RALEIGH - First Night Raleigh is just days away and after a lot of hard work, the acorn drop will go on as usual!

This comes after it was damaged while being transported a few weeks ago. 

Artist David Benson says it was flat on one side and he's now made it "good as new" by adding new panels, steel, and copper; bringing to to about 1500 lbs.

"That's what I do, fix the acorn. The nut keeper, keeper of the nut. You've got to see the squirell I've got at home," Benson jokingly says.

The acorn is a staple of the First Night Raleigh celebration that dates back to 1992. 

Organizers say they're expecting a lot of people to be bracing the cold to ring in the new year.

"It can be 40-80,000 people, you know but it depends on a lot of factors but we really don't get the feeling that the cold is going to slow anybody down. Everybody loves to ring in the new year and the acorn drop is so unique that I think it will be another good party on Fayetteville Street."

You can watch live coverage of the First Night celebration on Spectrum News.