The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fulton seeks help with Peach Drop
County wants private sector as partner for future New Year’s drops.
Fulton County doesn’t want a three-decade Atlanta holiday tradition to go bad.
Robb Pitts, County Commission chairman, says he will call on the private sector to partner with the county to keep the Peach Drop alive for future New Year’s Eve celebrations. Although this year’s drop is canceled, Pitts will make his plea for the fuzzy favorite Monday morning.
The 800-pound peach first dropped in 1989 at Underground Atlanta, a Georgia take on the New York City Times Square ball drop. Over the years, it drew as many as 100,000 people to enjoy the musical lineup and party that precede the drop.
But in 2017, a South Carolina real estate developer purchased Underground Atlanta from the
city of Atlanta. So the city moved the Peach Drop to Woodruff Park for New Year’s 2017 but brought it back to Underground last year.
In early November, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms confirmed fears: the drupe won’t drop to don this new decade.
“We’re going to take a break, reevaluate, reexamine the location and how we plan it out,” she said. “And when it comes back, I promise you it will be bigger and better.”
A Fulton spokesman on Friday didn’t know the exact parameters of the partnership that Pitts is seeking, nor if there’s a specific price tag.
For those who are missing their annual visit with the peach, the county will have it on hand for photos from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Fulton will be showing the peach through January, the county said.