Welcoming a new year means reflection, anticipation, and, most often, celebration for many people across the country. And one of the most popular traditions for this festive event is the New Year's Eve drop, which sees a large object descend with the stroke of midnight.

These 10 New Year's Eve drops have been nominated by travel editors and voted by readers as the best in the United States, and each one offers its own spin on the occasion with unique items being lowered.

No. 10: Times Square Ball Drop - New York City, New York

The Times Square Ball Drop needs no explanation. The masses have been gathering since 1907 to watch the 12-foot geodesic sphere, which is covered in 2,688 crystals, descend the pole atop the One Times Square building. Around a million people watch the ball drop in person each year, and millions more watch the broadcast.

No. 9: Pickle Drop - Mount Olive, North Carolina

Start celebrating the new year early by watching a glowing pickle drop into a giant pickle jar at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve in Mount Olive, North Carolina. Attendees can enjoy live music, food, fireworks, and free pickles.

No. 8: The Possum Drop - Tallapoosa, Georgia

No possums are harmed in the annual New Year's Eve possum drop — the possum used in the drop passed in a road accident, was discovered by a local taxidermist, and is now affectionately referred to as Spencer. The celebration takes place in Tallapoosa, Georgia, which was once named Possum Snout after a local Native American chief, and features plenty of live entertainment alongside the possum drop.

No. 7: New Year's Eve Beach Ball Drop - Panama City Beach, Florida

Every December 31, Panama City Beach, Florida, closes the streets of Pier Park and gets the New Year’s party started. The public is invited to watch two beach balls drop — one at 8 p.m. EST for the early birds, and the second at midnight. There’s also live music, entertainment, and fireworks.

No. 6: PEEPS Chick Drop - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

It will be a sweet new year after watching a giant, illuminated, 400-pound PEEPS Chick drop at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It descends not at midnight, but at 5:30 p.m. on both December 30 and 31, and it's accompanied by a fireworks display.

No. 5: The Great Pinecone Drop - Flagstaff, Arizona

The Great Pinecone Drop at the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona, features a 70-pound, 6-foot-tall metallic pinecone. The event takes place at noon, 10 p.m., and midnight, and was established in 1999 to celebrate the hotel’s centennial.

No. 4: Pierogi Drop - Whiting, Indiana

The town of Whiting, Indiana, drops a giant pierogi at midnight. The pierogi descends over 50 feet into a boiling cauldron, and the event includes music, fireworks, and more in celebration of the region's Eastern European heritage.

No. 3: New Year's Eve Shrimp Drop - Amelia Island, Florida

Just north of Jacksonville, Florida, Amelia Island is a top destination for seafood lovers, and the annual Shrimp Drop is just one of many events that celebrate this legacy. In lieu of a typical ball, this picturesque Florida island invites visitors to marvel at a vibrant shrimp instead, which drops from its lofty perch at midnight while fireworks crackle in the distance.

No. 2: Idaho Potato Drop - Boise, Idaho

Idaho will forever be connected to the mighty potato, so you might not be surprised that Boise drops a glowing potato at midnight on New Year’s Eve. It's part of an annual celebration that also features fireworks, music, art performances, and sporting events.

No. 1: Ludington's New Year's Eve Ball Drop - Ludington, Michigan

Michigan embraces the holiday spirit each year with Ludington's New Year's Eve Ball Drop, an event that takes place on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. This festival invites Michiganders and visitors alike to kick back and enjoy wine and local craft beer as they marvel at colorful fireworks and a ball drop stage that's clad in thousands of flashing lights.