New Years Celebrations

As the crystal ball will drop on new yorks times square tonight, at Cheaha State Park a turkey will drop as the park holds its second annual New Years Turkey Drop beginning at 10pm.   Park superintendent Tammy Power,

said the inspiration for the Turkey Drop, a stuffed turkey in a ball, came from the Pinhoti Trail. Pinhoti in the Creek Indian language means “home of the turkey,” hence the park’s mascot, Pinhoti the turkey.

The celebration will include food and hot chocolate, music, dancing with Pinhoti (a person in a turkey suit) and a breakfast buffet that will open after the turkey drops at midnight. No reservations are necessary, but there is a $10-per-vehicle charge for the event.

On New Year’s Day, the park will offer its yearly buffet, which will serve foods that are reputed to bring good health and good fortune in the new year  At 1 p.m. the park will host a three-quarter-mile guided hike atop Mount Cheaha.

On Friday, the park will offer its first Time Warp, a historical hike that challenges visitors to visit all the Civilian Conservation Corps sites in the park.

Other celebrations in the area include:

— Anniston’s New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Duck Pond Park at McClellan in beginning at 7 p.m.