Miami is famous for dropping a lighted orange at midnight during its New Year's Eve celebration.
The tradition is associated with Miami's Orange Bowl festivities and the city's long-standing connection with citrus imagery. The orange is raised and lowered as a playful local alternative to the more familiar ball drops seen in other American cities. It reflects South Florida's identity as a major citrus-growing region and tourism destination.
Miami has hosted several public New Year's countdowns over time, and the exact design, location, and programming can change. The orange should not be confused with Miami's annual King Orange Jamboree or with New Year's Eve objects used by other American cities, such as a peach in Atlanta or a guitar in Nashville.
The broader American tradition of dropping a symbolic object at midnight was popularized by New York City's Times Square ball drop. Local communities adapted the idea with objects that represented regional products, industries, or culture. Miami's illuminated orange is one of the more distinctive examples of that pattern.