“Should auld acquaintance be forgotten; And never brought to mind?” You may not know all the words to “Auld Lane Syne,” but you know the song as soon as you hear when the ball drops at midnight.
That’s only if you’re still awake and watching “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” show on ABC11. Some celebrations in North Carolina to ring in the new year happen before midnight.
Depending on where you live the countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve usually starts with the lowering of something unique that symbolizes that town or region.
Here are some unique ways to ring in the new year that you’ll only find in North Carolina
The Pickle Drop
There’s nothing to sour about this unique event. For more than 20 years, the town of Mount Olive, yes the pickle-making capital, drops a–wait for it–a giant pickle for New Year’s Eve but not at midnight.
The town starts its year-end festivities at 5:00 p.m. and the pickle makes its way down to the pickle jar at 6:30 p.m. The drop is then followed by fireworks and door prizes.