Atlanta has long marked New Year’s Eve with one of the most recognizable celebrations. This year, the city is taking the celebration in a new direction. The reimagined event will feature fireworks and a citywide drone show designed to be viewed from across Atlanta.
Atlanta Reimagines New Year’s Eve Celebration
Since 1989, Atlanta’s New Year’s Eve celebration has centered around the iconic Peach Drop. Similar to NYC’s Times Square ball drop, it instead uses a giant peach that symbolizes Georgia’s identity as the Peach State.
The year the tradition began, an 800-pound and 8-foot-tall fiberglass and foam peach was lowered from a 138-foot tower. The event has traditionally been held at Underground Atlanta. Over the years, the event has pulled in hundreds of thousands of people to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
The event not only brings together food vendors, fireworks, and endless activities, but it also hosts performances from stars. Little Richard, Ludacris, Janelle Monae, and many other artists have performed here. The tradition, however, did face multiple setbacks, including the latest interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the interruptions, the tradition has endured. However, this year is set to witness a new beginning for this event. This year’s changes are designed to make the celebration more accessible citywide.
Innovative Citywide Approach
The Peach Drop typically draws large crowds to Downtown Atlanta each year. But this can make things harder on the residents of the city and also on visitors who come for the fun. To tackle this situation, the city has prepared something better this year.
Making the New Year’s Eve view accessible to a larger crowd, the city is evolving the beloved Peach Drop. This year, Atlantans can enjoy the event from their neighborhoods, rooftops, and backyards. Organizers say the show will be visible from neighborhoods across the city.
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Fireworks Across Atlanta
Instead of a single downtown gathering, the city will roll out multiple synchronized fireworks displays. Synchronized fireworks displays from multiple locations will stun the whole city. As the colors take over the sky, locals are encouraged to enjoy the event in smaller gatherings.
Whether it’s the neighborhood, rooftops, or backyards, Atlantans can enjoy the show without facing large crowds. The fireworks will be visible across Downtown and Midtown. A drone show will then follow the fireworks display, marking the highlight of the event.
Drone Peach in the Sky
The New Year’s Eve celebration this time is named Countdown Over ATL. It reimagines the traditional Peach Drop of the city and brings people together in a way unique to the city. Following a spectacular fireworks display, the sky will be taken over by a stunning digital drone Peach.
This year, the Peach is not dropping at Underground Atlanta but is taking over the Atlanta sky. At midnight, a digital peach created by drones will illuminate the sky. The approach allows the city to limit crowding while still delivering a signature New Year’s Eve moment.
