The New Year\’s Eve Beach Ball drop in Pier Park has turned into quite a tradition for Panama City Beach. This year will be the 9th annual celebration.
For almost a decade, thousands of people gather in Pier Park to ring in the new year with the Beach Ball Drop. People from out of town are coming to make this a holiday tradition.
The first beach ball dropped at midnight 2009 as a crowd of 7,500 said goodbye to 2008.
The second year they added the inflated beach ball drop.
This year the beach ball will get a little fancier with the arrival of a permanent LED beach ball a-top the brand new celebration tower.
Officials say if you plan to attend the Beach Ball Drop this year, be sure to get there early to allow plenty of time to park. As for the expected crowds? It’s gone from 7,500 in 2009 to over 40,000 for 2016.
Happy New Year!
