Festive, Family Fun At Raleigh's First Night Celebration

For the past 20 years, downtown Raleigh has come alive on New Year's Eve offering residents of this beautiful Southern city an opportunity to ring in the new year with a blend of food, music, cultural and entertainment options in an alcohol-free environment perfect for family members and residents of all ages.

Taking up a 20 block area of downtown Raleigh, First Night Raleigh 2012 will feature comedy, dance, spoken word, interactive art installations, and live music from a variety of performers including rock, blues, jazz, gospel, opera, singer-songwriters and more.  The celebration this year takes on a French-inspired theme with many of the celebration’s dozens of performances
and activities designed to reflect French influences, including the planned installation of a giant 90-foot Ferris wheel, dubbed “La Grande Roue de Raleigh,” in the 100 and 200 Blocks of Fayetteville Street.  The festivities will also include perennial First Night Raleigh favorites like the African American Dance Ensemble, Transactors Improv Company, Comedy Worx and the Lenny Marcus Trio who all plan to adapt their First Night performances to reflect this year’s French theme.

First Night Raleigh 2012 begins at 2:00 PM on December 31 and wraps up at the stroke of midnight!  Tickets are $9 per person, and are available online by visiting www.firstnightraleigh.com, where you may also get more information on the performers, vendors and event times and locations.