Looking ahead to New Year's Eve, Kennett Sation, Pa. residents will be in the company of a gigantic mushroom on the holiday the Associated Press reported Thursday.
"I'd hate to see the toad that comes next," Christian Monitor correspondent Lisa Suthey's 10 year-old son told her.
Officials will descend the 700-pound steel mushroom via a crane Dec. 31 in the center of the mushroom capital of the world when the townspeople congregate around its center following the community's Midnight in the Square event.
According to the Monitor, the artifact is over seven feet wide, eight feet tall, and totals $6,000 to make.
"Being the mushroom capital of the world, I don't know, why not," Kathi Lafferty, coordinator of the town's annual Mushroom Festival told The International Business Times. Half of the mushrooms in the United States come from farms surrounding town.
Other municipalities also bring in the new year in unique ways using food, and animals.
"New Year's Eve 2013 will not be your typical crystal ball drop in downtown Perry," Perry Ga., Mayor Jimmy Faircloth whose town is using a buzzard, told The Macon Telegraph last month. "New York City may host the Apple Drop ... and Georgia's own Atlanta will host the pride of the Peach State's Peach Drop. However, here in Perry, we were thinking of something more original."
Brasstown, N.C. residents will witness a live possum while Mobile, Ala, officials are using gigantic moon pie.
Norfolk, Va. may get into the act as well with a mega mermaid.
"Well, actually, we just might," Lori Crouch, Norfolk's public relations manager, told Suthey when she inquired with her about the city's plans for the occasion. "Festevents has been talking about creating a New Year's Eve event and there have been discussions about what we would drop. A mermaid is actually a great idea."
