Toast New Year’s in style via Raleigh’s loaded lineup of poppin’ parties, elevated dinners and more.
Goodbye, 2023—and hello, 2024! The City of Oaks is overflowing with New Year’s Eve activities appealing to all preferences, from elegant dinners to late-night extravaganzas to comedy specials and beyond. Translation: No matter how you want to enter the new year, there’s a soiree fit for you. We’ve rounded up our city’s best ops to ring in the new year, Raleigh style—whether that’s partying on a roof or in your pajamas at home (no shame!). Alexa, play “New Year’s Day” by Taylor Swift…
Photo courtesy of Visit Raleigh
First Night Raleigh Make your way Downtown for festivities beginning in the early afternoon (think: outdoor musical performances and a children’s celebration). Then, cap off the night with music on the outdoor main stage and fireworks—and, of course, watch the famous Raleigh acorn drop.
Rocky Top Catering NYE Gala Celebrate New Year’s with the utmost swank at this annual New Year’s Eve party at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences feat. museum admission, food stations—NTM circulating appetizers, dessert displays, late-night snacks and an open bar, along with DJs, dance floors and photo booths to boot. Sounds like a heck of a party!
Crawford and Son If you’re looking for a sophisticated night out, try this four-course menu full of opulent dishes such as blue crab salad, lobster cavatelli and short rib. Opt for the wine pairings to really make it an evening to remember.
Jolie New Year’s in Paris? Er, close enough! Transport yourself to France via Jolie’s four-course dinner feat. mushroom tarte, halibut with caviar beurre blanc, and vanilla bean mille-feuille. Bon appetit!
Vidrio Vibey dinner atmosphere: found. Celebrate your last supper of 2023 with a ticket to this New Year’s Eve bash that includes hors d’oeuvres, party favors and a bubbly toast at midnight. And get down with your bad self to the DJ spinning all night long in the Fiera Bar & Lounge.
10th & Terrace For a night that’s 10/10, grab a front-row seat to Downtown’s spectacular fireworks display at 10th and Terrace. In addition to the stellar fireworks views, tix to the celebration also include live jazz music from Raleigh’s own Gravity Trio, a complimentary gourmet buffet and shareables menu, a midnight Champagne toast, and NYE swag.
The Willard Third time’s the (extra special) charm! This year, The Willard will host its third annual New Year’s Eve bash with an American-inspired buffet, two cash bars, live music and a dance floor with Peter Lamb & the Wolves, party favors, and a Champagne toast at midnight. Cheers!
Photo courtesy of Whiskey Kitchen
Whiskey Kitchen A little party never killed nobody! Whiskey Kitchen’s NYE celebration features a live DJ, dancing, party favors and a midnight toast, natch. And night owls, rejoice, as the party goes on till 2am!
The Merchant Champagne problems? Not here. Come out to The Merchant’s sexy soiree complete with a five-course cocktail pairing and prix fixe dinner menu, late-night party and private Champagne tables. The best part? All options include a Champagne toast!
Umbrella Dry Bar Start the new year booze-free via DTR’s first nonalcoholic bar‘s galactic-themed grand opening party on NYE! Tickets include two cocktails, a midnight bubbly toast with an “intention setting for the new year” and music by DJ Pdogg. This is just the beginning…
The Architect Celebrate NYE Gatsby style by showing up to this roaring party in your best flares, oversize collar shirts, platform shoes, disco dresses, afros and bling. Tix include party favors, tunes by DJ Triple B and a midnight Champagne toast. Ah, the Roaring ’20s are back again!
The Green Light Ditch the mayhem for an elevated evening with a prix fixe cocktail menu, Champagne toast, charcuterie selects and a miniature dessert pairing. And to pile on the good news, tickets also earn admission to The Architect for the dance party of your dreams.
Virgil’s Cocktails & Cocina What doesn’t tequila makes you stronger for the new year. Enjoy a five-course cocktail pairing and prix fixe dinner menu, as well as a DJ party with a Champagne toast. Tequila shots not required, but encouraged!
Heights House Can’t make it to midnight? Join Heights House for its second annual pre-midnight NYE Bubbles & Caviar gathering complete with specialty NYE cocktails, beats from DJ Mike Forno and more.
Little City Masks: on. This masquerade-themed all-inclusive event includes all you can eat and drink bites and bevs (think craft cocktails, beer, wine, liquor and Champagne)—plus party favors and a DJ.
