No Peach Drop for Atlanta's New Year's Eve celebration

The latest: Instead, Atlanta will roll out a "12-minute New Year's Eve activation that is a modern, inclusive, and a citywide celebration aligned with the mayor's commitment to equity and accessibility for all Atlantans," the city said in a news release.

• A peach drone countdown display will be visible in the sky from Downtown and Midtown before the clock strikes midnight, the city said.
• A fireworks show will also take place.

What they're saying: Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement that the Peach Drop has been part of Atlanta's history since 1989, but this year "we are reimagining that tradition with Countdown Over ATL."

• "All you have to do is step outside, hit your neighborhood spot, meet on a rooftop or watch from your backyard, and you'll be part of one special shared moment," Dickens said.

Flashback: Atlanta officials canceled the 2023 Peach Drop to ring in 2024 due to the city allocating resources to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, according to the AJC.

• It was called off in 2019 due to issues at the Underground site and in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox 5 reported.

• The Peach Drop was brought back in 2022 to celebrate 2023's arrival.

The big picture: The city said this year's event will decentralize the location of the festivities, as people will no longer have to descend onto Underground Atlanta just to see the Peach Drop.

Caveat: People in Downtown and Midtown will have the best view of the peach drone, the city said.

What's next: The city will coordinate with local businesses to come up with a list of rooftops available for residents who have an obstructed view of the sky. The list will be posted on the city's website.