Orlando's time-honored New Year’s Eve Orange Drop tradition found a new lease on life this past holiday season, swapping its historic Church Street location for the vibrant Thornton Park quarters. The Reindeer Room, a festive pop-up overseen by The Abbey, welcomed the emblematic citrus sphere with open arms, affirming the city's commitment to its signature celebration despite venue snafus.
Local business owners banded together in a last-minute dash, notably led by Wendy Connor of The Reindeer Room. "It’s been a tradition for so many years, so many people were disappointed," Connor stated, as per FOX 35 Orlando, articulating the widespread dismay at news of a potential cancellation. Their collective endeavor was a real-time race against the clock to ensure the New Year’s festivities continued uninterrupted.
Seamlessly falling into place, the operations saw Burton’s owner Aaron Dudek scale rooftops to retrieve the iconic Orange ball and crews working diligently to ready the site for the installation on top of The Reindeer Room. "The first time we saw the ball was 24 hours ago. [We] had to dismantle it, transport it, [and piece it together]," Dudek recalled in a show of solidarity that underlines the community spirit of Orlando, as reported by FOX 35 Orlando.
Residents and visitors of Thornton Park, a hub known for its safe and walkable streets, embraced the transition with enthusiasm as businesses anticipated a robust turnout. "It's a very local-oriented area. It’s very walkable. You can park a few blocks away and walk down here, and it's safe. It's an alternative to the other part of downtown," Burton's Bar owner Dudek described according to WESH. Undeterred by past incidents of violence downtown, police upped their game, stating, "The Orlando Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors during New Year's Eve festivities."
