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Mt. Olive cancels New Year's Eve pickle drop

Mt. Olive Pickle has canceled its annual pickle drop.

Posted 2020-12-11T15:08:17+00:00 - Updated 2020-12-11T15:19:41+00:00

Mt. Olive Pickle Drop (Courtesy of Mt. Olive Pickles)

Kathy Hanrahan, Out

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The annual Mt. Olive Pickle Drop on New Year's Eve has been canceled, organizers announced Thursday.

The annual pickle drop usually takes place at 7 p.m. in the town of Mount Olive. This year, organizers will stream a 30-minute webcast that features highlights of previous pickle drops.

The New Year's Eve tradition was created by Mt. Olive Pickle, which was founded in Mount Olive more than 90 years ago.

For the first 19 years, a 3-foot-long pickle descended down the company's 45-foot flagpole at the corner of Cucumber and Vine streets. Last year, the event moved to the University of Mount Olive, where the pickle was dropped from the Mount Olive Fire Department’s tower truck followed by a fireworks display.

As with previous years, Mt. Olive Pickle will host a canned food drive in conjunction with the pickle drop. This year's drive will be virtual and run through Jan. 6. The company hopes to raise $5,000 for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.