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Raleigh

  • “First Night Raleigh” starts at 2 p.m. It’s the 17th year for the musical event, which includes 100 local artists in 25 downtown Raleigh venues. Admission buttons are $12. The annual acorn drop will take place at midnight. More Information
  • Four First Night performances will take place inside Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Variety entertainer Mark Nizer will perform three shows (6, 7:30, & 9) inside the auditorium at the New Year’s Eve celebration, while Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater will take the stage at 10:00pm.  The auditorium holds more than 2,200 people.
  • The kid-friendly celebration for First Night begins at 2 p.m. at the plaza outside the History and Natural Sciences. 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 p.m. 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.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes’ annual New Year’s Eve game and party will begin at 8 p.m. at the RBC Center. Tickets are still available. Following the game against the Atlanta Thrashers, fans are invited to stay for a post-game New Year’s celebration at 10:30 p.m. Party favors, live music and a free champagne toast will be provided. A massive puck will be dropped from the JumboTron at midnight. A fireworks display will be shown at 12:30 a.m. on the south side of the RBC Center.
  • A Masque ball will take place from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the DI Grand Ballroom, 5511 Avent Ferry Rd. Masks will be provided, along with complimentary champagne and hors d’oeurves. Tickets are $25 per person. More info: http://www.raleighmasque.com/Details.html.
  • Unknown Hinson will perform at Lincoln Theatre. More Info
  • Other Downtown Raleigh events http://www.downtownraleigh.com/event/?id=6211. 
  • The New Raleigh blog has details on the Blacklisted New Year’s Eve Party and the ACRe New Year’s event, a unique party that includes a condom toss and “Pin the Beard on the Anarchist.”

Cary

  • The Ice House, skating rink is open until 4 p.m.
  • Non-smokers and non-drinkers can celebrate at Buffalo Lanes bowling alley, which will be open from 9 to 11 p.m.
  • Hibernian Restaurant and Irish Pub is offering half-price martinis Brad Benson on acoustic guitar, with no cover fee.
  • Bella Napoli will open at 5 p.m. for customers who want a nice dinner and an early bedtime. The evening includes a four-course dinner and champagne toast and dancing.
  • A “Skate and Dance” party will take place at Jellybeans in both Raleigh and Cary from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

Wake Forest

  • Wake Forest will ring in the New Year with the inaugural First Light Wake Forest. The event gets underway at 6 p.m. and will take place along South White Street in historic downtown Wake Forest. Admission is free. It’s an alcohol-free event that invites children, families and revelers of all ages to welcome the New Year and kick-off Wake Forest’s 2009 Centennial Celebration. A complete schedule of all the town’s centennial celebration events is available here. The Voltage Brothers out of Atlanta, GA, will headline the night, starting at 9:30 pm. First Light will also feature The Will McBride Group at 6:15 pm, a countdown for the kids at 8:30 p.m., the opening ceremony at 9 p.m., and an exciting fireworks display at midnight. Get a complete schedule of events here. Activities for the children include several inflatable play areas and a six-foot climbing wall. In addition, Paul Miller of Flow Circus will roam South White Street performing amazing, close-up, in-your-hands magic.

Durham

  • Broad Street Cafe will feature Cool John Ferguson, John Dee Holeman, Boo Hanks, Captain Luke, Macavine Hayes and The Rip It Ups.
  • More Durham events are listed here.

Coats

  • A New Year’s Eve Celebration will be held at the Coats Museum and Belltower. The program will begin at 3 p.m. with entertainment and refreshments followed by ringing the bells at 5 p.m.  
    This program continues the tradition that was started by Mr. Tink Coats, after building the belltower and museum in 1970. The location is 3317 Old Fairground Road in McGee’s Crossroads.

Chapel Hill

  • The InterFaith Council for Social Services at United Church of Chapel Hill will have an evening of jazz starting at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve at United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill.  The Bradshaw Quartet will play and Christen Campbell will sing. A free-will offering will be taken.  Last year’s concert raised more than $3,000 for the InterFaith Council. The evening concludes by 9 p.m. The InterFaith Council has been responding to human need for 45 years. IFC volunteers now give monthly grocery allotments to a total of 1,697 families.  For more information, visit www.unitedchurch.org or call 919-942-3540.
     
  • Area bars will have music including, Twilighter,  playing at The Cave; Local 506 will feature Kerbloki, Red Collar and Hammer No More the Fingers. And Muddy Honcho and The Ronda Robichaux Band will be at Mansion 462.

Carrboro

  • The Cat’s Cradle will host Abbey Road Live w/ The Magictones

Fort Bragg

  • The base will host a free New Year’s Eve celebration starting at 9 p.m. at Sports U.S.A. There is no cover charge, and a DJ will be on hand. Everyone will enjoy a champagne toast at midnight with prizes to be awarded for the best dressed. The celebration is open to everyone ages 18 and older. For more information on this free New Year’s Eve celebration, call 907-0739.

Henderson

  • The Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre, a drive-in, is hosting Henderson, NC’s first ever New Years Eve Community event called First Night Henderson. The event is open to the community and starts at 9 p.m. with visits from Bo Ho the Clown, Elmo, Winnie The Pooh and the Chic-Fil-A Cow. Games, trivia contests will also be held with some dancing on the theatre stage.  Starting at 10 p.m., the theater will show Marley and Me. At midnight, a large popcorn ball will drop from a 100-foot crane to usher in the new year, followed by fireworks, sparkling cider and free popcorn. For more information on this event, contact: Jim Kopp (540) 514-6145 or (252) 438-6959 or visit www.raleighroaddrivein.com.

Mount Olive

  • The famous pickle drop will take place at the Mt. Olive Pickle Company, at the Corner of Cucumber & Vine on the plant property. This year marks the 10th New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop. The three-foot pickle that drops down the company’s flagpole and into a preserved redwood pickle tank at precisely 7 p.m., which is midnight Greenwich Mean Time. During the event, people will be able to watch the countdown of 2008’s final hour, from 6 to 7 p.m., on Mt. Olive’s marquee.  Mr. Crisp, the company’s 8-foot tall pickle mascot, will be on hand, and the Harmony Boys of Mount Olive will provide entertainment.  There will be free refreshments (including pickles).  People who bring canned food items to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (www.foodbankcenc.org) will receive a chance to win a door prize.