The "D-Drop" - A New Year's Eve Tradition in Detroit

Sydney has their New Year's Eve fireworks over the Harbour.  Scotland does their celebrations at Edinburgh Castle.  The Las Vegas Strip is the place to be to watch fireworks in Sin City.  And New York City has their world famous Times Square Ball drop.  Wherever you are on December 31, there is probably a party happening near you to ring in the New Year.

Detroit, Michigan - New Year's Eve 2013

As I found myself in Detroit on New Year’s Eve 2014, I wasn't exactly certain where to go or what to do to ring in the New Year.  Detroit isn't exactly a popular tourist destination, so your options are somewhat limited.  I wasn't exactly looking to party hard as I was heading to the Winter Classic the next day.  But, at the same time, I didn't want to stay in my hotel room, either.  After doing some research in the weeks leading up to my trip to Detroit, I came across the Motor City New Year’s Eve celebrations – or the Drop.

What exactly is the Drop?
The Drop is essentially Detroit’s answer to New York’s Times Square countdown.  Located at Campus Martius Park in downtown, the Drop has been a Detroit staple since New Year’s Eve 2011.

The Christmas Tree at Campus Martius Park

How much does it cost to attend the Drop?
The event itself is free.  However, there is a small beer garden for adults that are 21+ years old.  Admission to the beer garden was $10 US, but that also included a drink ticket.

Skating rink at the D-Drop

Where is the Drop located?
The Drop is held at Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit.  The exact address is 800 Woodward Avenue, which is off the corner of Michigan Avenue and directly across from the Compuware Building.  If you forget the address, then just ask people for the directions to the Hard Rock Café Detroit or Grand Trunk Pub as both of them are within a half block of the park.

The World's Tallest Kettle

How do you get to the Drop?
Since it is located in the heart of downtown Detroit, you have several options to get here.  If you choose to drive, then there are a couple of nearby parking garages.  Or if you are staying nearby at one of the hotels, you can either walk or take the People Mover to get you to the area.

The D-Drop Ball

What is there to do at the Drop?

There are a few things of interest – albeit not too many.  As previously mentioned, there is a beer garden for Adults.  There was also a second tent outside of the beer garden that served both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including hot chocolate.

Staying warm by the Beer Garden fire pit

There were several food trucks at the event, so if for whatever reason you don’t eat a proper dinner before arriving, then rest assured there are a few food options available at the event.

Most people pass the time ice skating in the middle of the square while local musical acts take the stage to entertain the crowd.  Nick and I opted to pass the time at the beer garden, but skate rentals were minimal – about $5 US per pair of skates.

Festive New Year's Eve hats at the D-Drop

There is also a massive Christmas tree you can take photos of, as well as several fire pits to keep warm beside.  Some vendors were selling S'mores kits for those who wanted to do more than stand by a fire all night!

Of course, the main reason for coming to this event is to watch the huge "D" drop at Midnight!  The ball is literally shaped as the letter “D” to represent the city of Detroit, and while it might be a bit cheesy, it certainly is a memorable experience to have at least once in your life.

When should you arrive for the Drop?
The event itself starts at 5 pm and runs until about 1 am.  In the inaugural year – 2010 – the Drop apparently attracted 5,000 people.  The organizing committee was anticipating about 15,000 for the 2014 New Year’s Eve addition, but it seemed more like 150 to me.

Happy New Year!

I arrived around 11pm and left shortly after Midnight once the ball dropped as it was both cold and a bit more difficult to find taxis around this part of town.  Plus, the event itself is still in its infancy - it was the 4th Annual New Year's Eve drop when I went.  Unless Detroit does a massive revitalization downtown within the next few years to attract more tourists, then I don’t foresee this event to draw a huge crowd any time soon.  It’s mainly a draw for the locals, so arriving around 10 pm should suffice and give you enough time to enjoy the event.

What should I bring to the Drop?
Much like any other outdoor public New Year’s Eve events in Canada and the Northern United States, bring warm clothing – coats, gloves, scarves and mittens – as temperatures may reach below 0 degrees Celsius.  Bring some cash not only for food and drinks, but for public transportation or cab fare, as well.

D-Drop organizers ringing in the New Year

Cameras and camcorders are allowed at the event.  You might want to bring a backpack with you to keep them protected from the cold and snow when you are not using them.  There were no bag checks when I went, but this could change in the future as the Drop slowly builds up its awareness.

Goodbye, 2013.  Hello, 2014!

While it pales in comparison to Times Square, what will resonate within you is that this is truly an event made for and by Detroit.  There are not too many tourists around to experience this cool, “once in a lifetime” type of experience and there is a lot of pride shown for Detroit during the celebrations, which is all the more reason to check it out for yourself if you are here during New Year’s Eve.  Happy New Year!