New Year’s Eve is the day we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome in 2014 with celebrations, fireworks, champagne and ball drops. In Central Pennsylvania we have a number of different ways people ring in the new year.
York County alone has a rich history of unique New Year’s Eve celebrations.
In downtown York thousand pack into Continental Square to watch the White Rose drop. “York is the White Rose City!” said event coordinator Mary Yeaple. “It was always downtown. A few years ago we experimented with using the stadium. We have this beautiful facility and the Revs wanted to make that facility available. But people really like tradition and having it at Continental Square.”
New Year’s Revolution 2014 features live music from Nakuu, R.P.M., and Sabrina Duke Band. The event also features food and entertainment for the whole family. At Central Market select vendors are open, they have a bounce house, face painting, and a countdown and balloon drop.
For more information about New Year’s Revolution Downtown York click here
In Dillsburg people ring in the New Year with the Pickle Drop. In its 21st year the giant Mr. Pickle drops from the square in Dillsburg. At the Citizen’s Hose Fire Company on South Baltimore Street people can enjoy the famous Pickle Soup. Children can see a magician, watch the mini pickle drop and more. There is also a blood drive until 8:30 p.m. for the Central Pa Blood Bank.
The history behind the drop is all in the name. “Dillsburg is named after Colonial Matthew Dill who fought in the civil war and because of the name Dill, a pickle was a natural selection!” said event coordinator Deana Weaver.
For more information about Dillsburg Pickle Drop click here
In Red Lion people can watch the 17th annual New Year’s Eve celebration from the square. The Red Lion lifts up a giant cigar at midnight. “The town is built on the cigar industry. We no longer have any cigar factories in town but our history is deep in the cigar industry. In the 1920s and 1930s Red Lion had over 100 cigar factories. People didn’t have television so they made cigars in the evenings. We were the heart of the cigar industry in the East Coast,” said retired Red Lion Mayor Robert Furtiger.