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Orlando New Year's Eve Orange Drop finds new home

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Updated  December 31, 2024 12:39am EST
Orlando
FOX 35 Orlando

Orlando New Year's Eve Orange Drop moves to Thorton Park

The Orange Ball drop – a New Year's Eve tradition for some in Central Florida – has found a new home, mere hours ahead of the start of 2025. The yearly NYE event was typically held along Church Street in downtown Orlando, where hundreds would party at the various bars and clubs.

The Brief

    • The Orange Ball drop, a New Year's Eve tradition in Central Florida, has moved to the Thornton Park Block Party after being canceled on Church Street due to safety concerns and new city restrictions. 
    • Downtown Orlando's nightlife faces heightened security measures following recent shootings, with bar owners implementing weapon checks and additional ID screenings. 
    • Orlando police will increase patrols and DUI enforcement to ensure safety during the festivities.

Orlando, Fla. - The Orange Ball drop – a New Year's Eve tradition for some in Central Florida – has found a new home, mere hours ahead of the start of 2025.

The yearly NYE event was typically held along Church Street in downtown Orlando, where hundreds would party at the various bars and clubs. This year's event was reportedly canceled by the original owners, who also closed a handful of their bars and restaurants, citing downtown safety and new restrictions issued by the city, FOX 35 has learned.

It will now be put on at the Thornton Park New Year's Eve Block Party, which will be held along Washington Street. 

The owners of The Abbey and The Mezz confirmed to FOX 35 on Monday that they will be taking over the NYE tradition. 

Safety in downtown Orlando

For other bar and club owners, safety will be top of mind, especially following a deadly shooting on Halloween night downtown that left two people dead, others hurt, and hundreds running in all directions.

It is the second mass shooting in the last few years downtown. In the wake of that, officials have implemented new safety measures, including reopening roadways to vehicle traffic and additional permits and fees for bars that want to serve alcohol beyond midnight.

Orlando officials have previously said that they want to end the street party atmosphere downtown.

"A lot of Church Street has shuttered. They do a couple thousands on New Year's Eve night, so people might migrate to this end of Orange Avenue," said John San Felippo, managing partner of Beacham Group, which owns a number of bars downtown.

Orlando New Year's Eve Orange Drop finds new home

The Orange Ball drop – a New Year's Eve tradition for some in Central Florida – has found a new home, mere hours ahead of the start of 2025.

He expects 3,000-4,000 to frequent his bars on NYE, including The Beacham, The Social, 64 North, and The Corner.

"Orlando - for several years in a row - has had the number 2 spot in the country for New Year's Eve. We don't want to lose any momentum," said San Felippo, discussing the balance between safety and the entertainment vibe of downtown.

San Felippo said one of their security measures is to use magnetic wands on all patrons to check for weapons, as well as regular ID checks.

Regarding safety downtown, Orlando police said in a statement that it will have increased patrols downtown as well as its DUI enforcement team.

"The Orlando Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors during New Year's Eve festivities. In addition to increased patrols, our DUI enforcement team will be active to prevent drinking and driving," a spokesperson for Orlando police said.

The Thornton Park Block Party is 21+. Tickets start at $25.

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