North Carolina New Year's Eve Drops May Top Many Unusual Lists

North Carolina provides quite an array of unusual opportunities to ring in the new year while watching an item being dropped at midnight. North Carolina does not necessarily drop the ball when ringing in the coming year. Well, the items are not actually dropped...and not always at midnight. Check out the latest North Carolina New Year's Eve drops, each with an interesting style of its own.

NC Town With a Big Heart Welcomes New Year!

Black Creek Heart Drop

Black Creek, North Carolina wishes to recognize their slogan "A Small Town With a Big Heart." The Black Creek New Year's Heart Drop was begun by their former mayor Smith and is held at the Family Enrichment Center. A large red heart is lowered at this annual event.

Southern Style New Year Celebration with Opossum Drop – Photo by Tree & J. Hensdill on Wikimedia Commons

Brasstown Possum Drop

The North Carolina New Year's drop with the most controversy surrounding it is the Opossum Drop in Brasstown. A plexiglass covered box with a live possum is lowered to mark the end of the new year at Clay's Corner, the unofficial Opossum Capital of the World. The event began in 2004. The 2011 Possum Drop event, which includes fireworks, is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. with a pre-show at 8:45 p.m. The event draws crowds of about 3,000 when the weather is mild.

Because this event involves a live animal, some activists from FEMA are calling foul play and lawsuits have been considered with suggestions to use a taxidermied animal rather than a live one. FEMA's activism resulted in the use of a dead "road kill" opossum being used for the 2005 New Year's festivities.

New Year's Eve Flea Drop in Eastover, NC

Eastover Flea Hill Flea Drop


Eastover, North Carolina provides an unusual start to the new year by lowering a 3-foot, 30-pound wooden flea with added foam, fabric, and wire at the Eastover Community Center. The festivities for the New Year's Eve Flea Drop, including entertainment and concessions, begin at 10:00 p.m. and include the story of the legend of Flea Hill.

Mt. Olive NC Offers New Year's Pickle Drop – Photo by Renee Comet on Wikimedia Commons

Mt. Olive Pickle Drop


A tradition that began in 1998, Mt. Olive provides a New Year's Eve Pickle Drop at the intersection of Cucumber and Vine, a fitting, although rather unique, tribute to a town known for their pickle industry. Those who wish to witness the 3-foot pickle being lowered down a 45-foot flagpole should plan to arrive in the evening rather than at midnight because the pickle reaches its destination at 7:00 p.m. in 2011.

The event drew a crowd of approximately 2,000 folks in the small town in 2010. This event also encourages people to bring canned goods to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. The Pickle Drop includes live music, and free refreshments are provided. What's one of the main items on the menu? Pickles, of course!

Acorn New Year's Drop in Raleigh NC – Photo by Ke4Roh on Wikimedia Commons

Raleigh Acorn Drop



Since 1991, North Carolina's capitol city has enjoyed a First Night Celebration on New Year's Eve. A huge acorn is lowered to mark the end of one year and the beginning of the next. Raleigh is also known as the City of Oaks, hence the choice of the illuminated steel and copper acorn as the new year's signal. The Raleigh celebration starts early in the afternoon and runs through midnight with special events such as a procession, puppets, a circus, and more. Two drops are provided in City Plaza in Raleigh, one at 7:00 p.m. and another at midnight.

Celebrate the Start to a New Year in North Carolina

Those who wish to have a little fun on New Year's Eve can find some rather unusual celebration choices in North Carolina, from watching an acorn drop to seeing a heart descend. Perhaps a pickle drop suits the bill or maybe you'd like to see the state's new year flea or oppossum mark the annual turning of the calendar to January 1.

Oh, by the way, I hope that all of you have a joyous start to a happy new year!

Kannapolis Village Christmas Festival in NC – Train Ride, Lights, and More!

Welcome Aboard the Christmas Train in Kannapolis NC © Katrena

Kannapolis, a town located in Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina, provides a wonderful array of Christmas activities for little or no cost at Village Park. Train lovers will be particularly drawn to this great Christmas spot in the Piedmont, and families may discover that this is a destination to which the kids wish to return each year.

