City of Marion issued the following announcement on Dec. 28.
You’ve not lived until you’ve counted down the seconds to the New Year while watching an oversized gold nugget descend from the sky into a giant pot of gold.
This scenario may sound strange, but it’s how visitors to Downtown Marion, N.C. will celebrate the coming of 2022 during Marion Rotary Club’s New Year’s Eve Celebration, which is considered one of the most unique New Year’s Eve events in the southeast.
The City of Marion began its New Year’s Eve Gold Nugget Drop in 2009 as a nod to McDowell County’s gold heritage. Many people do not realize it, but the gold rush in the United States actually started in Western North Carolina. McDowell County, where the City of Marion and North Carolina Gold Foundation is located, played an integral part in that history.
The Gold Foundation designed the City’s first gold nugget, which dropped every New Year’s Eve until 2016. At that time the gold nugget was replaced with a more modern-looking gold nugget designed by local business Turtle Laboratories.
This year’s festivities will kick off on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. with an Urban Hike through several downtown Marion neighborhoods. This hike will highlight some of Marion’s iconic homes and tell the stories of their past owners. Not only will this activity get your hear racing, but it’ll also give you a new perspective on some of the homes that surround downtown Marion.
The Urban Hike is expected to last approximately 2 hours. Participants are asked to wear comfortable shoes and be ready for an evening of stories and activity. No advanced registration is required.
The McDowell County Historical Society will host its Historical Ghost Walk with Haunted Building Investigation featuring CreepGeeks at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Walks will depart from Ingenious Coffee Roasters, located at 140 South Main Street in Marion. Tickets for the ghost walk are $12 per adult, $8 for Kids 12-18 and free for kids 12 and under. Walks are expected to last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
Proceeds from this event will go directly to the McDowell County Historical Society, a 501c3. Walks are weather-dependent, so rain may cancel this portion of the event. For up to date information on this event, visit the event’s Facebook page.
From 9- 11 p.m., families with small children can enjoy carnival games and an inflatable Kid’s Zone sponsored by the Corpening Memorial YMCA. Free miniature train rides will also be available during this time.
All Things Geeky by 2 Nerds will be hosting Marion’s annual New Year’s Eve Costume Contest. From 9-10:30 p.m., participants can register for the contest and have their picture taken at All Things Geeky by 2 Nerds, located at 29 Logan Street in Marion.
Contest winners will be announced at the store at 10:30 p.m. and again before the gold nugget drop at midnight. Winners will receive one of several cash prizes.
Individuals and groups looking for a challenge can take part in a special New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt hosted by Watermark Theater Collective.
Participants will be asked to download the app Goosechase and type in the event’s details at the Municipal Event Center, located at 29 Logan Street in Marion. They’ll then have from 9:30 – 11 p.m. to find a variety of items located around town for a chance to win a prize. The top ranking players will receive a prize for their efforts.
Hours before the gold nugget drop on Main Street, visitors can enjoy carriage rides starting at 9 p.m. and continuing to midnight. Local shops, restaurants and breweries will be open Downtown during this event, making perfect pit stops for visitors wanting to make the most out of the last day of 2021.
A few minutes before midnight, New Year’s Eve revealers can gather around the oversized gold nugget created by Turtle Laboratories in Marion and prepare to experience this one-of-a-kind New Year’s Eve countdown. As the seconds wind down to midnight, spectators can count down from 10 as the nugget drops slowly descends into a large pot of gold.
This year’s gold nugget drop will be in honor Don Markum, a gold enthusiast who helped create the New Year’s Eve nugget drop to bring recognition to McDowell County’s gold heritage.
The City’s New Year’s Eve Celebration is a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Marion, City of Marion and other community organizations and businesses. A committee made up of Rotary Club Members, City of Marion Staff, Chamber of Commerce Staff, Emergency Services Personnel, local residents and members of the nonprofit community begin planning the event shortly after each celebration. Leading up to the event, the committee meets regularly to plan and develop amazing experiences for those visiting Marion on New Year’s Eve.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Marion
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