Every year millions of people gather around a TV and in person to count down to the new year as the ball drops at Times Square in New York, but the Big Apple isn’t the only place to ring in the new year.
Across the country, towns hold events in which various items are dropped or hoisted up as the clock strikes midnight.
Here are some of the most interesting ones:
The Possum Drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia
In the late 1990s, career taxidermists Bud Jones and Jackie Jones established the tradition of lowering a taxidermied opossum named Spencer in a countdown ball lined with Christmas lights. It's grown to draw more than 7,000 people to the tiny town of Tallapoosa, Georgia.
Wooden Flea in Eastover, North Carolina
Jasper the flea will drop in the small Cumberland County town for the eighth year. The 3-foot tall flea was made in 2010 out for foam, fabric, wire and wood. The flea is a lasting symbol from when the town was known as Flea Hill, due to an infestation that has long since been eradicated.
Sardine drop in Eastport, Maine
An 8-foot sardine is a nod to the area's heritage of sardine canneries that were once numerous in the area.
Hershey’s Kiss Raise in Hershey, Pennsylvania
The iconic chocolate is a given in the town founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey. The celebratory version is 7 feet tall and 300 pounds.
Music Note Drop in Nashville, Tennessee
As midnight comes, a 400-pound, 16-feet tall red music note, made of acrylic and aluminum, will be raised and dropped. The note will have 13,000 LED pixels on its video boards.
New Year's Eve Grape Drop in Temecula, California
The new year will be rung in twice -- for East and West coast time -- with a large cluster of lighted grapes, a symbol for the numerous wineries in the city.
Pickle Drop in Mount Olive, North Carolina
The home of the Mt. Olive Pickle Company rings in the new year with a glowing green pickle.
National Watermelon Drop in Vincennes, Indiana
For the 11th year, a 500-pound lighted watermelon will be lifted 75 feet into the air on a cane in Knox County. For 2019, 19 watermelons will be dropped on a "splatform" at midnight and fireworks will follow.
Bologna drop in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
The traditional 200-pound bologna drop has been replaced in favor of a lighter 70-pound bologna.
Peep Chick drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Just Born Quality Confections, the company that makes marshmallow Peeps, rounds out PeepFest with a Peep Chick drop. The 400-pound chick will drop at midnight.
Credit: Hand-out
Credit: Hand-out
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