Kannapolis Christmas Offers Santa, Christmas Lights and More © Katrena

My family first discovered Village Park in Kannapolis at Christmastime in 2010. The kids are still talking about it a year later and this was one of the top destinations on their list for fun things to do this year for Christmas. I was particularly impressed with the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, and I was delighted to find the same friendly family atmosphere when we visited the Kannapolis Christmas this year. With so many budget cuts many towns have faced this year, I was not sure that Kannapolis would be able to provide this nice family Christmas festival, and I was delighted to see that they are still offering this great activity in 2011. Kudos to Kannapolis!

Christmas Family Fun in Rowan County © Katrena

Kannapolis Christmas Train and Light Show © Katrena

Fun Family Christmas Train Activities at Kannapolis Village

At the heart of the Kannapolis Village Park is the train ride called the Winterland Express. Tickets are available at the front building, and the price is very reasonable at $2/person. You might be able to find a coupon up there for buy one, get one free. The train will take adults and kids around the park, which has a huge playground, lots of covered picnic areas, and a splash pad.

Christmas Light Show and Train Ride in Kannapolis © Katrena

During summer months the train ride is only $1, but the Christmas train includes a trip through a beautiful nighttime light show similar to Tanglewood but on a smaller scale. The lines and cost are on a much smaller scale as well. The Christmas decor is still impressive with about 150,000 lights. The brightly colored scenes and decorations seem to envelope the park in the Christmas spirit. The train is wheelchair accessible.

Christmas Light Show in Kannapolis NC © Katrena

Christmas Art at Kannapolis Village Park Train Station © Katrena

The train engineer can get the crowd excited about the ride with some fun interaction before leaving the station. I'm impressed that these volunteers donate their time to drive through some pretty cold nights...and always with a smile! The original artwork displayed in the train station is very nice, so make sure to take a look at the various ones on display. Guests who are enjoying other parts of the park often stop to wave as the train passes by. I was surprised to see that the train engineer actually stopped the train for me to take a picture as it meandered around the playground as my kids played.

Model Train Show at Kannapolis Park © Katrena

Christmas Family Activities in Cabarrus County NC © Katrena

Miniature Trains and Interactive Scenes in Rowan County © Katrena

Model Train Show at Kannapolis Village Park Christmas Festival © Katrena

Those who enjoy model trains will be delighted with the large display at Kannapolis Village. Venture inside the Community Room, and you'll immediately hear the sound of miniature trains running the rails. It can bring back great memories of toy trains around the Christmas tree! You might even catch a glimpse of Santa waving from a caboose of one of the model trains. The Carolina's Division of the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers offers a wonderful array of trains, from 1950's to modern day, and many of the members of the group are available for trouble-shooting and questions.

Interactive Scenes for Christmas in Kannapolis © Katrena

Great Model Train and Interactive Scene Display in Kannapolis © Katrena

Push Buttons to Make Scenes Come to Life © Katrena

People who love to tinker will find about 50 scenes along the model train route that takes up nearly the whole room. These scenes are interactive – push the button and the scene will come alive. These scenes can be quite elaborate as visitors can try their hand at loading logs, turning on lights or sending people down a ski slope, just to mention a few. This is truly a gift from Kannapolis as the model train in interactive scene display is completely free for people to enjoy. The display is only available for a limited time during the holiday season.

Christmas Singing Bears at Kannapolis © Katrena

Kannapolis Christmas Festival – Fun for the Family

Near the train station are two small buildings. One houses Santa Claus, always a popular destination for many of the youngsters, but even if you have kids who are a bit frightened of the guy in red, they may particularly enjoy the singing bears in the other building. My 4-year-old absolutely loved the singing bears, a group of automated animals that talk and sing about Christmas. The bears even had a few adults in the crowd chuckling. Those who are standing in the area might even be in for a winter surprise. I won't spill the beans...just walk down there and stand for a while.

Full Moon Adds to Christmas Light Show at Kannapolis NC © Katrena

A large stage lies farther back, and music and lights make the area festive when the singing bears are resting. Kannapolis has several special Christmas activities planned through the season. For example, on December 17, 2011, they plan to have a live nativity scene, pony rides, a petting zoo, vendors, and more starting at 4:00 p.m.

