10 Unusual New Year’s Eve Ball Drops In The United States

26.12.2023 - 16:33 / forbes.com

Every New Year’s Eve, New York City’s Times Square gets a lot of attention with its famous ball drop. However, there are other destinations across the United States with events bringing in the new year in a memorable fashion. They go beyond using the traditional-looking ball by instead lowering objects reflecting their heritage or location. Here are 10 locations with unique versions of New Year’s Eve ball drops.

The Idaho State Capitol in downtown Boise is where this just over a decade long tradition of descending an artificial potato—in homage to this Idaho-grown crop—happens. Since 2013, this grand illuminated GlowTato comes down as the clock strikes midnight. Along with this spud sensation, Boise’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes musical guests, food vendors and a fireworks display. The 2023 event will also present an Urban Air Exhibition, featuring skiers and snowboarders being pulled into a huge jump through flame columns while performing jaw-dropping stunts.

Florida is synonymous with citrus and Downtown Orlando’s Church Street is where an orange-resembling ball is dropped to welcome in the new year. For the end of 2023, the ICONIC Orange Ball Drop will descend from the rooftop at High Tide, a rooftop bar on the third floor of the nightlife complex, Church Street Bars. 2023 also marks the event’s 29th year, as this orange ball symbolizes the city's citrus past along with the collegiate football game, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, happening on January 1, 2024.

This popular Florida Keys destination has some quirky NYE ball drops. They range from a gigantic manmade conch shell at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, to the “Lowering of the Pirate Wench” at the Schooner Wharf Bar, with bar owner Evalena Worthington descending from atop the mast of the ship, America, in pirate-looking garb.

Another fun finish to the current year is the Red Shoe Drop, which happens along Key West’s Duval Street. It involves the lowering of a supersized red high heel shoe from the balcony above the Bourbon St. Pub/New Orleans House complex. For years, Key West drag queen Sushi would be perched inside the shoe, but the performer hung up the heel in late 2022. Now, for 2023, female impersonator Christopher Peterson is taking over this role.

This golden emblem, associated with the French monarchy, is also the official symbol for Louisiana and especially New Orleans. In 2005, the Fleur de Lis became the shape of a New Year’s Eve ball drop within Jackson Square. This drop happens at Jax Brewery, lowered on a 25-foot pole, and is followed by a major fireworks display over the Mississippi River.

This southern New Mexico town sees a replica of the state’s beloved culinary staple—the chile pepper—descend within its downtown at Plaza de Las