The annual New Year’s Eve Peach Drop takes place in Atlanta, Georgia.
The event features a giant illuminated peach lowered at midnight in downtown Atlanta. The peach is a deliberate reference to Georgia’s nickname, the Peach State, and to the fruit’s importance in the state’s identity and agriculture. The celebration also includes live entertainment and a large public gathering.
Atlanta’s Peach Drop began in 1989 and became a signature local alternative to the Times Square ball drop. The object has been displayed and lowered at different downtown locations over the years, including Underground Atlanta and Woodruff Park. Weather, public-safety planning, and city logistics can affect the event’s format. The Peach Drop should not be confused with Georgia’s New Year’s Day college-football tradition, the Peach Bowl, which is a separate annual event.