Expected rain won’t stop NYE Peach Drop celebration

On New Year's Eve Atlanta's familiar 800-pound Peach will drop into  Underground Atlanta

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

On New Year's Eve Atlanta's familiar 800-pound Peach will drop into Underground Atlanta

The annual Peach Drop will be held at Underground Atlanta on Monday.

Admission to the outdoor event is free, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and music starting at 7 p.m. Monday. This year’s celebration will feature musical acts Jagged Edge, 112 and Better than Ezra.

If you’re heading downtown for the festivities to ring in the new year, here are some things you’ll need to know:

Weather 

Despite the rain, the city of Atlanta will still hold the 30th annual Peach Drop with fireworks, city officials confirmed on Friday. The New Year’s Eve forecast calls for heavy rainfall, according to Channel 2 Action News.

“The next big wave of rain, unfortunately, it’s arriving right in time for New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day,” Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said. “At this point, some of these heavier rain showers look to be moving in on the night of New Year’s Eve.”

Temperatures that day call for 60 percent chance of rain with a high of 69 degrees, according to Channel 2. The low is expected to be 54.

Security and What’s Allowed

Atlanta police’s joint operations center will coordinate safety measures with fire and emergency responders.

Additionally, officers will be at the venue and the surrounding area, while undercover officers will also be working the event, Atlanta police said in a statement earlier this week.

Officers at the Peach Drop will also search attendees at each entrance and are enforcing a clear bag policy.

The following items are prohibited from the event: firearms, chairs, coolers, umbrellas, drones, pets, bicycles, hoverboards and skateboards.

Location and Road Closures 

Entrances to the Peach Drop are located on Peachtree Street, Marietta Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. People looking to drive to the event may have to maneuver around road closures.

The following roads will be closed beginning at 3 p.m. Monday:

• Peachtree Street to Wall Street

• Wall Street to Central Avenue

• Central Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

• Martin Luther King Jr.  Boulevard to Peachtree Street

Atlanta police are urging residents to be mindful of potential traffic congestion. Attendees are also urged to take MARTA or carpool to reduce traffic.

Police also advise anyone parking downtown to remove all valuables from their car.

Travel 

Peach Drop-goers can take MARTA to avoid traffic. The address is 50 Alabama Street, which is conveniently near the Five Points MARTA station.

Drivers can take I-75/I-85 and get off at the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive exit.

OTHER ATLANTA NEWS:

14 places to ring in the new year in metro Atlanta

Previous Peach Drop coverage: