10 Fun New Year's Eve Events in Raleigh, NC [2024]

New Year's Eve Events in Raleigh 

Many fun events are happening in Raleigh, North Carolina, for New Year's Eve. Ring in the New Year with these ten exciting events in Raleigh, NC! 

As 2024 comes to an end, it is time to start thinking about how to welcome the New Year. Whether you are looking for affordable entertainment for the whole family or unique experiences to enjoy with friends, Raleigh has no shortage of fun and exciting events to ring in 2025. 

From pre-fix dinners to speakeasy soirées, spend this upcoming New Year's Eve out on the town and support local Raleigh businesses. If you live in the area, many Raleigh bars and restaurants love participating in New Year's Eve and hosting fabulous parties. If you live close to Downtown in one of Raleigh's many walkable neighborhoods, you might even be able to attend an event without worrying about parking or public transportation. 

Check out these exciting Raleigh New Year's Eve Events

1. First Night Raleigh 

Address: Along Fayetteville Street and other locations in Downtown Raleigh 

Time: 2 PM to 12 Midnight on December 31st 

Cost: Tickets cost $13 before December 25th and $16 after December 25th. Admission is free for children under the age of five. 

First Night Raleigh is one of the best things to do on New Year's Eve in Raleigh and is a popular tradition that attracts thousands of people every year. Hosted by WRAL, this Downtown Raleigh event is perfect for families and friends to gather and celebrate the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. The celebration begins at 2 PM and features performances and activities throughout Downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville Street. 

Festivities will begin in the early afternoon, and tickets can be bought online. This rain-or-shine event will feature multiple fun things to do, which are included with a ticket purchase. Activities include admission to the Ferris Wheel, live music at City Plaza, large-scale art installations, indoor performances, a children's celebration with an early countdown at 7 PM, the Acorn drop at midnight, and fireworks. 

Food and beverages will be available for sale along Fayetteville Street, provided by various local vendors. Beer and prosecco will also be available for purchase. Parking can be found at nearby parking decks and lots. 

2. The Willard Rooftop New Year's Eve Party 

Address: 9 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603

Time: 8 PM December 31st to 1 AM January 1st 

Cost: Tickets are $125 per person, including tax and gratuity. 

The Willard Rooftop Bar is located on the rooftop of the AC Hotel Raleigh Downtown, and their New Year's Eve party is one of the best ways to ring in the new year. This fourth annual gathering will feature a buffet of delicious world-inspired cuisines, two full cash bars, a dance floor, party favors, live music performed by Peter Lamb and the Wolves, and a midnight champagne toast. 

Tickets can be purchased online and include food and entertainment. All attendees must be 21 and over. VIP rooms are available to book and are ideal for large parties of up to 12 guests. The VIP private room is $3,500 and includes a balcony with views of Downtown, tickets to the party, a three-course plated dinner, and exclusive bar offerings. 

Guests are encouraged to stay the night at the hotel after the party. The New Year's Eve room package includes two tickets to the rooftop party, a chilled bottle of champagne, complimentary parking, and breakfast. 

3. Poole's Diner Five-Course Feast 

Address: 428 S McDowell Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: Reservations start at 5 PM on December 31st 

Cost: The menu is $117 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. 

Poole's Diner is an iconic American restaurant in Raleigh best known for its seasonal comfort food, rotating menu, and retro diner atmosphere. Owned by chef Ashley Christensen, Poole's Diner opened in 2007 and quickly became one of the best restaurants in the city for its elevated classic dishes made with fresh local ingredients. 

Poole's Diner hosts an unforgettable New Year's Eve celebration featuring a five-course pre-fixe menu, perfect for a date night or gathering with friends and family. New Year's Eve also happens to be the restaurant's 17th birthday, so there is no better way to welcome 2025 than with good food and tasty cocktails. Reservations are highly encouraged. 

4. New Year's Eve 2025 at the Merchant 

Address: 126 S Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: 5 PM December 31st to 2 AM January 1st 

Cost: Dinner reservations are $115, excluding 20% gratuity and tax. General admission tickets to the after-party are $40 per person, excluding 20% gratuity and tax. 

The Merchant is a popular cocktail bar and speakeasy lounge close to the North Carolina State Capitol that offers specialty cocktails and small plates. New Year's Eve 2025 at the Merchant is a 21-and-over bash featuring a dinner and late-night party. Dinner reservations are available from 5 PM to 10 PM, featuring a five-course cocktail pairing and pre-fixe dinner menu. The menu is to be determined and is for parties of eight people or less. Dinner reservations are limited to two hours. 

Following the dinner, there is a late-night party in the lounge, which is a separate experience from the dinner. General admission tickets are required to attend the after-party, which includes one drink ticket and a champagne toast at midnight. 

5. Toast To Tomorrow New Year's Eve Bar Crawl 

Address: 14 E Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: 6 PM to 12 Midnight on December 31st 

Cost: Tickets are $10 per person 

Toast To Tomorrow New Year's Eve Bar Crawl is a great way to celebrate the new year while exploring Downtown Raleigh and its lively bar scene. Starting at The Raleigh Times, a bar selling beer, cocktails, wine, and delicious bites, tickets to the bar crawl will include free entry into participating venues, a 3D digital map, a wristband, and exclusive food and drink specials. 

