WRAL First Night Raleigh 2020: Much More Than The Countdown To Midnight!
Raleigh, NC – The 29th edition of the WRAL First Night Raleigh will take place on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, in a 20+ block area of downtown Raleigh. Kacy Hunt, President of the Artsplosure Board of Directors, has announced that Ann-Cabell Baum will serve as the honorary chair of the annual New Year’s Eve arts festival.
While the acorn (designed by David Benson) has become synonymous with WRAL First Night Raleigh, the festival is much more than the countdown to midnight. Your admission pass grants you access to the nearly 100 performances in over three dozen locations across downtown Raleigh. With over 20 blocks filled with art, music, comedy, theatre, crafts and more, alongside two Countdowns with the famous acorn drop and fireworks (7:00 pm and midnight), there’s something for everyone at First Night Raleigh! (SEE GALLERY BELOW)
WRAL First Night Raleigh festivities kick off at 2:00 pm with the Children’s Celebration at the N.C. Museum of History, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, and outdoors on the Bicentennial Plaza. The Fantastical Ferris Wheel and Alien Abduction Gravitron rides open to the public at 2:00 pm on Fayetteville Street. Opening to the public at 4:00 pm is the new AstroBotanical Garden of Light display at the recently renovated Moore Square.
Performances on the outdoor Main Stage will commence at 6:00 pm as will the People’s Procession. Parents can have their children ring in the New Year with the Early Countdown at 7:00 pm. An array of evening performances and interactive programs also begin at 7:00 pm in multiple indoor and outdoor venues. There will be ongoing performances on the Main Stage, with the Countdown to Midnight beginning at 10:30 pm and concluding at midnight with the famous Raleigh acorn drop and fireworks finale.
A complete list of the full lineup can be found at www.FirstNightRaleigh.com, with admission on sale now for $11* when purchased in advance (*plus local and state sales tax) at area Harris Teeter store or online at Etix.com
About Artsplosure
Artsplosure is an independent nonprofit organization that presents arts festivals in Raleigh, including its namesake spring festival since 1980 and First Night Raleigh since 1991. Its mission is to produce quality events that make the works of the most imaginative and celebrated artists accessible to the public, all in an effort to enrich our community and inspire greater love for the visual and performing arts.
Artsplosure is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on the recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission and is also supported by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. For more information visit www.artsplosure.org.
Highlights of 2019 WRAL First Night Raleigh (photos courtesy of Artsplosure):
