New York City, Times Square
TripAdvisor has scoured the country to find some of the most unusual parties for ringing in the New Year with parties featuring cheese, pickles and more.
Head to Mount Olive, North Carolina for the Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s 12th annual pickle drop, a free event that involves the lowering of a three-foot pickle from a flagpole. The big moment comes at 7 p.m., or the time when 2011 officially beings across the Atlantic.
If pickles are not your favorite, Key West, Florida offers more variety for watching things drop at midnight. Head to Sloppy Joe’s Bar to see the conch s hell drop, or see a “pirate wench” dropped from the mast of an historic ship at the Schooner Wharf.
For a sugary sweet New Year’ Eve, head to Peeps Fest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Attendees can gather to celebrate a new year and the loved marshmallow candies with Peep-themed crafts, snacks and live music. At 5:45 p.m., guests can see a 45-pound Peek Chick drop to mark the party’s finale.
Seafood lovers might prefer a trip to Port Clinton, Ohio, the “Walleye Capital of the World” for the annual Walleye Drop. Midnight is marked by dropping 600-pound fish named Wylie, but not before a celebration with fireworks and games. The party features walleye-theme snacks and drinks, including a local wine called Walleye White.
Memphis is the place for live music lovers on New Year’s Eve. Revelers can begin the rocking party at 8 p.m. in the middle of the city’s downtown. At midnight, everyone’s focus turns to the Hard Rock Café where a 10-foot Gibson guitar is dropped from the sky.
While these New Year celebration destinations may be “off the wall” and far from the famous New York City Times Square event, these offer a fun-filled atmosphere for the whole family and New Year reveler.