Atlanta hosts the annual New Year's Eve event known as the Peach Drop.
The Peach Drop is a Southern United States counterpart to the Times Square Ball Drop. Instead of lowering a ball, Atlanta lowers a large illuminated peach at midnight. The peach reflects Georgia's long-standing nickname, “The Peach State,” and connects the celebration to a recognizable regional symbol.
The event began in 1989 and has been held in downtown Atlanta, traditionally around Underground Atlanta. Its location and format have changed during some years, and interruptions or relocations do not alter the event's name or its connection with Atlanta.
The Peach Drop is sometimes confused with Atlanta's other large public festivals because the city hosts many downtown events. Its defining feature is the peach descending for the New Year's countdown, not a generic fireworks show.