Despite frigid weather, large crowd ushers in 2018 in Raleigh
The cold didn't stop many people from heading to downtown Raleigh to ring in 2018, as 20 blocks were packed with music, arts and entertainment ahead of the acorn drop.
Temperatures for the celebration dropped through the evening from a high of 33 earlier in the afternoon. By midnight, the mercury was around 22 degrees with a wind chill knocking it down into the low teens.
"I've got some tights on under my pants and a sweater and I am from Florida, so I am not used to this at all so I am like freezing," said Chamere Lightfoot, who was braving the cold to celebrate.
The record low for New Year's Day in Raleigh is 12. Monday's temperature is forecast to drop to 14 degrees.
People walked around downtown on Sunday afternoon bundled up in parkas with faux fur, scarves and toboggan hats.
Tammy White, her husband and her young daughter, Alex, recently moved to Raleigh, but they weren't on Fayetteville Street when the calendar flips into the new year.
"Our party days are over," White said. "And it's really cold."
Even with the cold weather, though, there were plenty of indoor activities around First Night to stay warm before the finale.
"Really, the heart of our event is indoors," said Cameron Laws, marketing director for Artsplosure, the organization behind First Night. "We have a few dozen indoor locations that you can experience, theater, music, comedy. Everything is in these indoor venues for you to get warm."
The events kicked off at 2 p.m., but Bicentennial Plaza, which is typically packed with families for the Children's Celebration, was emptier than usual because of the cold weather.
Some bundled up families decided to brave the weather to take part in the holiday tradition, however.
"It's freezing [but] we had to come out. We come every year," said Hallie Crump.
“God bless me, we were able to bring [the kids] here tonight. They were able to experience all the fun things out there and do the activities in here and had some good food,” said Shawn Prince.
The People's Procession, an annual part of the First Night celebration, kicked off at 5:30 p.m. and gave people a chance to be whoever, or whatever, they wanted.
"It's just something out of the ordinary that people just like to jump in and have a good time," said Donovan Zimmerman with Paperhand Puppet Intervention.
Bella Gibbs, 11, was inside a bird costume during the procession, which turned out to be a good choice in the frigid temperatures.
"It's really warm," she said of the outfit. "I have gotten so many hugs and it just warms my heart."
Other artists and presenters scheduled to appear included 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.
Despite an accidental drop that broke part of the massive acorn, it will be ready to plunge with the midnight countdown.
