Raleigh acorn moved to be polished ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The famous Raleigh acorn is getting cleaned up before it becomes the star of the show on New Year's Eve.

City of Raleigh crews removed the acorn from its current home in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza and took it to artist David Benson's studio for a fresh polish.

There will be two acorn drops this year.

An early drop will take place at 7 p.m. and of course the traditional drop at midnight.

The 10-foot-tall, 1, 250-lb. copper and steel sculpture was originally commissioned for Raleigh's bicentennial in 1992.

**Featured video is from a previous report
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