Atlanta hosts the annual New Year's Eve event called the Peach Drop.
The Peach Drop is Atlanta's signature midnight celebration and takes place in the city center. Instead of lowering a glittering ball, organizers lower a giant illuminated peach to mark the start of the new year. The peach is a visual reference to Georgia's nickname, the Peach State, and to the fruit's importance in the state's identity and branding.
The event began in 1989 and has been held at several downtown locations, including Underground Atlanta and the area around Centennial Olympic Park. Public festivities have included concerts, food, and family activities before the midnight descent. The Peach Drop should not be confused with Atlanta's unrelated peach-themed symbols or with New Year's ball drops in other American cities. Its distinctive object makes it one of the United States' most recognizable alternatives to the Times Square tradition.