Route 66 in Arizona

Why watch the ball drop in New York City when you can see the pine cone drop in Flagstaff, Arizona on New Year’s Eve? The giant pine cone atop the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff drops twice on New Year’s Eve. The first time it falls at 10:00pm local time, which is midnight in New York. The 10pm drop is to accommodate the families who want to ring in the New Year together. The ball, er, pine cone drops again at midnight local time, to officially usher in the New Year in Arizona.

The New Year’s Eve Pine Cone Drop began in 1999. Flagstaff’s giant pine cone is not the only unusual object that is dropped across the United States on New Year’s Eve. Atlanta drops a peach, Bethlehem PA drops a giant Peep (that marshmallow candy treat) made of fiberglass, Port Clinton Ohio lowers fiberglass walleye, and in Elmore Ohio, an 18 foot sausage welcomes the New Year.