New Year's Eve celebrations, drops you'll only find in North Carolina: Happy New Year!

WTVD logo
Tuesday, December 31, 2024 9:39PM
Flea drop in Eastover, North Carolina
If you want to see a flea drop on New Year's Eve, head to Eastover in Cumberland County. This is video from NYE's 2023.

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) -- "Should auld acquaintance be forgotten; And never brought to mind?" You may not know all the words to "Auld Lane Syne," but you know the song as soon as you hear when the ball drops at midnight.

That's only if you're still awake and watching "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" show on ABC11. Some celebrations in North Carolina to ring in the new year happen before midnight.

Depending on where you live the countdown to midnight on New Year's Eve usually starts with the lowering of something unique that symbolizes that town or region.

Here are some unique ways to ring in the new year that you'll only find in North Carolina

The Pickle Drop

There's nothing to sour about this unique event. For more than 20 years, the town of Mount Olive, yes the pickle-making capital, drops a--wait for it--a giant pickle for New Year's Eve but not at midnight.

Mt. Olive Pickle Drop
Mt. Olive Pickle Drop

The town starts its year-end festivities at 5:00 p.m. and the pickle makes its way down to the pickle jar at 6:30 p.m. The drop is then followed by fireworks and door prizes.

As people get ready to celebrate the New Year, one community is home to a ball drop unlike any other.

The location is at the University of Mount Olive on Henderson Street in front of the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena. Mount Olive is located in Duplin and Wayne Counties and has a population of a little over 4,000 people.

The Acorn Drop

For more than 30 years, the 'City of Oaks' has been dropping a gigantic acorn as the clock hits midnight on New Year's Eve.

Raleigh Acorn Drop
Raleigh Acorn Drop

The acorn was the brainchild of public relations agent John A. Watkins, in 1992, who decided Raleigh needed a bicentennial symbol like New York City's big apple, Atlanta's peach and Orlando, Fla.'s orange, according to the News and Observer. Watkins settled on an acorn for Raleigh, which is also known as the City of Oaks, because of all the oak trees. Watkins asked sculptor David Benson to create the large copper and steel acorn for the city's bicentennial and annual drop.

There will be an early countdown at City Plaza at 7 p.m. and the second drop will be at 11:59 p.m.

Flea Drop

If you want to see a flea drop on New Year's Eve, head to Eastover in Cumberland County. The town is hosting its annual family-friendly NYE celebration that ends with the flea drop.

Flea Drop, Eastover, NC (Photo: ABC11)
Flea Drop, Eastover, NC (Photo: ABC11)

Gold Nugget Drop

If you're hoping to add some bling to your New Year's Eve celebration, head to Marion, NC. They drop a giant gold nugget at midnight to ring in the New Year. The town of nearly 8,000 is located in McDowell County. List of events.

Marion, NC drops gold nugget at midnight. (Photo Credit: Marion Rotary Club)
Marion, NC drops gold nugget at midnight. (Photo Credit: Marion Rotary Club)

Blueberry Drop

Want to see the largest blueberry in North Carolina? You'll need to drive to Burgaw, NC for New Year's Eve. Festivities for the drop are from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks.

Burgaw, NC drops giant blueberry on New Year's Eve (Photo: Visit NC)
Burgaw, NC drops giant blueberry on New Year's Eve (Photo: Visit NC)

The town known as the blueberry capital also hosts a 'Blueberry Festival' in the summer. Burgaw is located in Pender County and has a population of a little over 3,000 people. And, it's not far (33 minutes) from Wrightsville Beach.

Pig Drop

Pigs might not fly but they do drop on New Year's Eve in the town of Newport. Yes, you read that right. But, no it's not a real pig. The town drops a lighted cardboard cutout of a pig.

The town hosts New Year's Eve festivities from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Newport's population is just under 5,000 people. It's located in Carteret County.

Egg Drop; Ecellent Idea!

Braswell Family Farms is hosting its first-ever New Year's Eve egg drop at the Nashville Junction at 723 S. Barnes Street in Nashville.

Braswell Family Farm
Braswell Family Farm

The family-friendly event will be held on December 31 from 4-7 p.m. with a firework finish to ring in the new year.


Badge Raising

For the past decade, Mount Airy, which is also known as Mayberry, the fictitious town from the "Andy Griffith Show," rings in the new year by raising a giant sheriff's badge.

Mt Airy, aka Mayberry raising a giant Sheriff's badge at midnight. (Photo credit: Town of Mount Airy)
Mt Airy, aka Mayberry raising a giant Sheriff's badge at midnight. (Photo credit: Town of Mount Airy)

The event is held in the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History's courtyard; the gate opens at11:30pm. Mount Airy is located in Surry County. Its' population as of the latest census is 10,611 people.

Bear Drop

Eastern North Carolina is known for many things, especially black bears. Som it's only fitting that at least one town drops a bear on New Year's Eve, right? New Bern is your spot if you want to ring in the new year with a bear drop. The town rings in the New Year each year by dropping a crafted bear. The NYE's block party starts at 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Craven and Pollock in the downtown area. The Bear Cub Drop begins at 9 p.m. with the Bear Drop at midnight.

If your city or town drops something unique ring in the new year, please drop us a photo with details on the event to WTVDWeb@disney.com

From the ABC11 Eyewitness News Family, Happy New Year y'all!

Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.