If you cant be at Times Square in New York City this New Years Eve for the annual dropping of the ball then we have a great Appalachian alternative for you. You can still make plans to descend upon Brasstown, NC, for the 21st Annual Clays Corner Possum Drop. The event takes place at the Clays Corner gas station featuring a live opossum lowered inside a plexiglass box at the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year. The town of Brasstown normally boasts a population of 240 but that number will swell to upwards of 3,000 and one opossum on New Years Eve for the festivities. The proprietors of Clays Corner, Clay and Judy Logan, organize the event which features food and entertainment including bluegrass and gospel music, comedy, a Miss Possum beauty pageant where contestants are men cross-dressed as women to earn the title of Possum Queen and, of course, the grand finale of the dropping of the live opossum. Past events have even showcased a possumtron television screen to help keep tabs on the happenings. The Possum Drop has earned national attention having been featured in articles in the New York Times and LA Times along with a segment on CBS Sunday Morning among other media. The event has not been without controversy despite assurances that the opossum is well taken care of while in captivity and released unharmed shortly after the event. The Possum Drop has fallen under attack by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) who claim the opossum is traumatized by the event resulting in capture myopathy - a state of shock brought on by the capture. A state representative in North Carolina ended up getting a statute passed that allowed for the drop to continue in 2013 by allowing Clay County a waiver for the last week of December. PETA has filed suit against the statute this year saying it creates a zone of lawlessness in Clay County by giving the county special treatment. The PETA lawsuit threatens the use of a live opossum this year as the Logans have to get a wildlife permit to legally proceed with the event. Clay Logan has assured that the event will go on as scheduled this New Years Eve. The Possum Drop was established as an intentional tongue-in-cheek poke at ridiculous Appalachian/hillbilly stereotypes by absurdly going over the top all in the name of entertainment. The Possum Drop prides itself on being a family-friendly atmosphere where young and old alike can come have a good time and enjoy good, clean fun while waiting for the lowering of the opossum. I think more of our communities could benefit by establishing their own tradition for the New Year as these events spread goodwill and, when done well, can draw crowds to give a little boost to the local economy. - Shane Does your town have a New Years Eve tradition?
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015