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The event was rated the third best New Year’s Eve by USA Today, beating even Times Square.
FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla — At the stroke of 7 p.m. Tuesday, hundreds of people on Fernandina Beach cheered as a seven-foot LED shrimp was lowered from a crane.
Amelia Island’s New Years Eve Shrimp Drop rung in the new year with the island’s favorite crustacean and with a bang, as fireworks ended the countdown. The event was rated the third best New Year’s Eve by USA Today, beating Times Square, a pierogi, a pine cone, a possum, a pickle and a Peep.
People filled the streets by the Amelia Island Welcome Center, where a DJ, food trucks and face painting were set up around the crustacean of the hour: the shrimp that would soon drop.
Families expressed optimism about 2025. One woman said she expects it to be the best year of her life.
“It’s been one of the hardest years of my life,” said Alexis Marshall. “I have been in and out of the hospital super sick and I almost didn’t make it and I just want to celebrate and 2025, that it’s gonna be the best year of my life. And I’m going to travel around the world and do everything I’ve always wanted to do.”
Workers with Light Up Amelia said 7:00 p.m. was a family friendly time for the event and the Greenwich Mean Time stroke of midnight.