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12 Crazy, Quirky New Year’s Eve Drops

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New Year’s Eve has long been celebrated with fanfare: fireworks, confetti, horns and a traditional ball drop. Revelers began celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square with a ball drop in 1907. The first New Year’s Eve ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs. It clocked in at 700 pounds and 5 feet in diameter. All across the United States, cities have followed suit with this tradition — but with a twist. Read on to discover some of the craziest and quirkiest New Year’s Eve drops.

Memphis, Tennessee

Beale Street’s Hard Rock Cafe rings in the New Year with its annual guitar drop. The 10-foot Gibson guitar is dropped more than 100 feet as part of a televised event, along with live music performances for a crowd of more than 50,000.

Atlanta, Georgia

The city’s 800-pound peach descends to ring in the New Year, while an impressive lineup of entertainment keeps revelers on their feet at the annual Peach Drop.

Miami, Florida

The Big Orange isn’t just a ball — it’s an orange that celebrates the state’s official fruit. In addition to the Orange Drop, fireworks and superstar performances add to the festivities.

Yarmouth, Maine

To celebrate the New Year, the town’s First Universalist Church lowers a giant clam named Steamer from the Belfry. The Clam Drop includes music, cookies and cocoa to stay warm.

Raleigh, North Carolina

As part of First Night Raleigh, the City of Oaks lowers an acorn to ring in the New Year. The event has grown to be the largest New Year’s Eve event held in eastern North Carolina.

Marietta, Georgia

In Marietta, celebrations include the cow drop, by the Georgia-born fast food franchise Chick-fil-A. Don’t miss the ice sculpting and “cosmic golf” at the festivities.

South Lake Tahoe, California

Fire, lights and music fill the air in South Lake Tahoe. The Gondola Ball Drop crosses above the crowd, and a fabulous fireworks show will light up the night.

Mount Olive, North Carolina

Watch the lighted, three-foot pickle drop down the Mount Olive Pickle Company’s 45-foot flagpole and into a perfectly preserved redwood pickle tank at precisely 7 o’clock.

Boise, Idaho

Idaho’s signature holiday event can be experienced at the State Capitol. The Idaho Potato Drop is a free and charitable community event that supports local arts, business and charities. Celebrate with food trucks, a beer garden and fireworks, too.

Mobile, Alabama

Moon Pie Over Mobile is the annual New Year’s celebration in Mobile, Alabama. a 600-pound, electric, lit Moon Pie is dropped at midnight, and festivities include cutting of the world’s largest Moon Pie.

Las Cruces, New Mexico

The chile — a chrome iteration of New Mexico’s claim-to-fame crop — glittered with hundreds of red and green lights, drops from a 70-foot crane at midnight.

Plymouth, Wisconsin

Plymouth drops an 80-pound decorated cheese wedge, the newest Wisconsin cheese, from a 100 ft. ladder truck in a tribute to the region’s dairy industry and dairy products.

By Bridgette Langdon

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