Tap Yard Ready to welcome the new year with some bangers?! Tap in to see Vertigo take the stage and deliver a powerhouse performance of classic and contemporary rock hits before the clock strikes midnight while dancing the night (and year!) away and enjoying a Champagne toast. Talk about rockin’ into 2024!
Goodnights Comedy Club Laugh your way into 2024 with Chris Porter of Last Comic Standing fame. And for those looking for a more exclusive experience, the comedy club has a couples package including two tickets to the show, prime booth seating, a bottle of wine or Champagne, dessert selections, and a swag bag. Book it for your boo and hope for a midnight kiss (!).
Photo courtesy of Wye Hill
Wye Hill Surf into 2024 with brews, views and tropical vibes—NTM the grand finale of the Sippin’ Santa season—at Wye Hill’s holiday tropical oasis. Hey, Santa needs some sun too!
Madre Meet us at Madre… from 8pm to midnight for endless fare (think oysters, charcuterie, crudo and more), a bubbles toast at the ball drop, tunes from a live DJ, and red carpets (ooh la, la!). Bring along some old friends and make some new ones for the new year. Good vibes all around!
Centro & Gallo Pelón Hey, Mr. DJ! These two hot spots are joining together to bring the dance party vibes into 2024 with a high-energy Latin Fusion ensemble and DJ—plus a welcome drink, food buffet and Champagne toast at midnight. For good luck in 2024, take part in the fun Colombian New Year’s traditions: 12 grapes for 12 wishes and lentils for prosperity.
Il Falò Ciao, bella! Nosh on four courses of Italian fare and welcome 2024 from this resto’s beautiful dining room digs—and wake up in style by booking a night at the Westin if you so choose.
a’Verde Head to Cary for a’Verde’s fiesta with no cover or ticket required (!). The Mexican eatery will be offering its full dinner menu, along with specials from chef Katsuji Tanabe, plus festive cocktails, a DJ and dancing, tequila and sangria cocktail towers, a complimentary midnight toast, ring the bell shots, and free face painting. … Ain’t no party like an a’Verde party!
Glasshouse Kitchen Like a looking glass into your year ahead, a five-course dinner of next-level cuisine by executive chef Joshua Dobey (plus optional wine pairings) in Glasshouse’s dazzling atmosphere is a sip-sational way to head into 2024.
Through 1/1 St. Nick’s: Raleigh Jolly Pop-Up House
There’s snow place like St. Nick’s for the holidays! This decked-out Christmas pop-up bar features holiday decor galore, themed rooms, spirited cocktails, treats and a Grinch bus outside. Read: Plenty of photo opps for the ’Gram! Also don’t miss live music, DJs and comedy shows on select nights! stnicksnc.com
Through 1/8 NC Chinese Lantern Festival
The fan-fave fest promises to be lit again this year. Stroll 40+ awe-inspiring Chinese lantern displays and stay for the captivating cultural performances nightly. Glow on! boothamphitheatre.com
Through 1/14 Illuminate Art Walk
See DTR lit up (literally!) for the holiday season as you stroll parts of Fayetteville Street and Glenwood South taking in large-scale interactive and light-based art pieces. … And not to be missed is the new centerpiece exhibit, Sonic Runway, a special installation with the ability to convert audio into light patterns shooting down a long corridor of arches (!). #ItsLit. downtownraleigh.org
Through 1/16 THE RINK
“We’ll go ice skating; then eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can; then we’ll snuggle.” ’Tis the season to live it up like Buddy the Elf at Raleigh’s festive Rockefeller-esque ice skating rink at Red Hat. redhatamphitheater.com
12/29–31 Dusty Slay
You can take the boy out of the trailer park, but you can’t take the trailer park out of the boy (see Slay’s signature trucker hat). Watch as this down- home comedian riles up audiences with his jokes on growing up poor, waiting tables and more. improv.com
12/31 Adam Cayton-Holland
Ring in the New Year with national headliner Cayton-Holland, named one of Variety Magazine’s “10 comics to watch,” at Goodnights Comedy. And for “those who can’t”… you’re missing out. goodnightscomedy.com
12/31 Marcus King
Belt out tunes from singer, songwriter and guitarist Marcus King as the clock strikes midnight at The Ritz.livenation.com
12/31 New Year’s Eve
We rounded up 11 New Year’s Eve celebrations at bars/restaurants throughout Raleigh (and beyond!) that are worth toasting 2023 at. See our list here. Cheers to the new year!
