5 cities that put a new spin on New Years Eve celebrations

posted by AmericanRV @ 8:59pm, Wednesday 28 December 2011.


Each year we hear about the famous ball drop in New York, where it's said the biggest party of the year takes place. But have you ever tried to drive your RV down there? It's next to impossible. Scratch that. It is impossible. While visiting New York city to watch 504 Waterford crystals shaped in the form of a ball descend 77 feet may be the event of a lifetime for some people, for others, they prefer to stop into smaller cities and check out the more unique celebrations happening. Cities across the United States have come up with their own “ball drop” of sorts to celebrate the New Year. The cities may not be televised and hosted by Dick Clark or Ryan Seacrest, but some of these cities have the wackiest ball drop we’ve ever heard of! We think a road trip is definitely in one of our New Years Eve futures.

First up is one close to home. In downtown Memphis on Beale Street, you will find The Hard Rock Cafe and here it will host its annual Gibson Guitar drop. This blue beauty will fall outside the cafe with the countdown to midnight for all to enjoy.

While you're waiting for the countdown, you can take part in a tradition locals call 'Bury your Blues'. Start the new year with a clean slate by "burying their blues." Bring notes, mementos, and photos of your blues (e.g., a Dear John letter, a pink slip from an employer, an overdraft notice from the bank, a photo of an ex, etc.) and toss them into the open coffin on Beale Street. If you aren't going to make it to the celebration, you can email your blues to buryyourblues@bealestreet.com.

 



Traveling over to Raleigh, North Carolina you’ll find 1,200 pound copper acorn. Yep, if this nut were a true acorn, no squirrel in the state would go hungry during winter. If you have little ones you’ll want to head to downtown early, because they do a special acorn drop at 7:00 p.m. for the kids and then again with the countdown to midnight for us bigger kids. For more details on schedule times and other events, you can check out the event listings at firstnightraleigh.com





 

 

                                                                                                 

Moving further on down south to Mobile, Alabama... we’re pretty sure this is one “ball drop” you’ll be able to tell your friends about, and chances are they haven’t been to one like it! What exactly are they dropping at the countdown to midnight you ask? Well, none other than a giant 12 foot electrified moon pie! Mmmm sounds too good to be true and talk about iconic! Contrary to what most people believe, Mobile was the first U.S. city to host Mardi Gras, so naturally a moon pie is quite fitting. What is a moon pie you ask? Its a pastry which consists of two round graham cracker cookies, with marshmallow filling in the center, dipped in chocolate or other flavors and always thrown from floats at Mardi Gras parades!

 

 





 

 

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away is Pensacola. Famous for its beautiful white sandy beaches and Florida sun. This city has an appropriate figure for its New Years Eve celebration as well. Atop a 100 foot platform downtown, a very patient pelican is perched. But this isn’t an every day pelican you see at the beach, no this guy means business. He is 14 feet tall  and has a 20 foot wingspan! Now that’s one big bird! At the stroke of midnight, this adventurous bird will make his descent through a show of fireworks and confetti.









Last, but certainly not least, is for our friends a little north of us. If you’re up anywhere near Port Clinton, Ohio this New Years Eve bash may be the one for you. Almost as odd as the one in Mobile, this one knows what its like to be in the spot light. Featured on some news stations is the story of the 20 foot, 600 pound Walleye fish. This has been a local tradition for 15 years! Just like most of the others, they also have an early drop for the kids, but what caught our attention is the rock, paper, scissors competition they have starting at 8:30! They’ve brought back an old childhood game and made it into a full competition. And we haven’t even mentioned all the other events going on here. This town knows how to have some fun!











So there you have it, 5 cities that have put a fun and wacky spin on the New Years Eve ball drop. Whether you find yourself at any of these celebrations, or you choose to make your own party, please have fun and remember to be safe!

Here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012!

 


Images sourced from:

Newyearsevecentral.com

Hardrock.com

Firstnightraleigh.com

Al.com

Pensacolapelicandrop.com

Walleyemadness.com

Walleyemadness.com



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