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Times Square is not the only place to be if you’d like to participate in a New Years Eve ball drop – especially if you live in Michigan. If you don’t have the vacation time to ring in the new year in the big apple (or don’t want to be around such a large crowd), there are New Years Eve ball drop’s in Michigan to celebrate at.
I’ve combed through as many local event pages as possible to find out which cities and towns are having a ball drop this year. Check out the list below for additional details, and maybe I’ll see you at one to say hello 2024!
Map of New Years Eve Ball Drop’s in Michigan
New Years Eve Ball Drops in Eastern Michigan
Wyandotte Rockin’ NYE
The Wyandotte Rockin NYE takes place on 1st and Elm Streets starting at 6:00 PM. From 5-7:00 PM there is a separate kids celebration with train rides, face painting, and a photo booth. The party concludes with a ball drop at 7:00 pm. Then, from 8:00 PM on, the party is 21+ only. There will be live music, fire pits, games, and food trucks.
Downtown Owosso NYE Block Party/Ball Drop
Fun fact: the NYE ball at this drop is named Lucille… The activities start in downtown Owosso at 11:00 PM. There is ice skating and a DJ in addition to the ball drop and fireworks.
New Years Eve Ball Drops in West Michigan
Ludington’s NYE Party
The event starts at 9:00 PM at James Street & Ludington Avenue. It’s free with fun for all age groups with music and dancing, an entertainment tent with beer, and a ball drop at midnight with fireworks after. Prior to the NYE party, check out how you can spend a fun winter day in Ludington here. And if you’re looking for how to celebrate with little ones, RVSP to attend the balloon drop at Sandcastles Children’s Museum. This is happening from 5-8pm.
Grand Haven’s Ball Drop
Gather at Washington Ave and 1st Street starting at 8pm to watch Grand Haven’s NYE ball drop. Before midnight there will be live music playing. After the drop, there’s a firework display that follows! This celebration is free and great for all ages.
South Haven’s Beach Ball Drop
Make your way to downtown South Haven at dusk to participate in family friendly crafts, music and train display. Downtown businesses are staying open late to allow you to shop, dine, and keep warm. Then at midnight, 1,000 beach balls will drop. Then there is a fireworks show.
Hastings New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
The festivity’s take place in downtown Hastings on State Street from 9:00 PM – 12:15 AM. It’s a family friendly event with live music, ball drop, and sound and light display.
New Years Eve Ball Drops in Southern Michigan
Kalamazoo New Year’s Fest
Meet at and around Bronson Park at 6:00 PM. It costs $7 to participate if you buy a button to attend in advance or $10 day of. There’s a variety of activities to do for people of all ages. Plus includes 5 indoor performance locations, 2 heating tents, and live music. Live acts include musicians, magicians, jugglers, and more! Click on the link above to access a map on the event’s website that shows all the venue’s around Bronson Park as well as parking information. Check out this family friendly holiday trip itinerary to Kalamazoo here.
New Years Eve Ball Drops in Northern Michigan
Great Turtle Drop on Mackinac Island
Want to see how Mackinac Island celebrates New Years Eve? Come on up to watch a 70 pound, green fiberglass turtle drop on Mackinac Island’s Main Street. The turtle drops right next to the Lilac Tree Suites, which remains open during the winter.
Marquette’s NYE Ball Drop
Gather at 11:45 PM at the Masonic Square Mall at 128-130 W. Washington Street to countdown to midnight. The event is free and family friendly!
Traverse City CherryT Ball Drop
Because Traverse City is known for its cherry industry, the city celebrates the new year by dropping a giant cherry! The festivities take place on Front Street starting at 10:30 PM until 12:20 AM and costs $5 to enter. It is family friendly with live music. The event also doubles as a charity event where money and non-perishable food items are collected. After the cherry ball drop at midnight, there are fireworks. Looking for more ideas on what to do in Traverse City in winter? Check out my winter getaway itinerary here.
Petoskey – New Year’s Eve Outside the Arts Center
If you’d like to be snoozing by midnight, you can celebrate up north at the Crooked Tree Arts Center. The event kicks off at 5:00 PM and is both indoor and outdoors at the corner of Division Street and Mitchell Street in downtown Petoskey. There’s live music, arts and craft workshops indoors and dancing, games, and s’mores outside. The festivities last until 9:00 PM when their time square style ball drops. The cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for kids 3 and up.
Sault Ste Marie’s New Year’s Eve Celebration & Anchor Drop
Sault Ste Marie’s going all out for New Year’s Eve and kicking the festivities off at 6:00 PM with kids activities going until 8:00 PM. The kids activities include crafts, face painting, kid friendly entertainment acts, and a s’mores station and concludes with an anchor drop at 8:00 PM.
At 7:00 PM, the adult entertainment fires up when the beer tent opens up at the Farmers Market. Then at 8:00 PM there is a corn hole tournament. Warming stations, entertainment, and a .5k marathon carry the event on through until midnight when the anchor drops again, officially signaling its 2024!