If you can’t make it to Times Square in New York City, check out these New Year’s Eve events in Wisconsin, with truly unique ways to ring in 2019.
New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop – Sister Bay
- Sister Bay is putting the cherry on top of 2018 with their second-annual New Year’s Eve Cherry Drop.
- The event features family-friendly activities all day long on December 31, including ice skating, live entertainment and a fireworks show – it’s the only New Year’s Eve fireworks show in all of Door County.
- The town puts its own spin on the Times Square ball drop with a 7-foot, 300 pound, brightly lit red cherry that’s lowered at the stroke of midnight.
- The cherry is decorated with tiny red sparkling lights, complete with a stem and green leaf.
- New this year, attendees can enjoy a midnight toast of cherry sparkle from Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery, a Central Standard Distillery cherry vodka signature cocktail, and an official Cherry Drop midnight kissing booth.
For more than 10 years, Plymouth has hosted its own quirky twist on the New Year’s Eve ball drop – the annual “Big Cheese Drop.”
- The event takes place at the Plymouth Arts Center, where the local fire department lowers a giant cheese wedge from the ladder truck with sirens and lights blaring.
- The cheese wedge is modeled after a giant wedge of Sartori brand cheese and decorated with lights.
- Sartori, which is a well-known artisan cheese factory, is located in Plymouth.
- The cheese wedge is modeled after a giant wedge of Sartori brand cheese and decorated with lights.
- The cheese drop officially happens at 10 p.m., in the Plymouth Arts Center Plaza and there will be live music inside the Arts Center until 12:30 a.m., with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.
- The event also includes live music, a bonfire and, of course, cheese. The first 250 families in attendance will receive free cheese wedges donated by the Sartori Company.
New Year’s Eve Celebration at Mitchell Park Conservatory – Milwaukee
For a family-friendly event that doesn’t run too late for the kiddos, head to the Mitchell Park Domes for their annual New Year’s Eve celebration.
- The event takes place from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets are just $10 per person, and each guest will receive a give-away at the door.
- There will be live entertainment from local bands, fire dancers and a magician, and kids can enjoy activities like face painting, crafts and making balloon animals.
- Throughout the night, a light show will light up the Show Dome, which will still be decorated in its holiday theme – A Scrooge Holiday Christmas.
- At 9:00 PM, everyone gathers in the Annex for the Big Balloon Drop, where almost 1,000 balloons will be released from the ceiling.