MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — Mount Olive’s signature New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop will carry special significance this year as the longtime tradition ushers in 2026 and officially launches Mt. Olive Pickle Company’s Centennial celebration.
The 26th annual Pickle Drop will take place Wednesday, Dec. 31, in front of the University of Mount Olive’s George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena. Festivities begin at 5 p.m., with the iconic pickle descending promptly at 7 p.m., followed immediately by a fireworks display. The event concludes by 7:30 p.m.
In honor of the company’s 100th anniversary in 2026, a brand-new Centennial Pickle is being created for this year’s drop. Durham-based artist Rahela Laquidara has been commissioned to craft the new pickle, which will descend from Mount Olive Fire Department’s Tower 23.
“We have used what we call a pool pickle for our New Year’s Pickle since the very beginning,” said Lynn Williams, a company spokesperson. “At only three and a half feet tall, it looks awfully small hanging from the ladder truck 50 feet in the air. This year felt like the right time to commission something new to kick off our centennial.”
The family-friendly celebration will include live music from the ThrowBack Collaboration Band, performing old-school rhythm and blues, along with food trucks, children’s inflatables, and free pickles provided by Mt. Olive Pickle Company.
Guests are also encouraged to support the annual canned food drive benefiting the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Those who bring canned goods or make a financial contribution will receive a ticket for a door prize drawing from the Mt. Olive Pickle Parlor. The grand prize is a pickle replica similar to the one dropped—minus the lights.
First held in 1999 with just a handful of Mt. Olive Pickle employees, the New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop now attracts several thousand attendees each year.
“Our early evening celebration makes it ideal for families and older adults,” Williams said. “It’s also perfect for anyone who wants to celebrate New Year’s Eve and still be home well before midnight.”
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on New Year’s Eve at www.mtolivepickles.com.
Founded in 1926 in Mount Olive, Mt. Olive Pickle Company manufactures the nation’s best-selling brand of pickles, peppers, and relishes.
Event Details:
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Outdoor event
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Location: University of Mount Olive, 634 Henderson Street, Mount Olive, in front of Kornegay Arena
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Festivities begin at 5 p.m.
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Live music and food trucks start at 5 p.m.
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Video countdown from 5–7 p.m.
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Pickle drops at 7 p.m. sharp
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Fireworks immediately follow
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Handicapped parking available; parking permitted across campus
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Bring your own chairs
