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Countdown to 2024: 10 best New Year's Eve drops in the US
Best New Year's Eve Drop (2023)
Welcoming a new year means reflection, anticipation, and, most often, celebration for many people across the country. And one of the most popular traditions for this festive event is the New Year's Eve drop, which involves a large object descending at the stroke of midnight.
These 10 New Year's Eve drops have been nominated by travel editors and voted by readers as the best in the United States, and each one offers its own spin on the occasion with unique items being lowered.
- Mushroom Drop - Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
- MoonPie Over Mobile - Mobile, Alabama
- Grape Drop - Temecula, California
- Pickle Drop - Mount Olive, North Carolina
- Giant Crab Drop - Easton, Maryland
- PEEPS Chick Drop - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Pierogi Drop - Whiting, Indiana
- Las Cruces Chile Drop - Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Idaho Potato Drop - Boise, Idaho
- New Year's Eve Beach Ball Drop - Panama City Beach, Florida
Photo courtesy of bernardbodo / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 10:
Midnight in the Square in this Pennsylvania town culminates with the annual Mushroom Drop. That’s because Kennett Square produces more than half of the country’s mushrooms. A 700-pound electric mushroom is lowered at midnight while the crowd traditionally sings Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.”
Photo courtesy of Visit Mobile
No. 9:
It’s sure to be a sweet new year if you welcome it at the MoonPie Over Mobile celebration. Indulge in the world’s largest MoonPie cake, enjoy live entertainment, and then watch a 600-pound electric MoonPie descend at the stroke of midnight.
Photo courtesy of City of Temecula
No. 8:
One of Southern California’s somewhat under-the-radar wine regions, Temecula pays homage to the mighty grape with two grape drops — one at 9 p.m. and the other at midnight. The event also offers live music, food, and activities for kids.
Photo courtesy of Kirk Pullen Photography
No. 7:
Get an early start on celebrating the new year by watching a glowing pickle drop into a giant pickle jar at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Attendees can enjoy live music, food, fireworks, and free pickles.
No. 6:
In historic Easton, Maryland, the First Night Talbot celebration is an alcohol- and drug-free event welcoming in the new year. A dropping of the area’s favorite crustacean caps off the evening, with crab drops taking place at both 9 p.m. and midnight.
Photo courtesy of Just Born Quality Confections
No. 5:
It will be a sweet new year after watching a giant, illuminated 400-pound PEEPS Chick drop at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It descends not at midnight, but at 5:35 p.m. on both December 30 and 31, and it's accompanied by a fireworks display.
Photo courtesy of PIEROGI DROP
No. 4:
The town of Whiting, Indiana, drops a giant pierogi at midnight, descending about 75 feet into a boiling cauldron. The event includes music, fireworks, and more to celebrate the region's Eastern European heritage.
Photo courtesy of AleksandarNakic / E+ Getty Images
No. 3:
Things get spicy in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on December 31. That’s when the city rings in the new year by dropping an illuminated 19-foot chili pepper at the stroke of midnight. It's a hot event, which also features live music, food, and fun activities.
No. 2:
Idaho will forever be connected to the mighty potato, so you might not be surprised that Boise drops a glowing potato at midnight on New Year’s Eve. It's part of an annual celebration that also features fireworks, music, art performances, and sporting events.
Photo courtesy of Visit Panama City Beach
No. 1:
Each December 31, Panama City Beach, Florida, closes off its streets at Pier Park to get the New Year’s party started. The public is invited to watch not just one beach ball drop, but two. One is dropped at 8 p.m. for the early birds, and the second is dropped at midnight. There’s also live music, entertainment, and fireworks.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
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USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
