- January 4, 2025
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All the way from California is the Briscoe Family; Back: Cody, Alicia, Jeff, Jeff, Jacob, Debbie, "the original Jeff'; Front: Kinsley, Walker and Wesley
Photo by Janet CombsFatima Konkel, Cheryl Ellerbrock, Kevin Ellerbrock, Piero Konkel, Collette Ellerbrock, Fabiana Konkel, Emmeline and Preston Ellerbrock
Photo by Janet CombsGreat Aunt Sherry Boesel from Sarasota with nephew Christian Tillett and his children Elijah, Aurora and August.
Photo by Janet CombsYolanda Pristley with her son Garrett, and his children Kyro, 4, and Kali Rose, 10.
Photo by Janet CombsCora Kijanka and her mom, Katherine, and someone was disappointed to find out there are no rides for anyone under 25 inches.
Photo by Janet CombsIsaac Skinner braved the 30-foot high Super Slide at the downtown New Year's Eve celebration.
Photo by Janet CombsIsaac Skinner is all smiles as he gives his dad, Neil, a hug after a successful ride down the Super Slide on New Year's Eve.
Photo by Janet CombsLiam Downs won his girlfriend Helaina Rogers this cow by throwing darts at balloons. How much did he spend? "About $40, and it was worth it just to see the smile on her face!"
Photo by Janet Combs5-year-old Mackenzie Nichols bounces while her parents Mychal and Steph and baby sister Emmy, 2, cheer her on.
Photo by Janet CombsThe pineapple is stored during the 364 days off season in a secret location near 12th street, weighs a couple of hundred pounds, has a thousand lights, and is carefully moved around on a fork lift.
Photo by Janet CombsRon Soto and Darci Jacob, president of Destination Downtown, take a quick minute to size up the pineapple, which will begin its decsent at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve.
Photo by Janet Combs4-year-old Evelyn Duchenko is excited for the overhead pineapple to drop at midnight.
Photo by Janet CombsGator Club's Tessa Merkel serves libations during the Destination Downtown Pineapple Drop.
Photo by Janet CombsThe Daniel B Marshall band plays on the west end of Main Street during the New Year's Eve Pineapple Drop celebration in Sarasota.
Photo by Janet CombsSusan, Steve and Grayson Latusick with Holly Valdes
Photo by Janet CombsHeather Mills and Mark Luchte are ready to take on New Year's Eve on Main Street.
Photo by Janet CombsEmily Schneider and Eden Sanders sell keepsake bottles of a Patron Margarita.
Photo by Janet CombsNicholas Capri and Jess Osher show off their new caricature drawing.
Photo by Janet CombsThe Bone Family: Morgan, Kevin, Maddie, Ian Page and Tony.
Photo by Janet CombsBrianna Edmounbson, Annette Coletti and Aliana Aguilar are ready for the rides.
Photo by Janet CombsAddison Glidden, mom Shannon and sister Felicity get ready for the Rock Star ride.
Photo by Janet CombsAlanissas Storey, 12, and mom Tanisha Matthews at the Rock Star ride.
Photo by Janet CombsEmma T. Booker Elementary School students are sisters Amiya, 9, and Aasiyah Rayner, 6.
Photo by Janet CombsJayde Muzzatti and Carlina Mueller are determined to not get beaten by The Claw.
Photo by Janet CombsSarasota's finest on the evening shift include officers Nick Bruno, Jaymi Delcos, Bryan Lundstrom and Gina Traina.
Photo by Janet CombsBob Bunting and Jon Hausburg celebrate at the Downtown Sarasota NYE Pineapple Drop celebration on Dec. 31.
Photo by Janet CombsMcKenna Shank and Michaela Hope play in the bubbles that fill the air over Main Street in Sarasota on New Year's Eve.
Photo by Janet CombsBubble supplier Berto Rodriguez enjoys watching people chase his bubbles during the New Year's Eve celebration in downtown Sarasota.
Photo by Janet CombsNew Year's Eve is celebrated in Sarasota on Dec. 31, 2024.
Photo by Janet CombsFrom the vantage point of the El Melvin Cocina Mexicana VIP bar held above Sarasota's Main Street revelers down below enjoy the New Year's Eve street party.
Photo by Janet CombsDalton Lane falls off the mechanical bull just short of the 8-second mark.
Photo by Janet CombsAll the way from Arkansas is Jessalynn Ball, who takes a turn on the mechanical bull.
Photo by Janet CombsRachel Bayless and her mom, Deborah, came from St. Petersburg to celebrate Deborah's New Year's Eve birthday.
Photo by Janet CombsWith huge smiles the well dressed and behaved pups Peter Rose and Rupert Ann stop for a photo with their humans, Jen and Clay Owens.
Photo by Janet CombsRichie Tardona and Mickey Wieczerzak with Lee and Dennis Hornick
Photo by Janet CombsThe 25th Annual New Year's Eve Pineapple Drop Celebration was held in Sarasota on Dec. 31st with about 30,000 people in attendance.
Photo by Janet CombsWhat do a hog, star, onion, orange, skim board, pineapple, anchor, conch, buzzard, stuffed opossum, olive, a red M&M, an apple and a chili pepper have in common?
It's no joke: these are all items that are dropped on New Year's Eve from various places around the world beginning at 11:59 p.m. to shoo out the old year and ring in the new.
The 25th annual Downtown Sarasota Pineapple Drop celebration began at 1 p.m. with thousands of people enjoying the closed roads, carnival rides, games and food. Local merchants set up outside service areas with chairs and tables, and there were VIP areas for a guaranteed view — with the exception of fog — of the pineapple drop and the fireworks that go off at midnight from Sarasota Bay. Several bands played in two locations including BYNGE, Gashouse Gorillas and the Daniel B. Marshall Band.
Although there is no clear history of pineapple production in Sarasota, we do, in fact, have a lighted pineapple that drops from a crane and serves as a beacon for a massive block party.
Pineapples, when placed right side up, are a symbol of hospitality and welcoming. The area around Five Points was originally built with a pineapple theme in mind and several of the buildings have a stamped pineapple decoration embedded in the framework.
Ron Soto and Darci Jacob, president of Destination Downtown Sarasota, a collection of local businesses, and their team began the physical work of preparations some four days ahead of the event. Together with the Sarasota Police Department, which provided security, more than 30,000 guests lined the streets to usher in 2025.
With the temperature hovering around 67 degrees and the heavy dew hanging in the air, the dense fog held off for a great view of the pineapple drop, which is actually a carefully executed lowering to the ground.
Although this event began 26 years ago, 2025 marks the 25th anniversary with one missed event due to the pandemic.
