Kennett Square residents joyfully rang in the new year with the twelfth iteration of their iconic 700-pound sparkling mushroom drop, writes Emily Neil for the WHYY.
The Midnight in the Square Mushroom Drop, where a shimmering mushroom is released from 80 feet in the air, has established itself as a hallmark of Kennett Square’s identity.
“It’s invigorating,” said Kathi Lafferty, coordinator of Midnight in the Square and the Mushroom Drop. “It’s so cool to have people gather, and it’s something we give back to the community.”
The event takes place no matter the weather and also features live music and a laser show. Anywhere from 2,000 to 8,000 people, depending on the weather, descend on the town square at State and Union streets for the event, with thousands more watching on Facebook livestream.
The tradition originated in 2013 when Lafferty was approached by state Rep. John Lawrence with the idea. Lafferty leapt into action, contacting local metal workshop M&P Custom Design to produce the 8-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide mushroom.
The first year’s event drew both national and international coverage.
“That first morning, it went viral,” said Lafferty. “It was all over the world.”
Read more about the Midnight in the Square mushroom drop in the WHYY.
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