The 2009 Atlanta Peach Drop Brings in the New Year with a Bang

The annual Peach Drop is Atlanta's answer to Times Square on New Year's Eve. This event is a family oriented celebration of the coming New Year and this 2009 Peach Drop will not be any different. The celebration kicks off at 12 noon on December 31, 2008, with activities for the kids as well as a plethora of entertainment. Brand McGuiness kicks things off at 12 noon, followed by Priscilla Sapp at 1 p.m., Jordan Humphrey at 2 p.m., Samantha Bailey Crews at 3 p.m., Alise Holliday at 4 p.m., and closing with Az1 at 5 p.m. The main entertainment for this year's event will be Country Music Recording Artist and Dancing with the Starts professional champion Julianne Hough. She will take the stage between 6 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. The night ends with the dropping of an 800-pound peach to kick off 2009.

The Peach Drop takes place at Underground Atlanta, located at 50 Upper Alabama Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia, 30303. There is plenty of parking in the area. However, the parking for Underground Atlanta specifically is located at Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at Pryor Street and Central Avenue. Visitors can also reach the site by taking the MARTA system to either the Peachtree Center Station or the Five Points Station. MARTA will run until 2 am for those using the transit system.

The wonderful thing is that this event is free! No tickets of any type are needed for the activities. A suggestion is that you arrive early for the best position for the entertainment and fireworks. Attendance is expected to be around 100,000 so keep this in mind while planning attendance at this event.

For those traveling in for the event, some of the nearest hotels are:

Quality Hotel Downtown

89 Luckie St NW

Atlanta, GA, 30303

866-539-0036

The Ellis Hotel

176 Peachtree Street NW

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-523-5155

Residence Inn by Marriott Atlanta Downtown

134 Peachtree St NW

Atlanta, GA, 30303

866-539-0036

Hyatt Regency Atlanta

265 Peachtree Street NE

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-577-1234

The Glenn Hotel

110 Marietta St NW

Atlanta, GA

404-521-2250

Holiday Inn Atlanta - Downtown World Congress Center

101 Andrew Young Intl. Blvd.

Atlanta, GA, 30303

866-539-0036

There are several restaurants located at Underground Atlanta, including the Old Alabama Eatery - Food Court, which will remain open until 9 pm. Other restaurants located at Underground Atlanta are Johnny Rocket's, Tringali's, and several others. There will also be plenty of concession stands onsite to sell traditional festival eats. , which houses eight different clubs, will remain open until 4 a.m.Kenny's Alley

Visitors may want to spend the entire weekend and add a few must see places like the Georgia State Capitol, The Martin Luther King Jr. History Center, CNN Center, or The World of Coca Cola.

If you are looking for a family friendly event full of fireworks and celebration and do not care to travel to the frosty temperatures of New York City, why not plan a trip to the largest New Year's Eve celebration in the Southeast.