The Times Square ball drop is perhaps the most iconic of American New Year's Eve traditions. Across the country, many cities have followed New York City's lead by hosting their own New Year's drops. Many of these towns have taken to thinking outside the ball.
To keep track of the country's New Year's goings on, the folks over at MapQuest complied NewYearsQuest. The state-by-state guides highlight local goings on, including where to celebrate 2012 by watching weird objects fall from the sky.
Marylanders can head to downtown Easton to watch an iconic blue crab fall. If in Orlando, ring in the new year with agiant orange drop.
For more kooky New Year's drop celebrations, check out the slideshow below.
Walleye Drop; Port Clinton, Ohio
The tiny town of Port Clinton brags of being the Walleye Capital of the World. Thus, Madness at Midnight's "Walleye Drop." That's right -- the town drops a huge, 20-foot, 600-pound model fish as if it was a Times Square ball at midnight. There's also a 6 p.m. kids-drop edition of the Walleye Drop (for "all the little minnows").
Hershey's Kiss Raise; Hershey, Penn.
The hometown of Hershey's chocolate welcomes the new year with a family-friendly celebration that culminates at midnight "when an oversized Hershey's Kiss is raised into they sky.
Possum Drop; Brasstown, N.C.
Brasstown is known as the Possum Capital of the World, and has a fitting NYE bash. The evening festivities kick off with the Miss Possum pageant, featuring some of the area's biggest, burliest men dressed up as beauty queens. Just before midnight, revelers can watch a live possum in a festively decorated cage lower as they count down to the new year.
Peach Drop; Atlanta, Ga.
Atlanta residents can attest to the excitement and energy of being in Underground Atlanta (the Five Points-area shopping district) among 100,000 of their closest friends to watch the Peach Drop. When midnight approaches, all eyes turn upward to watch the 800-pound peach's 58-second descent to welcome the new year, followed by an impressive fireworks show.
Pine Cone Drop; Flagstaff, Ariz.
Residents of Flagstaff ring in the new year with The Great Pine Cone Drop. Revelers gather outside the historic Weatherford Hotel, a downtown Flagstaff landmark for more than 100 years. As the new year approaches, attendees watch a 5-by-7-foot lighted, gold-and-silver aluminum pine cone drop from the hotel balcony.
Guitar Drop; Niagara Falls, N.Y.
What is cooler than a traditional ball drop at midnight on New Year's Eve? How about an illuminated 10-foot Gibson guitar dropping 120 feet? The Hard Rock Cafe and the city of Niagara Falls will once again be throwing their annual New Year's Eve Guitar Drop, a street festival that draws thousands to eat, drink and party the night away.
Music Note Drop; Nashville, Tenn.
Music fans can ring in the new year in Nashville at its annual Bash on Broadway, which features a live concert by a variety of country music artists. This free event, which takes place in the heart of the Music City, includes a "music note®" drop at midnight, presented by Grand Avenue. Revelers count down to the new year as the bigger-than-ever "music note®" drops from a structure of 115 feet.
Moon Pie Drop; Mobile, Ala.
Since 2008, Mobile has welcomed the new year with the free MoonPie Over Mobile festivities to celebrate its heritage as the first American city to celebrate Mardi Gras -- MoonPies are traditionally thrown from floats during Mardi Gras parades. The city's 12-foot electronic MoonPie will drop from the 34-story RSA BankTrust building downtown at midnight.
Cherry Blossom Ball Drop; Macon, Ga.
Experience New Year's Eve in the heart of Georgia with Macon's Cherry Blossom Ball Drop at Cherry Street Plaza. The free outdoor festival begins at 9 p.m. with live music and entertainment and culminates in the dropping of a custom-made metallic cherry blossom ball. Since 2009, this event celebrates Macon's status as the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World.
Via:HuffingTonPost
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