Cities model New Year’s events after Times Square

PHOENIX (AP) — Televised images every year of New York City’s glittery ball drop in Times Square have become inextricably linked with New Year’s Eve. But Times Square isn’t the only place to ring in the new year with an object dropping from the sky at midnight.

Cities around the country have been putting their own twist on the New York event in recent years, such as a cowboy boot, pine cone and playing card in Arizona and a peach and orange in Atlanta and Miami, respectively.

In New Mexico, the city of Las Cruces plans to drop a 19-foot (5.79-meter) chrome chile at midnight Thursday.

Officials in cities with Times Square-styled celebrations have found that the events are great ways to draw people to their downtowns while embracing their heritage.