Milwaukie, Oregon – the birthplace of the Bing cherry – will celebrate New Year’s Eve with a free, family-friendly “cherry drop” in which 7-foot lighted Bing cherry will be lowered 60 feet by crane.
The third-annual Bing in the New Year, presented by 1847 Food Park, is from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Milwaukie Farmers Market lot, 10723 SE Main St., in downtown Milwaukie. The cherry drops at 9 p.m. (a family-friendly “East Coast Midnight.”)
In addition to the cherry drop, the event will have live music by The Radio Shack, dancing and drumming performances from the Oregon Chinese Coalition and International Lion Dance, beer from pFriem Brewing and Migration Brewing, kids crafts, a balloon artist, food and vendors. B-Side Records & Vintage will host an afterparty starting at 9 p.m. with music from Pelican Skeleton.
Why a giant cherry? Milwaukie is where the Bing cherry was cultivated in the 1880s. It was named for the Chinese nursery foreman, Ah Bing, who grew the new variety of cherry. The event celebrates Bing’s Chinese heritage and his contributions to local agriculture.