Boise & Garden City

It’s ‘iconic for Idaho.’ Potato Drop returns as an in-person event on New Year’s Eve

Boise rung in 2022 with a 17-foot-long potato descending in front of the Idaho State Capitol along with a huge fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.

The gigantic tuber was reminiscent of a real Idaho Potato, but adorned with wings, lights glowing from the inside and billowing smoke like a hot potato.

Fireworks light up the sky as the potato is lowered to celebrate the arrival of 2022 at the Idaho Potato Drop in downtown Boise on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. After going virtual in 2020, the New Year’s Eve event returned as an in-person celebration in front of the Idaho State Capitol.
Fireworks light up the sky as the potato is lowered to celebrate the arrival of 2022 at the Idaho Potato Drop in downtown Boise on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. After going virtual in 2020, the New Year’s Eve event returned as an in-person celebration in front of the Idaho State Capitol. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com

The Idaho Potato Drop was held in frigid cold temperatures that dipped to 10 degrees. While the event started at 6 p.m., the majority of onlookers arrived just before midnight. Thirty fire pits were scattered around Cecil D. Andrus Park, and for a fee, two VIP tents kept attendees warm and fed.

Attendees of the Idaho Potato Drop stand around one of 30 fire pits as temperatures dropped to as low as 10 degrees on New Year’s Eve in Boise. After going virtual in 2020, the New Year’s Eve event returned as an in-person celebration Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in front of the Idaho State Capitol.
Attendees of the Idaho Potato Drop stand around one of 30 fire pits as temperatures dropped to as low as 10 degrees on New Year’s Eve in Boise. After going virtual in 2020, the New Year’s Eve event returned as an in-person celebration Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in front of the Idaho State Capitol. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com

Boise residents Brianna Chormicle and Justin Chormicle came early to listen to the live music. They bundled up in layers. The couple was looking forward to attending the Potato Drop for the first time in 2020, but that event was canceled and held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This week, public health experts were concerned about the potential for the crowded event to lead to a surge in cases caused by the omicron variant, which is highly contagious and causing massive increases in COVID-19 infections across the country. Past years drew large crowds; however, attendance this time was much smaller.

Kyan Yack of Boise has attended almost every Potato Drop since it began in 2013.

“It’s so silly and iconic for Idaho,” Yack said, “My friends in other states don’t believe that it’s real.”

A large potato with wings is lifted into the air by a crane at the start of the Idaho Potato Drop in downtown Boise on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. After going virtual in 2020, the New Year’s Eve event returned as an in-person celebration in front of the Idaho State Capitol.
A large potato with wings is lifted into the air by a crane at the start of the Idaho Potato Drop in downtown Boise on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. After going virtual in 2020, the New Year’s Eve event returned as an in-person celebration in front of the Idaho State Capitol. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com
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