14 Bizarre Things Americans Drop on New Year’s Eve

Year after year, many Americans find themselves watching a giant ball drop in Times Square, New York, as one year changes into the next. However, the iconic Waterford Crystal ball is not the only thing dropping across the United States on New Years Eve.

A Giant Peep in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

A 4-foot, 9-inch tall Peep, weighing in at 400 pounds, rings in the new year in Bethlehem, home of the famous marshmallow treat modeled after the young domesticated fowl.

A Dead Fish in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

This year will be like every other in Prairie du Chien when a 20 to 30 pound carp affectionately referred to as “Lucky” will be lowered by crane onto its thrown as area residents ring in the new year. Why a carp? Because the Mississippi River and also luck. Obviously.

Actual Bologna in Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Around 70 pounds of bologna will be dropped during the 22nd year of this town’s annual celebration. New this year: a 6 foot-tall Bologna Ranger to accompany the bologna on its way down. In total, 200 pounds of fresh meat will be donated to people in need following the event.

Pac-Man in Hanover, Pennsylvania

For the sixth year in a row, a large Pac-Man will drop at the Timeline Arcade during an event complete with fireworks, food, music, and, you guessed it, video games.

An Olive in Bartlesville, Oklahoma

A well-lit oversized olive drops from the top of Price Tower, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building in Bartlesville, OK. As the clock strikes midnight, the olive finds itself in an equally oversized martini glass.

A Pickle (not an Olive) in Mt. Olive, North Carolina

A 3 foot pickle drops from a flagpole into a redwood pickle tank at the intersection of Cucumber and Vine in Mt. Olive. The pickle falls precisely at midnight Greenwich Mean Time which happens to be 7 p.m. Mt. Olive time. At

More Pickles in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

Dillsburg has nothing to do with pickles but that hasn’t stopped the town from dropping a pickle on New Year’s Eve for the last 25 years. Mrs. Pickle falls at 7 p.m. every New Year’s Eve, much like the aforementioned pickle of Mt. Olive, followed by the dropping of Mr. Pickle at midnight.

A Large Flea in Eastover, North Carolina

Each year, a 30-pound, 3 foot-tall ceramic flea falls in Eastover, formerly known as Flea Hill.

Some Cheese in Plymouth, Wisconsin

The Cheese Capital of the World (self proclaimed) drops cheese. A large piece of Sartori cheese, to be exact.

A Giant Watermelon Full of Watermelons in Vincennes, Indiana

At the top of a large pole, a 500-pound watermelon ball opens to reveal 19 real watermelons before they fall to their deaths in a cordoned off area below.

An Actual Drag Queen in Key West, Florida

Not only does Key West use a real live drag queen for their drop, they use a real life drag queen in a giant shoe. If drag queens in shoes aren’t your thing, you can also find a 6-foot conch shell and a pirate wench dropping nearby.

A Giant Hershey’s Kiss in Hershey, Pennsylvania

This isn’t the giant Hershey’s Kiss you were gifted last minute for Christmas last year. No, this Hershey’s Kiss is a whopping 340-pounds and drops at midnight in ChocolateTown Square.

A Sardine in Eastport, Maine

A very large and very not real (read: not smelly) sardine drops in Eastport each year. One hour before the sardine, the town also drops a maple leaf in honor of their very nearby Canadian neighbors.

A Stuffed Muskrat in Princess Anne, Maryland

Princess Anne doesn’t just drop a rodent on New Year’s Eve, Princess Anne drops a stuffed rodent clad in top hat and bow tie on New Year’s Eve.

There certainly is no shortage of strange, interesting and completely normal things dropping on New Year’s Eve across the United States. While time balls are now obsolete, the tradition of dropping things at a predetermined time lives on.