BERLIN – Town officials expressed interest in eliminating the midnight ball drop on New Year’s Eve following light attendance at the most recent event.
While staff and elected officials agreed the 6 p.m. ball drop on Dec. 31 was a success, the high staff costs and low attendance associated with the later event led council members to suggest the midnight event be cut.
“The crowds just weren’t there for the midnight event,” said Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director.
During Monday’s council meeting, Councilman Steve Green asked Wells for a recap of the town’s New Year’s Eve festivities. He said he wanted her take on the events, as he’d noticed crowds seemed to be down for the later ball drop.
The Berlin ball drop tradition began more than a decade ago. While the event began small, it grew in popularity, eventually expanding into two events—a 6 p.m. ball drop for kids, designed to occur at what was midnight in Berlin, Germany, and a 12 a.m. event for adults.