The Gist: Atlanta has announced the cancellation of the Peach Drop event for New Year’s Eve this year, an event that traditionally rings in the new year.
Reasons for Cancellation: This year, the city is allocating its resources towards the 50th anniversary of hip hop celebrations and other community events, leading to the decision to cancel the Peach Drop.
History of Cancellations:
- 2018: The Peach Drop was cancelled because the city couldn’t secure Underground Atlanta as a location following its sale to a private developer.
- 2019: Cancelled due to issues finalizing Underground Atlanta as the venue.
- 2020 and 2021: Both years saw cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms also mentioned the need to re-evaluate and expand the event.
- 2023: Cancelled to dedicate resources to the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop and other local activities.
In Contrast: The Times Square Ball Drop in New York has been a more consistently held event, with its only known cancellations occurring in 1942 and 1943 during World War II due to the “dim-out” of lights in the city.