1/4 NC State v. Duke
Go Devils… straight back to Durham with an L. gopack.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE If you’re already feeling unmotivated about keeping your New Year’s resolutions, we’ve got some good news for you. In a study released yesterday by WalletHub on 2021’s Best and Worst Cities for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions, Raleigh placed ninth best out of 182 other cities.
These U.S. cities were compared across 57 different metrics, including exercise opportunities, income growth and employment outlook. All of these factors influence the feasibility of sustaining financial, physical or relational New Year’s resolutions.
In addition to being ranked ninth best overall, Raleigh placed 43rd out of 182 cities for job opportunities and income growth. Raleigh was also ranked 10th for “bad-habit resolutions” and 19th for financial resolutions.
WalletHub is a personal finance website that conducted this research to demonstrate how location and limited resources can affect personal lives, and, ultimately, to rate these U.S. cities on how conducive they are to self-improvement. And, hopefully, it gives you a just a little bit more motivation to achieve all of the goals you’ve set for yourself this year.
To find out more about WalletHub’s research, results and methodology, visit their article on the study here.
WEB EXCLUSIVE With the governor’s recent coronavirus restrictions, many of us may find ourselves enjoying the holidays at home this year either by ourselves or in the company of just a few close friends or family members. Since cooking up a large feast doesn’t make much sense in that case, consider giving yourself a break from the kitchen—while supporting local restaurants!—by dining out on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and/or New Year’s Day. The following Triangle-area restaurants will be open for the holidays and are happy to serve you and your loved ones a festive meal. (For exact hours, please visit each restaurant’s website.)
Six ways to focus on presence more than presents this holiday season.
It happens every year. The holidays roll around and the calendar fills, the lists grow and we feel less like we’ve celebrated the holidays and more like we’ve been run over by them.
Maybe this is why ‘being more mindful’ has become increasingly popular as a New Year’s resolution. But why wait ’til January? Here are six ways to start practicing mindfulness during the holiday season. Pick a tip or all six and be mindfully merry this year!
Indulge, Mindfully
It’s true, treats and temptations are everywhere. Instead of attempting to abstain, choose to savor. Pick up a favorite chocolate and appreciate the way the light bounces off the wrapper. Unwrap it slowly and inhale. Allow yourself to enjoy the smell of chocolate. Place it on your tongue and let the chocolate melt. Try not to bite it at all, just enjoy. Not only does using more of your senses increase your enjoyment but it will also slow you down … and keep you from eating too many!
Accept Holiday Greetings
Whether you send cards or not, how often do you glance at greetings you receive only to toss them into a pile? We don’t always take the time to appreciate the gesture. Worse still, sometimes we’re tempted to judge the cards we receive—or judge ourselves for not being as ‘good.’ Strive to receive greetings differently this year. With each card that comes in the mail, even if it’s just from your dentist, take a second to hold it. Contemplate the connection that you have with the sender and conjure a moment or memory with them that brings you joy and gratitude.
Give the Present of Presence
When you’re making your Christmas lists of things to buy, create another list of people whose presence fills your bucket. Schedule time to sip coffee with them, walk with them or shop with them. Thank them for their presence and thank yourself for making relationships a priority.
Use Tech to Disconnect
How many times do we have to be told that our phones, though beautiful, useful tools, have increased our predispositions to anxiety and depression? This holiday season, take advantage of apps that help you disconnect. Calm, Moment, Headspace, Aura … the mindful app options are plentiful.
Hone in on Hibernation
While you’re on your phone downloading a mindfulness app, hop on over to Amazon and buy a $10 alarm clock and a morning devotional book. Studies have shown that keeping your phone in your bedroom can mean you may get lower quality sleep. Charge your phone in another room and when your new alarm clock rings, start the day with a morning meditation instead of a social media/email check. Try it for a month, see how differently your days go!
Bake Without Burden
How often is baking accompanied by stress this season? Whether we need to get treats done in time for a party, or we’re trying to feed the whole family, baking isn’t fun when the pressure is packed on. Choose one day and one treat that goes beyond your level of expertise. Have no expectation of finishing with an edible product at the end. Aim for something from “Nailed It,” or “The Great British Bake Off.” Who cares if the flour spills or the fondant looks more offensive than festive; let it be fun! Revisit the wonder of creating something from practically nothing. Reflect on the awesome gift and power of having so many tools and resources at your fingertips. Take that gratitude and joy into the rest of your seasonal baking.
