At a Glance
- 2026 New Year’s Eve celebrations across the U.S. feature quirky drops ranging from cheese wedges to moonpies.
- Towns like Plymouth, Wisconsin and Key West, Florida showcase local flavors in their drops.
- The tradition dates back to 1907 when a 700-pound ball measured 5 feet in diameter.
- Why it matters: These events boost civic pride, attract tourists, and highlight regional identity.
While New York City’s Times Square ball drop remains the most famous, dozens of U.S. communities are turning the countdown into a showcase of local culture, each unveiling a unique object that reflects their heritage and flavor.
Fruit, Veggies, and Oddities
From a giant cheese wedge in Plymouth, Wisconsin, a chile pepper in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pinecone in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a conch shell in Key West, Florida, towns are celebrating with items that embody their local specialties. Pennsylvania’s trio of bologna, pickle, and potato chip drops in Lebanon, Dillsburg, and Lewistown further illustrate the playful diversity.
- Miami Big Orange
- Sarasota Pineapple
- Milwaukie Cherry
- Traverse City Cherry
- Temecula Grapes
- Atlanta Digital drone peach
Beach Balls, Flip-Flops, and Sky-High Surprises
At Folly Beach, South Carolina, a pair of sparkly flip-flops plunge into the sea, while Panama City Beach, Florida, drops 15,000 beach balls before a giant ball descends a tower at midnight.
- Sparkly flip-flops
- 15,000 beach balls
- Giant beach ball
Sweet and Seafood Spectacles
Mobile, Alabama drops a 600-pound MoonPie that takes 60 seconds to descend, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania releases a 400-pound yellow Peep chick. Seafood towns like Brunswick, Georgia (shrimp), Easton, Maryland (crab), Bay St. Louis, Mississippi (oyster), and Port Clinton, Ohio (600-pound walleye named Wylie) showcase marine bounty.
| City | Drop Item | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Brunswick, Georgia | Shrimp | – |
| Easton, Maryland | Crab | – |
| Bay St. Louis, Mississippi | Oyster | – |
| Port Clinton, Ohio | Walleye (Wylie) | 600-pound |
Potatoes, Pierogies, and the Possum Saga
Just outside Chicago, a 10-foot pierogi drops in Whiting, Indiana, while Boise, Idaho has an annual Potato Drop. Mt. Olive, North Carolina drops a glittery green pickle about 6 feet long. The once-famous possum drop ended in western North Carolina in 2019 after protests; Tallapoosa, Georgia still drops a stuffed possum named Spencer.
- 10-foot pierogi
- Idaho Potato Drop
- 6-foot pickle
- Stuffed possum Spencer
Key Takeaways
- America’s 2026 countdown features a wide range of quirky drops that celebrate local identity.
- From cheese wedges to giant walleye, towns turn the New Year’s Eve tradition into a tourist attraction.
- Even after legal challenges, some traditions like the possum drop continue in a new form.
From cheese wedges to giant walleye, the 2026 countdown showcases America’s quirky spirit, turning each town’s unique identity into a shared celebration of new beginnings.
