Ludington Ball Drop named No. 1 by USA Today poll

December 16, 2024

LUDINGTON — The Pure Ludington New Year’s Eve Ball Drop was recently named as the nation’s best New Year’s Eve drop by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

It was the only New Year’s Eve drop in Michigan and among 20

nominees from across the United States.

“Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is one of our top two most attended events, a perennial favorite that attracts thousands of people annually,” said Brandy Miller, executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We are ecstatic to be recognized nationally for this honor, and we encourage everyone to come to Ludington later this month to experience the best ball drop firsthand!”

Following is how USA Today 10Best described Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Drop in the contest:

“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.”

The top 10 winners for Best New Year’s Eve Drop are ranked as follows, which were shortlisted from an initial list of 20 nominations as the best in the United States that were curated by a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors before being voted on by the public:

Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
Idaho Potato Drop
New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop
Pierogi Drop
The Great Pinecone Drop
PEEPS Chick Drop
New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop
The Possum Drop
Pickle Drop
Times Square Ball Drop

“The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Ludington, Michigan, combines the charm of a small-town celebration with the excitement of a grand countdown,” said USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards editor Maggie Tyner. “Our readers clearly enjoy the welcoming, festive atmosphere that celebrates the new year with joy and camaraderie.”

In April, Ludington was voted Best Historic Small Town in another USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award. It also was the only Michigan city on the list of 20 nominated small towns with fewer than 25,000 people.

“Both of these awards validate that people are looking for authentic, small-town experiences that Ludington delivers,” added Miller. “We’re the antithesis of Times Square, with all the fun and festivities but without the hassle. And we’re only a 90-minute drive from Grand Rapids and four hours from Detroit and Chicago via expressway. We’re a convenient getaway.”

Kicking off Nov. 11, the “Best New Year’s Eve Drop” contest lasted four weeks, closing Dec. 9. Individuals 18 years and older could vote online once a day. The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations. Nominees are chosen by a panel of relevant experts, including a combination of editors from USA Today; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties.

Ludington’s biggest winter celebration and one of west Michigan’s largest New Year’s Eve ball drops, the Ludington New Year’s Eve Ball Drop features an outdoor beer garden and music, ball drop and fireworks, plus restaurants and shops open late.

The main event takes place at Legacy Plaza starting at 9 p.m. with an open-air street party with a live DJ. The party is free, though beer, wine, seltzer, and non-alcoholic options, plus souvenir light-up glasses, are available for purchase. The plaza fireplace will be roaring and heaters will be scattered throughout the plaza, and Ludington Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9 p.m. to midnight. The DJ leads the crowd in a countdown to midnight, marked by the ball drop with 6,000 LED lights, followed by fireworks lighting up the downtown sky.

Most downtown restaurants and pubs are open late for New Year’s Eve dinner and drinks, and many shops are also open late to browse and step out of the cold. Six companies are offering free, safe rides throughout the evening (see service area), and various accommodations will feature lodging specials. For all event-related information, visit pureludington.com/nye.

Below are additional events and activities on New Year’s Eve in downtown Ludington:

New Year’s Eve Balloon Drop – 5 to 8 p.m., Sandcastles Children’s Museum, 129 E. Ludington Ave.

This family-friendly Balloon Drop New Year’s Eve Party includes snack food and refreshments, House of Flavors ice cream, face painting and more. Admission is $60 per immediate family or $15 per person. Purchase tickets at Sandcastles or reserve by calling 231-233-9326.

Party at the Library – 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., Mason County District Library – Ludington Branch, 217 E. Ludington Ave.

The New Year’s Eve party at the library features light snacks, games, crafts for kids, a big pile of Legos, and more. All programs are free. Children under 8 must be supervised by an adult.