Perry Buzzard Drop tops list of midstate New Year's Eve events

Perry's third annual Buzzard Drop might just be the most unusual New Year's Eve spectacle in Middle Georgia.

"The buzzards migrate in this area from May to October," said Susan Scragg, president of Perry Main Street Advisory Board. "So they just completely encompass the city, flying around. They perch on billboards and every other thing."

So what does a city do when hundreds of carrion eating birds of prey decent upon it?

"We just thought we'd embrace the little guy and make him our mascot," Scragg said. "We wanted something unique and different."

Bob the Buzzard was named after Perry Department of Public Works employee Bob Taylor. "We call him our buzzard commander," Scragg said. "He really designed Bob. He sketched him out, and he has put his heart and soul into making Bob the Buzzard into what he is."

Alabama rock and hip-hop band Blackberry Breeze starts the evening's free festivities at 9 p.m. in downtown Perry.

Visitors can shake their tail feathers for a chance to win $100 in the "Buzzard Boogie," a dance competition beginning at 10:45 p.m.

Spot a miniature Bob the Buzzard popping from a miniature model of a city water tower on the grounds of the former courthouse for a chance to win $100 in the "Who Saw Bob?" contest. Fill out a form with the date and time you saw the feathered friend before noon Dec. 30 to enter a drawing to be held during the New Year's Eve celebration.

Visitors may bring lawn chairs and blankets, but no personal heaters. The City of Perry will provide a courtesy shuttle to take home residents within the city limits.

The Library Ballroom in downtown Macon is hosting its first Rockin' New Year's Eve with A2Z Band and a balloon drop at the stroke of midnight. Guests can toast the New Year with complimentary champagne while they watch the Times Square ball drop.

Proceeds from the evening will go toward the $20,000 needed to replace the Library Ballroom's roof.

"We are an historical property, and it takes a lot of work to keep those up and nice," said Kaylee Pruitt, Library Ballroom's event and properties manager.

Guests can write their resolutions on a large poster and take selfies in a photo booth with props and use hashtag #RockinNYE2016. Tickets include finger foods and a cash bar.

If you are looking for an excuse to dress up in your cocktail attire and give a little back to the community, the Advocacy Resource Center of Macon is hosting its eighth annual New Year's Eve Big Bash at the Macon Marriott Centerplex Ballroom.

The 12-piece band Atlanta Funk Society will play hits from the '60s, '70s and '80s. Guests also can purchase raffle tickets for gift baskets like the "Date Night" basket with a gift certificate to Dovetail; an Italian-themed basket, which includes wines, olive oil and vinegar; and a Mercer University basket, complete with tickets to Mercer athletic events.

Tickets to the event start at $20 and include a cash bar. VIP tickets cover appetizers, an open bar and a midnight breakfast buffet.

Guests can donate to ARC, which serves about 100 people with developmental disabilities from 29 counties, through sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

"The beauty of us partnering with the Marriott is that 100 percent of the sponsorship money is going ARC," said Debbie Schuchmann, ARC development director.

The New Year's Eve Cherry Blossom Ball Drop in Macon was cancelled after co-presenter ARC decided to move its annual New Year's Eve fundraiser from the Terminal Station where the ball drop was also set to be held.

"We were in a hunt to get another partner for (co-presenter) iHeartMedia to help run the event," said Jake Ferro, Cherry Blossom president and CEO. "(The Cherry Blossom Festival) can't do it. We just don't have the manpower now that we've switched to a fall schedule of events."

Macon-Bibb County Commission approved a resolution in early December to fund a celebration to be held outside the Macon-Bibb County Government Center and in Rosa Parks Square, but no plans have been made as of press time.

For more New Year's Eve events in the midstate, see the calendar listing on page 9E..

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Perry Buzzard Drop tops list of midstate New Year's Eve events ."