Let’s Get Weird This New Year’s Eve in Pennsylvania Downtowns

By Bill Arrowood, PA Downtown Center

As the field services staff for a statewide organization that helps communities find their narrative as a tool for revitalization, I have the entire Commonwealth as my territory, and I get a unique window into so many quirky community events—including some real oddities like the brand new statue to Chef Boyardee in Milton or the Carbon-alien Festival in Carbondale—that make each place so special.

As we approach the end of a challenging year, it’s a good time to look on the lighter side at the bounty of wonderfully weird celebrations across the Commonwealth, distinguished by the often bizarre things that they drop, (or raise) to ring in the New Year. Why all the odd objects? Each reflects something distinctive about its town—whether its industry, local culture, or a historical nod. In fact, Pennsylvania holds the crown for the most varied set of New Year’s Eve drops of any U.S. state.

Some are historic, like the War of the Roses, where York and Lancaster drop illuminated White or Red Roses, and some are pretty on the nose, like Mechanicsburg’s wrench and Shippensburg’s anchor. We have a whole subcategory of candy-based drops, including Hershey (giant Kiss) and Bethlehem (giant marshmallow Peep). Rural Perry County has gone all-in with four different celebrations: New Bloomfield drops a huckleberry; Duncannon, a sled; Blain, a (wooden) cow from a silo; and Liverpool, on the Susquehanna, has dropped a canal boat.

But for my money, I love the truly bizarre ones with a story to tell. Here are my favorites for sheer weirdness:

• Carlisle– A giant ‘Hotchee’ Chili-cheese Dog.
• Dillsburg– what else.. not one but two giant pickles with drops at 7 p.m. and midnight.
• Kennett “Mushroom Capital of the World” Square– a glistening steel mushroom
• Lebanon– drops a 100lb bologna that is then carved up to share with attendees
• Lower Allen drops their ‘yellow breeches’ in honor of the namesake creek that runs through the town.
• A tip of the cap in Gettysburg– with the raising of Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat
• Like many folks will that night, Pottsville– home of the nation’s oldest brewery, raises a bottle of Yuengling

There are so many more, including lumps of coal, shoes, bags of potato chips, beavers and even ping pongs, so check your local calendars and start the New Year with your own local celebration and keep it weird—and authentic—all year long.