Once you check in at The Raleigh Times, the bar crawl will begin at your leisure. This bar crawl is a great way to experience exclusive specials and deals from participating bars and venues. Invite all of your friends and purchase tickets online today. 

6. Burlesque and Live Jazz NYE at Watts and Ward 

Address: 200 S Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: Doors open at 6 PM, and the show starts at 7 PM on December 31st 

Cost: Tickets are $50 per person and will grant access to the New Year's Eve party following the show. 

Watts and Ward is a beloved speakeasy basement cocktail bar in Downtown Raleigh that offers a great selection of craft cocktails and a vintage library atmosphere. On New Year's Eve, Watts and Ward is hosting a Burlesque and Live Jazz NYE event followed by a roaring 20's after party. During this 1920s-style soirée, there will be burlesque performances by Miss Candice, Meka La Creme, Purrrl Van Dammit, and Shimmy, alongside live jazz performances by The Pretty Boys. 

Performances will start at 7 PM and end at 9 PM for the after-party. Guests are highly encouraged to dress up in 1920s-inspired attire to fully enjoy the evening and embrace the glitz and glamour of the Jazz Age. VIP admission tickets include an exclusive outdoor bar and tent access, a private DJ, and food. 

 7. 2025 New Year's Eve Gala at Union Station  

Address: 510 W Martin Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: The event starts at 8 PM on December 31st 

Cost: Tickets are $170 per person and feature all-inclusive admission. 

Hosted by Rocky Top Catering, the 2025 New Year's Eve Gala will be held at Union Station in Downtown Raleigh and is a great way for anyone 21 and over to celebrate the New Year. This upscale party is black tie, and a ticket purchase will include access to food stations, passed appetizers, desserts, late-night snacks, and an open bar with premium liquor, wine, and beers. 

To keep the party going, there will be two dance floors, one in the Grand Hall and one on the Terrace, DJs and live music, an LED photobooth, and sparklers at midnight. 

8. The Greenlight Cocktail Experience 

Address: 108 E Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: 7 PM December 31st to 2 AM January 1st 

Cost: Tickets are $108 per person, including tax and gratuity. 

The Greenlight is a secret bar within The Architect, located upstairs behind a bookcase. This intimate speakeasy is a Raleigh hidden gem that offers bespoke cocktails and a cozy atmosphere. New Year's Eve 2025 at The Greenlight Bar will include a unique cocktail experience and a four-course pairing menu. 

Reservations are limited to two hours. The menu will include three unique cocktails, a champagne toast, three mini dessert bites, and a shareable charcuterie board. Afterward, head downstairs to party at the Architect Bar and Social House. 

9. Raleigh's NYE Bar Crawl 

Address: 610 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603 

Time: 6 PM on December 31st to 2 AM on January 1st 

Cost: Tickets are $35, excluding fees. 

There is no better way to bring in the New Year than with a bar crawl. Gather your friends and family for a night of drink specials, dancing, and entertainment. Raleigh's NYE Bar Crawl will start at Nomad Cocktail Bar and provide free access to multiple Downtown Raleigh bars, including Dogwood Bar, Milk Bar, and Lucky B's. All tickets include free covers, appetizers, drink specials, entertainment, a photo booth, and a champagne toast at midnight. 

10. NYE Party at Boxcar Raleigh 

Address: 330 W Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 

Time: 8 PM on December 31st to 2 AM on January 1st 

Cost: No reservations or cover charges. 

Boxcar Bar and Arcade is a lively bar and hangout in Downtown Raleigh that offers classic and modern arcade games and drink specials. This year's New Year's Eve Part at Boxcar Raleigh will feature free entry, $25 bottles of champagne, $6 Jameson, $3 PBR, a midnight champagne toast, and a midnight balloon drop. 

FAQs 

Is First Night Raleigh alcohol-free? 

First Night Raleigh is not alcohol-free since food and beverage vendors will sell beer and prosecco. Food and beverages are not included in the ticket price and will be charged separately. 

What time is the acorn drop in Raleigh, NC? 

The countdown for the acorn drop at First Night Raleigh will begin at 11:59 PM, and the city will ring in the new year at midnight with lots of fireworks. 

Why does Raleigh drop an acorn on New Year's Eve? 

Nicknamed "The City of Oaks," Raleigh drops an acorn on New Year's Eve for its many oak trees that line the streets Downtown and throughout its parks. First dropped in 1991, this 10-foot acorn draws large crowds yearly and is a much-anticipated event. 

Methodology 

We sourced information from the Raleigh News and Observer, Eventbrite, and local Raleigh businesses to determine the best things to do in Raleigh on New Year's Eve this year. Most events begin in the early afternoon on December 31st and end after midnight. 

Things To Do in Raleigh, NC, on New Year's Eve - Final Thoughts 

No matter how you celebrate the New Year, there is no better place to have fun than in Downtown Raleigh. Welcoming thousands of new residents every year, it is easy to see why so many people love calling Raleigh home. If you want to move to Raleigh just in time to celebrate the New Year, contact the Real Estate Specialists at Raleigh Realty.