We are all familiar with the New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York City’s Times Square—it’s the largest party in the United States and is viewed by countless people either in person or on TV. Because it’s such a popular event, other cities around the country have started celebrating with their own type of NYE celebrations, which include some very unique or just plain weird object drops. Many must think a ball drop is boring because we have seen everything from muskrats to pickles and even a hot potato!If you are looking to travel for your own NYE celebration, you might want to take a look at our list of places with the strangest but most fun celebrations in the country (many include activities that you probably don’t normally see on New Year’s Eve!). Ready to check them out? Here are the weirdest New Year’s Eve celebrations that hit the top of the list in the United States. Enjoy!Related: 125 ‘Happy Holidays’ Wishes To Use Throughout Christmas and New Year’s
10 Weirdest New Year’s Eve Celebrations
10. Whiskey Row Boot Drop
Prescott, Arizona, is known for its Wild West cowboy heritage and is, therefore, home to many Western boot lovers. In fact, so much so that every New Year’s Eve, they have their traditional Whiskey Row Boot Drop. It actually happens twice in one night, at 10 p.m. and midnight, which is kind of weird but nice for those who can’t quite make it all the way to midnight. Instead of dropping a simple ball, they drop a six-foot lighted boot from a 40-foot flagpole. It’s an evening of kicking up their heels to live music and includes carnival games and rides.
9. Midnight Muskrat Dive
8. MoonPie Over Mobile
Over 50,000 people gather in Mobile, Alabama, to see a 600-pound and 12-foot-tall MoonPie drop on New Year’s Eve. The kids’ events begin at 11 a.m. with their own MoonPie drop at noon, and then things kick off in the evening around 6:30 p.m. with a decorated-umbrella contest and so much more.
7. NYE PEEPSFEST
It makes sense that the hometown, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, of Peeps Chicks (yep, the Easter holiday staple!) would host a New Year’s Eve party with the Peeps Chicks as the star of the show. A giant 400-pound Peeps Chick is dropped on both Dec. 30 and 31. On both nights, the chick is dropped already at 5:35 p.m. Besides the Peeps drop, other activities include fireworks, a meet-and-greet with Peeps characters and more. Related: What’s the Last Place in the World To Celebrate the New Year?
6. An Early Night With a Pickle Drop
New Year’s Eve in Mount Olive, North Carolina, is all about pickles, not olives! During the annual event, they drop a giant pickle at 7 p.m., where it will end up landing in a giant pickle jar. Once it lands, fireworks go off, and the whole event is done by 7:30 p.m. Like previous years, free pickles will be given out. And those who bring a canned good contribution will receive a ticket for the door prize. In case you haven’t already guessed, the door prize is a giant pickle (just like the one that’s dropped)!
5. Sartori Big Cheese Drop
Plymouth, Wisconsin, is the cheese capital of the world, so naturally, cheese is what they drop on New Year’s Eve. This year will feature live music, complimentary hot cider and Sartori Cheese gift bags (to the first 250 families who attend).
4. The Hot Potato Gets Dropped
In Boise, Idaho, the evening begins with the world-famous “GlowTato” flying in to take its perch during the Idaho potato rise. Enjoy the snow park and sample delicious food and beverages. You can even snap a picture with “Spuddy Buddy.” At midnight, a crane will drop the potato like it’s hot!Related: 60 Fun New Year’s Trivia Questions and Answers To Keep Your Guests Impressed Long After Midnight
3. NYE Gold Nugget Drop
@landdishollifield
Happy #NewYear from the City of Marion NC’s gold nugget drop. #2022#nye#visitnc
♬ Auld Lang Syne – Rod Stewart
Why drop a simple ball when you can drop a giant gold nugget into a pot of gold? This year, this quirky celebration, in Marion, North Carolina, includes a Comic-Con costume contest, music, wagon rides and plenty of local brews/wines.
2. NYE Beach Ball Drop
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