' Emerging Artist of the Year. He will help ring in 2024 with the annual acorn drop at midnight and fireworks celebration.
With live music, comedy performances, rides and food, First Night Raleigh is the largest New Years Eve event in eastern North Carolina.
"Everyone is pouring into these downtown businesses to support our city, and it’s just such an amazing benefit of this festival," Laws said.
Homebodies can ring in 2024 with WRAL. Live coverage of First Night Raleigh begins at 10 p.m. on FOX 50. Tune in for the day's headlines, the latest weather forecast and First Night performances and special guests.
Those watching Sunday Night Football on NBC won't miss the acorn drop either. WRAL will join the First Night festivities after the game in time to celebrate the new year.
