Activity Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh
First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop
An activity in Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: 7 p.m. or midnight.
Why go
Artsplosure's New Year's Eve festival on Fayetteville Street, ending with the copper acorn lowered over City Plaza and fireworks.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown Raleigh, alongside 4 places to eat, 1 place for a drink and 1 sight. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Raleigh Marriott City Center and Poole's Diner. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.
- Type
- Activity · Culture
- Neighborhood
- Fayetteville Street
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 4 hr
- Best time
- 7 p.m. or midnight
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Downtown Raleigh. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Raleigh Marriott City Center
Large hotel on Fayetteville Street facing City Plaza, the closest beds to the Acorn Drop.
Stay · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2Poole's Diner
Ashley Christensen's diner in a 1945 luncheonette, known for macaroni au gratin and a chalkboard menu.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3Bida Manda
Laotian restaurant run by a brother and sister since 2012, known for crispy pork belly soup and lemongrass dishes.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4The Raleigh Times Bar
Bar in the 1906 building of the old Raleigh Times newspaper, with a rooftop patio a block from City Plaza.
Drinks · 0.3 mi straight-line - 5North Carolina State Capitol
Greek Revival capitol from 1840 at the north end of Fayetteville Street, a straight sightline from City Plaza.
Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line - 6Morgan Street Food Hall
Warehouse District food hall with about 20 counters, from biscuits and ramen to tacos and a central bar.
Food · Dix Park & West Raleigh · 0.5 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop is a stop on our Raleigh New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Downtown Raleigh
First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop is our only activity pick in Downtown Raleigh; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown Raleigh guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Downtown Raleigh run from 48°F in January to 91°F in July; August is usually the wettest month. For First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop itself, we suggest: 7 p.m. or midnight.
Modelled monthly averages for Downtown Raleigh from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Downtown Raleigh weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 35.77434, -78.63943
- Destination
- Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
- Website
- artsplosure.org
First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop: quick answers
How much time do you need at First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop?
Plan on about 4 hours at First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop?
Our pick: 7 p.m. or midnight. Insider tip: Stand on Fayetteville Street just north of the plaza to see the acorn and the fireworks behind it.
Which TripsCircle routes include First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop?
First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop appears on Raleigh New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add it to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Raleigh.
Plan Downtown Raleigh
- Downtown Raleigh travel guide 8 places
- Best time to visit Downtown Raleigh weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown Raleigh
- Angus Barn Food
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.