THE BALLOON MAN

First Night lets families ring in 2013 with rides, performances, more

 

Photo by Holt Menzies
New Year's Eve revelers gather in down town Raleigh for First Night. First Night includes live music, food, as well as many other attractions.
from:  wral.com
By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall
December 24, 2012
First Night Raleigh, the big New Year's Eve celebration in downtown Raleigh, is taking on a serious carnival vibe this year.
Not only will the giant Ferris wheel return, but there also will be the Jumbo Drop, where riders can go straight up, 80 feet in the air, and then fall back to street level. It's essentially the same ride Raleigh's acorn takes as it's lowered each year. (Special note for Raleigh newcomers: Raleigh is the City of Oaks, so we drop a giant acorn every year on New Year's Eve).
The event, which is 2 p.m. to midnight, also offers a variety of circus-related shows, including several from acrobatic performers from Cirque de Vol, a new studio in Raleigh that offers classes for kids to adults.
But, as First Night fans know, there is much more.
The early Children's Celebration runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in and around the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of History. The event includes activities, crafts, performances and much more.
New this year is Tots Under the Big Top on the fourth floor of the natural science museum's Nature Research Center. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., find activities designed for kids 6 and under, including crafts, a Jammin' Baby interactive music program, and more.
read more here:
http://www.wral.com/first-night-lets-families-ring-in-2013-with-rides-performances-more/11906475/