question about admission to First Night Raleigh New Years Eve (sale, costs)

[meanieme]

i noticed they are charging admission to some of the events....any idea what the admission gets you and what's free?

i heard from some that it costs admission to watch the acorn drop? is that for real? i'd rather not spend money to watch something i feel should be free!

[lovebrentwood]

Where did you notice that?

The First Night website says:

The only way to experience everything that is First Night! Your admission button grants you access to every venue, every performance, every activity all day and all night. First Night Raleigh 2011 admission buttons cost $9 in advance and are on sale from December 1 through 31 at the following Triangle area retailers. Children 5 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a button-wearing adult.

I don't think anyone can charge you to watch the acorn drop.

http://www.firstnightraleigh.com/per...ctivities.html

[meanieme]

my friend told me that...so i was hoping someone who went in the past can confirm
and the website does not explain clearly what admission gets you (i.e. exactly which venues, performances, etc)

[librarySue]

I think once at First Night I paid extra for my kids to ride ponies. and maybe another time to ride a simulator.

But those were clearly marked as additional fees. If it is listed on the website and doesn't indicate additional admission, it is included. There is plenty to do for $9! you will run out of time long before you run out of activities.

[lovebrentwood]

Actually, it does, in the link I posted earlier:

First Night Raleigh 2011 : Performers & Activities

States clearly exactly which venues, performances, times, etc., are and that they are covered by one $9 admission fee. There is also a link to "Map" which shows where the venues are located.

Originally Posted by meanieme

my friend told me that...so i was hoping someone who went in the past can confirm
and the website does not explain clearly what admission gets you (i.e. exactly which venues, performances, etc)

[meanieme]

Originally Posted by lovebrentwood

Actually, it does, in the link I posted earlier:

First Night Raleigh 2011 : Performers & Activities

States clearly exactly which venues, performances, times, etc., are and that they are covered by one $9 admission fee. There is also a link to "Map" which shows where the venues are located.

if that's the case, then it seems pretty much every performance or activity listed on the schedule requires admission

and everything going on at main stage requires admission, including fireworks and acorn drop? b/c that's where i'm assuming it will occur

this would then be very different from wide open, sparkcon, all the other festivals in downtown that did not require any admission

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by meanieme

if that's the case, then it seems pretty much every performance or activity listed on the schedule requires admission

and everything going on at main stage requires admission, including fireworks and acorn drop? b/c that's where i'm assuming it will occur

this would then be very different from wide open, sparkcon, all the other festivals in downtown that did not require any admission

Yes, everything requires admission -- but it's a single $9.00 admission charge for the entire evening (you don't separately for different events). I wouldn't consider First Night to be a "festival."

[meanieme]

can we still walk up and down fayetteville st to check out the food vendors and see the people's procession without needing admission?

i arranged an outing for a large group of friends to check out First Night and didn't warn them ahead of time that admission is required and we are all on a tight budget