By Melissa Robinson
Contributing Editor 

  Ring in the New Year without the traffic and hassle of parking in Atlanta by bringing the family to the 2nd annual Geranium Drop in McDonough, to be held New Year’s Eve on the McDonough Square.

The Geranium will drop again on the McDonough Square to ring in the New Year.                                                   File photo

  This year’s Geranium Drop will begin at 8 pm. when Mayor Billy Copeland will kick off the festivities that will feature food, music, dancing and fun.

  Last year, just over 1,000 people attended the Geranium Drop and according to Jennifer Price, McDonough Hospitality and Tourism Director, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better.

  “Last year’s Geranium Drop was a huge success and this year we expect to double the number of people who attended last year,” she said. It’s going to be a fun, family-friendly event with something for everyone.”

  Price said The Full House Band will play the night away until 1 a.m. and DJ DannyRay will spin all the latest tunes. Two dance floors will be set up on the Square, one for adults and one for children, and area restaurants will be open late so patrons can eat, drink and welcome 2013. Again this year, commemorative cups will be sold for $5 apiece and may be purchased prior to the celebration at the McDonough Welcome Center or on New Year’s Eve at the party.

  “The cups are brand new this year and they are “mood” cups that change color with the temperature of the liquid inside them. And our downtown restaurants will be offering drink specials specifically for the cups,” said Price.

  She said in addition to the area restaurants, there will be vendors selling delicious refreshments, from barbecue to fried Oreos, and everything in between.

  To add to the excitement, she said that long-distance runner, Jen Hanekamp, will complete a 132K run, making her way from Milledgeville to McDonough with an arrival time of 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

  Hanekamp, a McDonough resident, is running the 132K in a day, beginning at 11 pm., on December 30, to raise money for Henry County Cancer Services. She said the 132K represents the number of people in the state of Georgia who are diagnosed with cancer every day.

  Price said a giant screen will be erected on the McDonough Square to track Hanekamp’s progress and she will be escorted by a team of motorcycles and a pink ambulance as she makes her way into Henry County.

  “This is a great, free, family event to ring in the New Year, and when it’s over, we have 14 wonderful hotels within four miles of the Downtown Square, where people can stay after the event,” said Price.

  For more information on the Geranium Drop, visit www.tourmcdonough.com/drop. For more information on Jen Hanekamp’s journey, visit www.makingthemilescount.com.