What's This?
First Night Raleigh
Location: Downtown Raleigh
Date: Wednesday December 31st, 2008
Time: 2 pm
Visit: www.firstnightraleigh.com/home.html
On Wednesday, December 31 Artsplosure will present the 18th annual First Night Raleigh celebration of art and community in an alcohol-free environment. First Night Raleigh is a New Year's Eve celebration featuring performances in 25 indoor and outdoor venues including the North Carolina Museums of History and Natural Sciences, Raleigh City Museum, Fletcher Opera Theatre, and other venues nearby the State Capitol Building and along Fayetteville Street. First Night offers an eclectic mix of up to 100 emerging and established visual and performing artists in traditional and non-traditional venues that will appeal to diverse audiences.
The festival begins at 2 pm with the Children's Celebration at the North Carolina museums of History and Natural Sciences and outside on Bicentennial Plaza. The celebration features family-friendly entertainment, make-and-take arts and crafts for children, and more. The People's Procession, a participatory parade, will begin at 6 pm and make its way down Fayetteville Street towards the Main Stage. An early “Countdown to Midnight” immediately follows, featuring fireworks and entertainment for all ages.
Evening entertainment includes live music, theatre, dance, comedy, and more. Scheduled to appear at this year’s event are The Smithereens, John Brown and the Groove Shop Band, Clair Lynch, Mark Nizer, Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater, Chuck Davis and the African American Dance Ensemble, Christine Lavin, Transactors Improv Company, Lenny Marcus Trio, Southern String Band, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, and more. First Night Raleigh concludes with the Countdown to Midnight and fireworks.
Admission buttons will be available at local Harris Teeter and Rite Aid stores, as well as other local outlets, beginning December 1. Buttons are $9 in advance for children ages 6-12 and adults. Children five and under are admitted free. At the event, buttons are $10 for children ages 6-12 and $12 for adults.
Associated Street Closures:
The People’s Procession Parade will utilize the following streets from 6 pm-6:30 pm on 12-31-08. The participants will assemble on the Capitol grounds beginning at 5:30 pm. At 6 pm they will enter onto the 00 block of Edenton St. They will proceed west on Edenton St to Salisbury St, proceed south on Salisbury St to Morgan St, proceed east on Morgan St to Fayetteville St, proceed south on Fayetteville St to Davie St where the group will disassemble. *In order to accommodate the assembly of participants, the 00 block of Edenton Street be closed from 5:30 pm until the conclusion of the parade.
Additionally, the following streets will be closed from 6 am on 12-31-08 until 5 am on 1-1-09.
All travel lanes in the 100 through the 400 blocks of Fayetteville Street and Davie, Martin and Hargett between Wilmington and Salisbury Streets. Also, the 00 block of Lenoir Street will be closed for approximately 30 minutes around 7 pm and again at 12 midnight during the fireworks displays.
