Planning your Raleigh New Year’s Eve? There are plenty of ways to celebrate the next decade’s arrival, but here are our 10 ideas to welcome 2020.
Whether you’re looking for Raleigh New Year’s Eve ideas with kids or for an excuse to get dressed up, we have an idea for you.
📸: Sandra Davidson/First Night RaleighÂ
Here are our top 10 picks for New Year’s Eve in Raleigh, divided by your New Year’s Eve interests:
Hanging with the fam:
First Night Raleigh kids festival. From 2-6 p.m., you’ll find kids activities at First Night Raleigh, including arts projects and live music, culminating in the Raleigh Convergence media-sponsored parade The People’s Procession before the 7 p.m. acorn drop and fireworks. Find a map here.
Kids younger than 5 are free with a ticketed adult ($11) and there’s R&D beer for the grown-ups this year. [info]
Noon Year’s Eve at Marbles Kids Museum. The museum is open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and the countdown is at noon, accompanied by some bubble wrap fireworks. Included in museum entry price.[info]
More low-key:
A Foxy New Year’s Eve House Party. At Fox Liquor Bar, play board games and house party games (brush up your flip cup skills from college) and enjoy elevated party snacks like housemade Hot Pockets, popcorn and loaded tots. [info]
Music-filled dance parties:
New Year’s Eve at Transfer Co. After you enjoy the family-focused party from 3-7 p.m., drop off the kids for an adults-only party ($50) in the ballroom with live music from the Latin Funk All-Stars and a Burial Beer tap takeover. [tickets]
New Year’s Eve: Roaring into 2020 at Tin Roof. The party starts at 6 p.m. for the Tin Roof bash in Glenwood South, with live music, DJs, multiple bars and more. $20 general admission is available at the door, but you can buy a ‘skip the line’ pass and other enhancements. [tickets]
Kings and Neptunes Royal New Year’s Eve. A two-level party with karaoke, dance parties and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. $10. [tickets]
Get dressed up:
New Year’s Eve Gala at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. This black tie-preferred event on multiple levels of the museum includes food, drinks, music and an open bar with admission. ($168) [tickets]
Roar In The Twenty’s: Gatsby Style! at Watts & Ward. Put on your 1920s garb to celebrate the 2020s with a party at cocktail bar Watts & Ward. A live band, DJ performances and burlesque will entertain attendees. $50 includes hors d’oeuvres and a midnight toast. [tickets]
Iconic Raleigh New Year’s Eve:
First Night Raleigh. More than 20 blocks of Downtown Raleigh celebrate with First Night Raleigh, $11. Before the midnight acorn drop, you can tie your New Year’s resolution onto an artistic tree, create a zine, listen to a lineup of live music or explore the large-scale glowing art of Astro Botanicals. [info]
New Year’s Eve party at Isaac Hunter’s Tavern. Pro tip: You can enjoy an up-front view of the acorn drop from Isaac Hunter’s Tavern on Fayetteville Street when you join their New Year’s Eve party. $45/single, $80/couple. [tickets]
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