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No ball drop this year but there may still be some New Year’s celebrating.
Voting Opens Nov. 3; public can vote once daily through Dec. 1
LUDINGTON — Ludington is once again in the running for Best New Year’s Eve Drop. In 2024 took the USA TODAY 10BEST honor against nominations across the country, including the famous Times Square Ball Drop in New York City and offbeat drops such as the Idaho Potato Drop, Beach Ball Drop in Panama City Beach, and Pickle Drop in Mount Olive, North Carolina.
Ludington
Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is one of 20 ball drops around the United States selected by the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards panel for Best New Year’s Eve Drop, and the only one in Michigan. This comes in a line of multiple recognitions by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, which also recognized Ludington as the Best Historic Small Town in 2024 (winner) and 2025 (No. 4) and as home to one of the Best Beaches in Michigan with Stearns Park in 2024 (No. 2) and 2025 (No. 4).
The Ludington Area Visitors Bureau encourages people to vote for the Ludington New Year’s Eve Drop daily starting today, Nov. 3, until the contest ends Monday, Dec. 1 at 11:59 a.m. Fans can vote here.
“Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop continues to rank high on people’s lists for the best place to ring in the new year,” said Brandy Miller, executive director of the Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “People travel here from around the state and beyond as one of the biggest ball drops in West Michigan, and we hope people will make plans to spend their New Year’s Eve again with us this year. And don’t forget to vote.”
Ludington’s description as the 2024 winner reads: “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.”
Voting Details
Individuals 18 years and older may vote for Ludington once a day until the Dec. 1 deadline. Votes cast or received in violation of these official rules will be disregarded and disqualified. Voting closes Dec. 1 at 11:59 a.m. EST. The 10BEST Readers’ Choice winner will be posted afterward at 10best.usatoday.com/awards.
Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop has been entertaining guests for more than 15 years as one of west Michigan’s largest ball drops. This free event begins on Dec. 31 at 9 p.m. on Ludington Avenue – featuring music, a beer tent with commemorative light-up glasses, a ball dropped at the stroke of midnight, and a large fireworks display over downtown. Other evening elements include warm-up spots around town at stores and restaurants, Balloon Drop New Year’s Eve Party for families at Sandcastles Children’s Museum 5 – 8 p.m. (entrance fee), New Year’s Eve party at Mason County District Library 8:30 – 11 p.m., an after-party at Timbers Prime starting at 12:30 a.m., and a New Year’s Resolution Run 5K Jan. 1 Free safe rides will be on New Year’s Eve provided by the Ludington Mass Transit Authority (LMTA) plus local towing and taxi companies. Lodging deals are also available. Find more information at www.PureLudington.com/NYE.
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