Downtown Countdown

The inaugural "Pelican Drop" on December 31, 2008

The Downtown Countdown is an annual festival that takes place in downtown Pensacola on New Year's Eve and culminates in the Pelican Drop at midnight, when a large aluminum pelican is lowered (similar to the Times Square Ball and other objects) from a 100-foot platform in Plaza Ferdinand, accompanied by fireworks and confetti.

The event was established in 2008 and is sponsored by the Community Redevelopment Agency. The City of Mobile constructed a giant moon pie for its New Year's Eve celebration the same year.

The pelican sculpture is 17 feet high with a 20-foot wingspan and was designed by Michael Dicks of Emmett Andrews LLC.

External links & references

• www.pensacolapelicandrop.com – Official site