Time Balls and Other Things (Pickles and Tacos!) that will Drop Tonight

pickle drop
Kelly Pile - Executive Vice President and Director of Operations Written by: Kelly PileExecutive Vice President and Director of Operations

Ah, New Year’s Eve.

The closing out of another chapter. Out with the old, in with the new. A time to reflect as well as project… feel free to insert your own nostalgic/hopeful thoughts here.   Whether we are still December-holiday partying with friends and family or enjoying some cozy, quiet down-time tonight, it is nice to have a moment to look back as well as look forward.   And fortunately we have the beautiful Times Square tradition to make sure we are all having that same exact moment (more or less, depending on your time zone).

The tradition of ball dropping started well before crowds began gathering in Times Square in 1907 to witness the spectacle but always was used to mark the passage of time. In the early 1800’s, a daily ball dropping in England helped nearby ships synchronize their navigational instruments.  

Although there are around 150 public time balls around the world, many communities have taken this tradition one step further by dropping something else.   These “something-elses” might not be quite as beautiful as our iconic Times Square ball, but are often more meaningful to the locals.  

Here are a few highlights from here in Arizona and around the country:

  • Downtown Tucson will be dropping a 15-foot-wide, 8-foot-tall taco (locally created, of course)
  • Woodsy Flagstaff will drop a 6 ft. 70 lb. lighted pine-cone
  • Temecula, CA, known for its wineries, will drop a 250-pound cluster of giant grapes made of 4,500+ LED lights
  • Indianapolis will drop an actual IndyCar
  • Bethlehem, PA will be dropping a fiberglass Peep

From all of us here at Avenue 25 Advertising, stay safe tonight and have a happy new year!