Atlanta is famous for dropping a lighted peach at midnight on New Year's Eve.
The event is called the Peach Drop, a name that reflects Georgia's nickname as the Peach State. A large illuminated peach is lowered during the countdown in downtown Atlanta, where crowds gather for music and the midnight celebration.
Atlanta's peach tradition began in 1989, when the event was organized in Underground Atlanta. It later moved to other downtown locations, including the area around Woodruff Park and the city's historic center. The precise venue and event format can change from year to year, so the enduring symbol is more stable than any single viewing location.
The Peach Drop is one of several American New Year's Eve events built around a local object rather than a generic ball. It is therefore not the same event as New York City's Times Square Ball Drop, even though both use a descending illuminated object to mark midnight.