Originally posed Tuesday, November 5, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
For the first time in three decades, there will be no Peach Drop this year, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told Majic 107.5/97.5's afternoon host Ryan Cameron Tuesday.
"We're going to take a break, reevaluate, reexamine the location and how we plan it out,” she said. “And when it comes back, I promise you it will be bigger and better.”
Bottoms said she made the decision the past couple of days to mothball the 800-pound peach. "We've had some location challenges," she told Cameron. The city no longer owns Underground, which added complications.
"Last year, it was great to be there and the crowd was there, but it felt like an afterthought event, not a premier event,” she said. “It felt we hadn't given it the thought and consideration and resources we should give an event."
She compared it to what her son said was like the introduction of the new Popeye's chicken a few weeks back: “It felt rushed.”
Credit: Keisha Lance Bottoms talking to Ryan Cameron about Peach Drop at Majic studios November 5, 2019.
Credit: Keisha Lance Bottoms talking to Ryan Cameron about Peach Drop at Majic studios November 5, 2019.
The Peach Drop debuted 1989 at Underground Atlanta, a play off the New York City Times Square ball drop. Some years, the event would draw 100,000 or more people.
After a private developer purchased the space, the city moved it to Woodruff Park for New Year’s 2017 but brought it back to Underground Atlanta last year.
The most recent Peach Drop featured two hometown R&B acts Jagged Edge and 112 and 1990s-era alternative rock band Better than Ezra. In recent years, others who have performed include legendary R&B singer Little Richard (2003), country band Lonestar (2007) country singer, Miranda Lambert (2008), dancer/singer Julianne Hough (2009), R&B singer Tito Jackson (2011), classic rock band Kansas (2012), Beatles cover band Abbey Road LIVE! (2013), R&B star Janelle Monae (2014), 1990s pop-rock band Sugar Ray (2015), Atlanta rap legend Ludacris (2015), rock band Sister Hazel (2016), R&B star, Ne-Yo and Atlanta rock band Collective Soul (2017).
Credit: Kent D. Johnson / AJC
Credit: Kent D. Johnson / AJC
Credit: Hyosub Shin
Credit: Hyosub Shin
Credit: Hyosub Shin
Credit: Hyosub Shin
Credit: Jenni Girtman
Credit: Jenni Girtman
Credit: BARRY WILLIAMS
Credit: BARRY WILLIAMS
Credit: PHILIP MCCOLLUM
Credit: PHILIP MCCOLLUM
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