Staying Fit
What are you going to do to make this year’s New Year’s Eve special? Watch the ball drop in Times Square? Been there. Join millions of revelers on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the world’s largest party? Bor-ing. Declare your love for Sally? Harry beat you to it. No, you need fresh ideas for 2024. Here are 10 great weird and wonderful ways to ring in the new year.
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An illuminated GlowTato signals the new year in Boise, Idaho.
Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via AP
The Idaho Potato Drop
Boise, Idaho
Soon enough, your New Year’s resolutions will have you saying no to carbs. Before you swear off spuds, embrace the tater at the 11th annual Boise celebration of the mighty Idaho-grown potato. To celebrate this famous crop drop, Boise will once again host the free event on the grounds of the Idaho State Capitol for thousands of spectators waiting to watch the 2,000-pound illuminated GlowTato signal the new year.
What else: Purchase VIP (which, of course, stands for “very important potato”) tickets for a reserved space near the drop, craft cocktails and complimentary appetizers.
Where to stay: The Courtyard Boise Downtown is less than a mile from the event. Yes, its bistro serves french fries.
A 10-foot-tall acorn drops in City Plaza at the Raleigh Acorn Drop in North Carolina.
AP Photo/The News and Observer, John Rottet
Raleigh Acorn Drop
Raleigh, North Carolina
Sometimes you feel like a nut, especially on New Year’s Eve. For more than two decades, Raleigh has paid tribute to its nickname (“City of Oaks”) by dropping a giant, 10-foot-tall acorn in City Plaza. Prep for the big eve with a full day of fun, including a children’s celebration in the early afternoon, Ferris wheel rides and local food vendors.
What else: The Acorn Drop and festivities are all part of Raleigh’s annual First Night celebration, which features live performances in many downtown locations. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for children ages 6-12 and admission is free for children under the age of 5.
Where to stay: The StateView Hotel, walking distance from the lovely campus at North Carolina State, is about a 10-minute drive to the Acorn Drop.
A giant high-heeled red shoe kicks off the new year in Key West, Florida.
Florida Keys News Bureau
The Red Shoe Drop
Key West, Florida
For the past 25 years, entertainer Gary “Sushi” Marion has descended at midnight in a giant high-heeled red shoe in front of the Bourbon Street Pub. Sushi retired after last year’s drop, but the show will go on this year with a new star, Christopher Peterson, and the same epic pump. (Fun fact: The heel is 4 feet tall.)
What else: Thousands crowd onto Duval Street to see the shoe drop, but there are other celebrations planned in Key West: a lowering of the pirate wench at Schooner Wharf Bar, a conch shell drop at Sloppy Joe’s Bar and a “key lime drop” at Sunset Pier.
Where to stay: Rooms fill up fast, and prices go up for NYE, but if you want to stay near the shoe drop, try the Duval Inn, within walking distance of the festivities, or the Southernmost Beach Resort on Duval Street.
