2 Pennsylvania New Year's Eve Drops Among Best in America

Sparkler with blurred street light background, New Year's eve drop concept.

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One of the most cherished traditions associated with ushering in the New Year revolves around the New Year's Eve drops. This tradition, characterized by the descent of a large object at the stroke of midnight, has evolved into a unique celebration for numerous cities, each infusing its creative twist.

To spotlight the most exceptional New Year's Eve drops across the United States, USA Today's 10Best compiled a list. These selections, nominated by travel editors and determined through reader votes, showcase the individualized charm of each drop, with many cities adding their innovative elements.

Pennsylvania makes the list with two New Year's Eve drops.

Pennsylvania has two New Year's Eve drops on the list. Securing the fifth spot is Bethlehem's PEEPS Chick Drop, an event centered around a giant illuminated 400-pound PEEPS Chick descending at SteelStacks. Interestingly, this even doesn’t happen at the stroke of midnight but at 5:35 p.m. on both December 30 and 31, accompanied by a fireworks display.

Further down the list, in the tenth spot, is the Mushroom Drop in Kennett Square. This annual tradition involves the descent of a 700-pound electric mushroom at the stroke of midnight, accompanied by the crowd's traditional sing-along of Neil Diamond’s "Sweet Caroline." The ranking also draws attention to Kennett Square's distinction as a major producer, responsible for more than half of the country's mushrooms.

Panama City's Beach Ball drop, held at Pier Park and celebrated for its vibrant ambiance, claims the top spot on the list. The public is invited to witness not just one but two beach ball drops—the first at 8 p.m. and the second at midnight. The event also features live music, entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks display.

Occupying the second and third positions are Boise, Idaho's Potato Drop, and Las Cruces' Mexico’s Chile Drop. Boise garners recognition for its luminous potato dropping at midnight, accompanied by an annual celebration including fireworks, music, art performances, and sporting events. Las Cruces, Mexico, follows closely behind. They kick off the new year with an illuminated 19-foot chili pepper drop at the stroke of midnight, with live music, food, and a variety of activities.

New Year New Year's Eve

Kayla MorganEditor

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.