Bizarre objects dropped on New Year's Eve

Beyond the ball

Although dropping a ball seems strange enough, some places go above and beyond by dropping even wackier items to ring in the New Year.

As fun as it is to watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve, it can be even more exciting watching a different object ceremonially fall from the sky. Check out these places that put their own twist on New Year's Eve by dropping symbolic objects other than the big crystal ball.

Objects that are dropped

• Mobile, Alabama — A Moon Pie. The delicious treat originated in Alabama and is now dropped as a 350-pound electronic replica of our favorite snack!
• Dillsburg, Pennsylvania — A Dill Pickle. Quite fitting, if we say so ourselves. This pickle comes complete with a top hat.
• Eastport, Maine — A Sardine. Paying homage to the fish industry in Maine, an 8-foot sardine is dropped at midnight.
• Bethlehem, Pennsylvania — A Giant Peep. Yes, the traditional marshmallow chick is all decked out with flashing lights and an array of colors to be dropped on New Year's.
• Eastover, North Carolina — A Flea. You read that right — a flea is dropped in Eastover. Why? Well, up until the 1920s the town was called "Flea Hill." We're guessing they want to remember the name, though we don't understand why.
• Bartlesville, Oklahoma — An Olive. This one's our favorite — not only is witnessing an olive falling from the sky a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it actually lands in a giant martini glass. Cheers!
• Macon, Georgia — A Cherry. Home of more than 300,000 cherry trees, Macon finds it appropriate to drop a giant cherry blossom replica to ring in the New Year.
• Honolulu, Hawaii — A Pineapple. We wouldn't expect anything less. A fairly new tradition, the Kahala Hotel is planning on keeping this tradition up for years to come.
• Flagstaff, Arizona — A Pinecone. Flagstaff just so happens to be located on one of the world's largest Ponderosa Pine forests. To show appreciation, they drop a glittery pinecone each year.
• Plymouth, Wisconsin — Cheese. An 80-pound slice of Styrofoam is spray-painted yellow and dropped from the sky. If only this were real.
• Seaside Heights, New Jersey — Snooki. Need we say more?

And a few that are raised

• Seattle, Washington — The Space Needle Elevator. The elevator is raised at midnight, followed by an enchanting fireworks display.
• Vincennes, Indiana — A Watermelon. Look out below! Once the watermelon gets to the top, it opens up to release 12 real watermelons, creating quite the mess down below.
• Hershey, Pennsylvania — A Hershey's Kiss, of course. The raising of the kiss is followed by a fireworks show.

Happy New Year!

More on New Year's traditions

How families around the world ring in the New Year
5 U.S. cities with the best New Year's Eve parties
Celebrating New Year's Eve with your kids

Photo credit: C.Smith/ WENN.com