Peach Drop Explained

Peach Drop
Genre:New Year's Eve event
Date:December 31 – January 1
Frequency:Annually (1989–2019)
Location:Underground Atlanta, Woodruff Park (2018 only)
First:1989
Last:2023
Attendance:Around 60,000 (annually)[1]
Organized:Underground Atlanta
Website:https://peachdrop.com/

The Peach Drop is a New Year's Eve event held in Atlanta, Georgia. Traditionally held in Underground Atlanta, the event features the lowering of a large peach sculpture down a 138feet tower, symbolizing Georgia's identity as the "Peach State".

The event was held in Underground Atlanta from 1989 to 2017, and then moved to Woodruff Park for 2018 before returning to Underground Atlanta for 2019. The event was cancelled for 2020 due to the sale of Underground Atlanta and other logistical issues, as well as 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event successfully returned for 2023 but would no longer be an annual event.

History

The Peach Drop was inaugurated on December 31, 1989 to celebrate the new decade.[2] From 1989 through 2017, the event was held at Underground Atlanta. The tower from which the peach descends is located in Underground Atlanta and stands at 138feet. The peach, constructed of fiberglass and foam, is 8feet tall and weighs approximately 800lb.[3]

The Drop was moved to the Flatiron Building for the 2018 celebration with festivities held at Woodruff Park after Underground Atlanta was sold to a private developer.[4] For 2019, the event returned to Underground Atlanta.[5]

Hiatus

The 2020 Peach Drop was cancelled for in order to re-evaluate and expand the event. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stated that the sale of Underground Atlanta complicated the event, and previous year's return for 2019 lacked "the thought and consideration and resources we should give an event."[6] The 2021 and 2022 Peach Drop events were cancelled for the second and third consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] [8]

The Peach Drop returned to Underground Atlanta for 2023.[9] Despite this, the Peach Drop was once again canceled for 2024. Citing a focus on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music, a spokesman commented "while a worthy tradition in the past, the Peach Drop has not been an annual event since 2018. Each year is different and we can always reevaluate next year."[10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yu . Janice . Atlanta New Year's Eve Peach Drop returns with Ashanti, Goodie Mob . Fox 5 Atlanta. 16 December 2021 .
  2. News: Bronstein . Scott . Underground is Atlanta's 'Time Square' - Scott Bronstein (1/2) . December 19, 2023 . The Atlanta Constitution . December 31, 1989 . 72.
  3. News: Newmark . Avery . 5 flashback moments from Atlanta's Peach Drop . 8 January 2022 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  4. News: Atlanta police ramp up security plans for new Peach Drop location. Stevens. Alexis. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2017-12-29.
  5. News: Peach Drop moving back to Underground Atlanta. Raisa Habersham. J. D. Capelouto. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. en-US. 2019-06-21.
  6. Web site: No Peach Drop this year, breaking 30-year tradition. Ho. Rodney. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. english. 2019-11-19.
  7. Web site: Murphy. Adam. Coronavirus overshadows most New Year's Eve celebrations in the metro. 2020-12-21. CBS46 News Atlanta. en.
  8. Web site: 2021-12-28. Atlanta Peach Drop on New Year's Eve to be canceled, sources say. 2021-12-28. WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta. en.
  9. Web site: 2022-11-09 . It's back! Peach Drop returning to Underground Atlanta after 3-year hiatus . 2022-11-21 . WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta . en.
  10. News: Ho . Rodney . EXCLUSIVE: Peach Drop won't be happening this year . December 18, 2023 . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . December 18, 2023 . https://archive.today/20231208195110/https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/exclusive-peach-drop-wont-be-happening-this-year/KJK67W47HJFYHCTXPWKE7CHNX4/. December 8, 2023. English.