Atlanta traditionally drops a giant peach during its New Year's Eve countdown.
Atlanta's Peach Drop is a public New Year's Eve celebration built around lowering a large illuminated peach at midnight. The symbol reflects Georgia's long-standing nickname, the Peach State, and the fruit's importance in the state's agricultural and cultural identity.
The event began in 1989 and was originally held at Underground Atlanta. It later moved to other downtown locations, including the area around Woodruff Park, as organizers adjusted the format and venue. Live entertainment and a midnight countdown accompany the descent.
The Peach Drop is sometimes confused with other American object drops, such as New York City's ball or Nashville's musical-themed events. Those celebrations use different symbols. Atlanta's peach is deliberately oversized and theatrical, but it represents the same basic countdown idea: a visible object reaches its final position at midnight.