Ringing in the new year NC | Pickle to pig: Unique things dropped at midnight on New Year’s Eve in North Carolina; Auld Lang Syne

“Can I forget my acquaintances and not remember them?” You may not know all the words to “Auld Lane Syne,” but when you hear it when the ball drops in the middle of the night I know.

That’s if you’re still awake and watching ABC11’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

Depending on where you live, the countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve usually begins by lowering something unique that symbolizes the town or region.

Here are some unique ways North Carolina cities welcome the New Year

For over 30 years, the City of Oaks has dropped a giant acorn when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.

According to the News and Observer, in 1992 publicist John A. Watkins decided Raleigh needed a bicentennial symbol like the big apple from New York City, the peach from Atlanta, and the orange from Orlando, Florida. , invented the acorn.Watkins calmed down Acorn For Raleigh also known as the City of Oaks because of all the oak trees. Watkins commissioned sculptor David Benson to create a large copper and steel acorn for his bicentenary and annual drop of the city.

Not in time?You can watch the drops live ABC11 24/7 Live Stream from 11:30 pm

I have no complaints about this unique event. For 22 years, the town of Mount Olive, yes, the pickle-making capital, drops giant pickles on New Year’s Eve, but not at midnight.the town begins NYE festivities at 5pm The pickles reach the pickle jar at 7:00 pm followed by fireworks. The location is Mount Olive College on Henderson Street in front of the George and Annie Dale Korngay Arena. Mount Olive is located in Duplin and Wayne counties and has a population of just over 4,000 he.

If you want to add some bling to your New Year’s Eve celebration, head to Marion, North Carolina. They ring in the New Year by dropping a giant gold nugget at midnight. The event marks his 12th year and is sponsored by the Marion Rotary Club. The festivities begin at 8:30 PM in downtown Marion and include the Resolution Run 5K. The town of about 8,000 is in McDowell County. list of events.

Want to see North Carolina’s largest blueberry? You’ll need to drive to Burgo, North Carolina on New Year’s Eve. Festival of the Drops is from 5pm to 7:30pm Fireworks after the drop. Known as the blueberry capital, the town also hosts the Blueberry Festival in the summer. Burgo is in Pender County and has a population of just over 3,000. It’s also not far from Wrightsville Beach (33 minutes).

Pigs may not fly, but they do on New Year’s Eve in Newport, North Carolina. Yes you read that right. But no, it’s not a real pig. The town drops a piece of cardboard lit with pig clippings.

Sponsored by the town New Year’s Eve 17:30-18:30Newport has a population of just under 5,000. Located in Carteret County.

For the past nine years, Mount Airy, North Carolina, also known as Mayberry, has greeted the New Year with a giant sheriff’s badge in the fictional town of The Andy Griffith Show.

Event It is held in the courtyard of the Mount Airy Regional History Museum. Gates open at 11:30pm. Mount Airy is located in County Surrey. As of the latest census, he has a population of 10,611.

If your city or town drops something unique in the New Year, please send a photo with details of the event to our digital team email.

Happy new year.