Christmas Train Ride and Light Show © Katrena

Kannapolis Playground in Village Park © Katrena

A fire is also near the Community Building for those who wish to try their hand at making smores, another great memory maker for a family. Refreshments are also available for purchase. Group rates are available for groups of ten or more, but you'll need to call ahead at 704-920-4343. Kannapolis Village Park is located at the corner of West C Street and Dale Earnhardt Blvd. Get more details and enjoy more pictures from the Kannapolis Christmas web site. The activities in Kannapolis are dependent on weather conditions.

Free Christmas Activities for the Family © Katrena

Kannapolis Christmas Festival – a Favorite Christmas Tradition

I have been quite impressed with the Kannapolis Christmas Festival. Village Park is clean, has a friendly atmosphere, and does not have huge lines. People are welcome to enjoy the festival and walk through the paved pathways to enjoy the Celebration of Lights for free, but the train ride was certainly worth the price for my family. Those traveling from I-85 may find road barriers just as you are able to see the park to the right. Simply turn to the right and keep turning toward the light shows – you will end up in the YMCA parking lot and can enjoy walking through the park first. I have a feeling this is going to become an annual tradition with my family...I hope to see you there!

Looking for more Christmas activities and pictures in the Piedmont? I've collected several ideas in my Events section.

Tanglewood Festival of Lights – Christmas Light Show in Forsyth Co NC

Tanglewood Festival of Lights in Forsyth County NC ©Katrena

Want to see about one million individual holiday lights along a four mile stretch near Winston-Salem? Tanglewood Park in Forsyth County, NC offers a large winter light show, the Festival of Lights, that began in 1992 with 25 displays and has expanded to delight nearly 250,000 visitors each year with 180 light displays.

Large Drive-through Light Display Near Winston-Salem NC ©Katrena

What is the Tanglewood Festival of Lights?

The Tanglewood Festival of Lights offers visitors the opportunity to drive through the park and enjoy a nice variety of lighted scenes. Even the entrance is festive as the booths look like a huge castle and soldiers line the sides. Many of the wooded areas offer a great opportunity to drive through falling leaves, jumping reindeer, falling snow, or a lighted tunnel.

Large Christmas Light Show in North Carolina ©Katrena

Many of the lights herald the holidays of the season, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza. I particularly like the advent wreath and the manger scene. My kids love to wave back at Santa and Frosty. They also have several related to nursery rhymes and other popular children's stories. Riders can tune their radios to a station that plays Christmas music while enjoying the show.

Enjoy Colorful Light Show Near Winston-Salem NC ©Katrena

The light show also capitalizes on the park itself. The lake lends itself well to a water scene, and the water serves as a delightful mirror to the show. The equestrian history is evident with lighted horses, and a train locomotive is decked out for the holidays as well. One of the simplest displays has ranked near the top for us as we've seen this light show several times – a golfer swings and hits a golf ball that whizzes beside the road.

Hay rides are available for groups up to 25 for an extra fee. Groups up to four may opt for a horse drawn carriage ride through the Festival of Lights in Tanglewood. My family got a special opportunity to enjoy a Christmas party inside of Tanglewood along with a hay ride through the light show, and that is a special memory that I will cherish. Make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes, including gloves and hats, if the weather is cold or windy!

Christmas Light Show for Whole Family ©Katrena

The Tanglewood Holiday Gift village gives visitors the opportunity to get out, stretch their legs, and browse a wide variety of crafts and gifts. The gifts range from whimsical and small to ornate and large. I particularly remember seeing a manger scene designed inside part of an egg shell, beautiful paintings, nicely crafted wooden pieces, a nice variety of jewelry, and even a belly button cleaner.

A large bonfire beckons guests to purchase some marshmallows for roasting. Other concessions and bathroom facilities are also available at this single stop in the Festival of Lights. Live trees, wreaths, and garlands from Cullowhee will be available for purchase as well. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available on certain nights during the week.

The light displays may be changed from year to year, and additions are typically made each year. LED lights are now being used for a brighter show.

See Lights of the Season at Tanglewood ©Katrena

When is the Tanglewood Festival of Lights show?

The Tanglewood Festival of Lights typically begins mid-November, running nightly from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. until January 1. Weekends tend to be more crowded with higher rates. Some discounts may be offered early in the season.

Readers may wish to read about and see pictures from the 2012 Tanglewood light show. Visit the Tanglewood official web site for specific information about rates and contact information for reserving hay rides or carriage rides. Looking for more fun family activities in the Piedmont with tips and pictures? I've collected several favorites on my Events page.