The Possum Drop
Encyclopedia
The Possum Drop in Brasstown, North Carolina is an annual "hillbilly
" event at Clay's Corner convenience store
organized by proprietors Clay and Judy Logan. At midnight on New Year's Eve
, instead of dropping an object, a plexiglass pyramid containing a living opossum is lowered from the roof of the store. The animal is lowered carefully to prevent the occurrence of injury or trauma.
Federal
and state animal permits are obtained in advance and the opossum is released afterwards
. The festivities include a contest with local men dressed as women to compete for the title "Miss Possom Queen
" as well as bluegrass music
, snacks and beverages, and souvenir
merchandise.
Clay Logan received international attention in 2004 after the Possum Drop was featured in a New York Times article.
The (other) Possum Drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia
organized by Kate Gardener is a biennial event held on odd years. The “Bell Tower Bash” is held in Buchanan, Georgia
on even years.
Spencer the possum is lowered in a ball wrapped with Christmas lights from the top of the American Hometown Realty Building. A living animal is not lowered but it remains uncertain whether Spencer is a stuffed toy
opossum or died of natural causes several years ago and was stuffed by local taxidermist
Bud Jones. Spencer's name is a tribute to Ralph L. Spencer.
The majority of residents of the city of Tallapoosa are against using the possum moniker to promote "Possum Snout", a nickname considered demeaning to the history of Tallapoosa (which means "Golden Water" or "Gold
In Water" in the language of the Native American
Muscogee).
Possum drops have been subject to criticism and protest from national animal rights organizations, including PETA
.
Hillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
" event at Clay's Corner convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
organized by proprietors Clay and Judy Logan. At midnight on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, instead of dropping an object, a plexiglass pyramid containing a living opossum is lowered from the roof of the store. The animal is lowered carefully to prevent the occurrence of injury or trauma.
Federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
and state animal permits are obtained in advance and the opossum is released afterwards
Wildlife rehabilitation
Wildlife rehabilitation is the process of removing from the wild and caring for injured, orphaned, or sick wild animals. The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to provide the food, housing and medical care of these animals, returning them to the wild after treatment.-Process:Rehabilitation begins...
. The festivities include a contest with local men dressed as women to compete for the title "Miss Possom Queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
" as well as bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, snacks and beverages, and souvenir
Souvenir
A souvenir , memento, keepsake or token of remembrance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it. The term souvenir brings to mind the mass-produced kitsch that is the main commodity of souvenir and gift shops in many tourist traps around the world...
merchandise.
Clay Logan received international attention in 2004 after the Possum Drop was featured in a New York Times article.
The (other) Possum Drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia
Tallapoosa, Georgia
Tallapoosa is a city in Haralson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,789 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tallapoosa, incorporated in 1860, is located in Haralson County, in northwest Georgia, about west of Atlanta, just north of Interstate 20 and east of the Alabama state line...
organized by Kate Gardener is a biennial event held on odd years. The “Bell Tower Bash” is held in Buchanan, Georgia
Buchanan, Georgia
Buchanan is a city in Haralson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 941 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Haralson County.Locally, the city's name is pronounced BUCK-an'-uhn, with the emphasis on the first syllable....
on even years.
Spencer the possum is lowered in a ball wrapped with Christmas lights from the top of the American Hometown Realty Building. A living animal is not lowered but it remains uncertain whether Spencer is a stuffed toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
opossum or died of natural causes several years ago and was stuffed by local taxidermist
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
Bud Jones. Spencer's name is a tribute to Ralph L. Spencer.
The majority of residents of the city of Tallapoosa are against using the possum moniker to promote "Possum Snout", a nickname considered demeaning to the history of Tallapoosa (which means "Golden Water" or "Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
In Water" in the language of the Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
Muscogee).
Possum drops have been subject to criticism and protest from national animal rights organizations, including PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
.