People's Procession Route
Button Sales & Information
Souvenirs
Acorn Drop
Food

First Aid, Lost and Found
The Red Cross First Aid Center at the Children’s Celebration is located inside the North Carolina Museum of History. The center moves in the evening to the lobby of the Bank of America Building, One Hannover Square, on Fayetteville Street Mall. This is also the headquarters for lost personal items and misplaced children.

Parking
Parking decks and surface lots surround the downtown area. Free parking is available after 6:00pm in many city surface lots and along the streets. Open downtown City lots include Moore Square Station, Wilmington Street Station, City Market, Municipal Deck and Cabarrus Street and Convention Center Decks will charge a $3 flat rate from 6:00pm to 1:30am. Vehicles entering the decks before 6:00pm will be charged regular daily/hour fees up to 6:00pm. Anyone entering the decks before 6:00pm will be charged a combination of the two fees, not to exceed the maximum daily fee at each facility. First Night Raleigh attendees will be given a $1.00 discount upon exiting after 6:00pm by presenting a parking coupon from the First Night Raleigh 2003 program, with a maximum discount of $1.00 per car. Security forces will be provided until 1:00am at Moore Square Station, Convention Center Decks, Cabarrus Street Deck and City Market and Wilmington Street Station. Helpful Hint: Carpool with friends

Directions
First Night Raleigh venues are located in a 12-block area in the center of downtown beginning on the south end at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center. Activities are both inside and out along the Fayetteville Street Mall to the north, and end on the Bicentennial Plaza north of the Capitol Building at the North Carolina Museums of History and Natural Sciences.

From Durham/Cary/Chapel Hill:
A. To the Raleigh Convention & Conference Center
From I-40 East (do not take Wade Ave. exit) take Exit 298 B (South Saunders St.), go 1 mile, then take right fork "to Downtown." Take a right on "South St." Memorial Auditorium will be on your right. The Convention Center will be on your left. After that if you take a left on Wilmington St., you'll be near the center of the event, and can park in any of the parking decks listed below.

B. To Moore Square Park/City Market area:
From I-40 East (do not take Wade Ave. exit) take Exit 299 (Person St.), take left off exit, go approximately 1 mile. Pass Davie St., cross Martin St., see Moore Square Park on your left. Park anywhere in area, or take next left onto Hargett St., then another left onto Blount. See Moore Square Parking Station on your right.

C. To North Carolina Museums of History and Natural Sciences
From I-40 East (do not take Wade Ave. exit) take Exit 298 B (South Saunders St.), go 1 mile, then take right fork "to Downtown." Continue on South Saunders; it will become McDowell. Continue 9 blocks, take a right onto Jones Street. Within 1 block you will see the Museum of Natural Sciences, go one more block east for surface parking lots.

From East of Raleigh:
EITHER
A. If you are approaching the city on I-40 keep to your left at the I-440 split. Take Exit 299 (Person St.) from the Beltline, take left off exit, go approximately 1 mile. Pass Davie St., cross Martin St., see Moore Square Park on your left. Park anywhere in area, or take next left onto Hargett St., then another left onto Blount St. See Moore Square Parking Station on your right.
OR
B. Take 64 West, which turns into New Bern Ave; New Bern Ave. becomes Edenton St. as you near downtown. Follow Edenton St., take a right onto Wilmington St. for the Museums, or a left just past the State Capitol on Salisbury St., which will take you south to the Convention Center.

From North Raleigh or from Hwy. 70 to the west: Take Hwy. 70 (Glenwood Ave.) all the way until it ends downtown at Morgan St. Take a left onto Morgan. Take a right from Morgan onto Salisbury St. for the Convention Center, or a left onto Wilmington St, for the Museums.

Accessibility
Most performance sites are accessible to people with mobility impairments. Two performances will be interpreted for people with hearing impairments and audio described for people with visual impairments:

7:30 African American Dance Ensemble
First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
(capacity 325)

Sponsored by Seby B. Jones Family
Media Sponsors: WSHA 88.9 FM & The Triangle Tribune

view full event description

10:00 Actors Comedy Lab Presents
Excerpts from David and Amy Sedaris’
"The Book of Liz"
Highway Building Auditorium, Morgan & Wilmington Streets (capacity 325)

Sponsored by Carolina Central Bank
view full event description

Although reservations aren't required for interpreted or described performances or wheelchair seating, if you call us before 5pm on December 27, we'll hold your seat for you! Call 832-8699 for more information.

Restrooms
Some performance sites will have restrooms available to the public. Portable outdoor facilities will be located throughout the festival (see map).
Security
Raleigh and Capitol City Police as well as Artsplosure's volunteer security staff will be on site throughout the evening to ensure your safety.

*Smoking is not permitted inside any venue site.
*Food and beverages are not permitted in performance sites other than restaurants or the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center.
*Seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
*Many performances take place in houses of worship. Please pay them the proper respect.
Ride the First Night Raleigh Tram
Operating between venues 7:00-11:00pm
Sponsored by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program
Media Sponsors: Independent Weekly & Sports Radio 850 The Buzz
See map for tram stop locations

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