From giant anchors to a 70 pound turtle, the New Year gets rung in in some strange ways around the Mitten State.

Sault Ste. Marie Drops A Giant Anchor At Midnight New Year's Eve

Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has long time relationship with Great Lakes shipping, thanks to it being the home of the Soo Locks, which connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron.

That's why they drop a big anchor (at the corner of Ashmun and Portage downtown Soo) every year to bring in the New Year. This year, they ask that you wear your best Yooper attire (I'm guessing a Stormy Kromer and plaid flannel will work).

Courtesy Downtown Sault Ste. Marie
Courtesy Downtown Sault Ste. Marie
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Mackinac Island Drops A 70-Pound Turtle

Don't worry, it's not alive, it's a fiberglass cartoon turtle whose shell is covered in lights. It slowly is lowered from the top of the Lilac Tree hotel on Main Street. Many other events coincide with the turtle drop, including a twilight Turtle Trek along a lighted trail.

Courtesy Mackinac Island Tourism
Courtesy Mackinac Island Tourism
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The Cherry-T Ball Is Dropped In Traverse City

A 600-pound ball, made to look like a cherry will drop in downtown TC, at the corner of Cass and Front Streets. The annual “Party with a Purpose” brings live entertainment to stages set up around downtown, all benefitting the GoodwillNMI’s Food Rescue and the Northwest Food Coalition.

Noon Day Eve Egg Drop – Zeeland

Get eggcited! You don't have to stay up late at all in Zeeland. The Zeeland Museum at 37 E. Main Street will hold the annual Noon Day Eve Egg Drop on December 31st from 11 am to 12 pm. Eggs will start dropping from the second story of the Zeeland Museum building at Noon on December 31st.

This is a cool event. Families are encouraged to build a packaging device to drop the egg out of the building and have it land safely to earth without breaking. There will be prizes for the people who can achieve that, and refreshments for all who participate.

Several Other Cities Just Drop Plain Old Balls

Allegan, Manistee and Ludington are among other cities with big time New Year's celebrations planned, and although they will just drop a plain, old regular lit giant ball, all will feature local music and events, each unique to their town.

Happy New Year!

The Perfect Gifts for a "Pure Michigan" 12 Days of Christmas

Who the heck wants upwards of 30 birds for Christmas? I know I don't. Instead, why not try out these "Pure Michigan"-themed gifts that we've thought of as an alternative to the original 12 Days of Christmas