USA Today 10Best named this North Carolina NYE celebration among best in the country
USA Today readers voted a North Carolina New Year’s Eve celebration among the best in the country.
The annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by readers’ votes. Initial selections came from travel experts choosing a set of nominees in a number of categories, including best art museum, best farmers market, best outdoor water park and more.
This holiday season, there are a number of festive categories including the best holiday parade, the best hotel for the holidays, the best holiday historic home and the best botanical holiday garden lights.
All categories, winners and pending winners can be found at 10best.com/awards/travel.
NC town wins for best NYE celebration
Mount Olive won a readers’ choice award for the best New Year’s Eve drops in the United States.
“Start celebrating the new year early by watching a glowing pickle drop into a giant pickle jar at 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve in Mount Olive, North Carolina,” 10Best said. “Attendees can enjoy live music, food, fireworks and free pickles.”
Mount Olive came in #9 on the list. Ludington, Michigan took the top spot for the Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, which takes place annually on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
Other unique New Year’s Eve drops on the 10Best list include:
- The Possum Drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia
- The Beach Ball Drop in Panama City Beach, Florida
- The PEEPS Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- The Great Pinecone Drop in Flagstaff, Arizona
- The Pierogi Drop in Whiting, Indiana
- The Shrimp Drop in Amelia Island, Florida
- The Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho
See the full list at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-new-years-eve-drop-2024.
How to attend the Mount Olive Pickle Drop
The drop is staged in front of the University of Mount Olive’s Kornegay Arena, and the Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Department will assist with its ladder truck, Mt. Olive Pickles wrote on its website. From the tower, the glowing New Year’s Eve Pickle descends into a giant pickle jar.
The pickle descends at 7 p.m. sharp, and a fireworks display immediately follows. The event begins at 5 p.m. and ends by 7:30 p.m., making it a family-friendly celebration that gets everyone in bed at a reasonable hour.
The event regularly draws several thousand attendees, Mt. Olive Pickles spokesperson Lynn Williams said in a press release. Mount Olive, about 70 miles southeast of Raleigh, is about an hour’s drive from there and about a three-and-a-half hour drive from Charlotte.
Learn more about the Mount Olive Pickle Drop at mtolivepickles.com/mt-olive-pickle-drop.
Raleigh & Charlotte NC New Year’s Eve celebrations
Mount Olive doesn’t have the only unique New Year’s Eve drop in North Carolina. Raleigh’s annual First Night downtown event concludes with the acorn drop, fitting for the City of Oaks.
Learn more about attending this year’s First Night celebration at newsobserver.com/raleigh-city-guides.
Charlotte’s annual CLT NYE will be held this year at Truist Field, the Charlotte Observer previously reported. The free celebration has traditionally been held along Tryon Street at Levine Avenue of the Arts in uptown. The holiday celebration will now be part of the Charlotte Knights’ “Light the Knights Festival.”
Learn more about attending this year’s CLT NYE (and changes to the event) at uptowncharlotte.com/events.
If splashy downtown parties aren’t your thing, check out our full guides to NYE events across North Carolina, including family-friendly events with early bedtimes, bar specials and multi-course dinners.
- For Raleigh, check out newsobserver.com/raleigh-city-guides.
- For Charlotte, check out charlotteobserver.com/charlottefive.
