“As we were brainstorming ideas for unique community events, we knew we wanted to create something that Hamilton could truly call its own ― something that celebrates what makes our city stand out,” she said. “That’s when we thought about honoring a fascinating but lesser-known piece of our history: the legacy of John Cleves Symmes Jr. and his Hollow Earth theory.”
Butler County Historical Society and Hollow Earth Fest are partners in the New Year’s Eve celebration. Hamilton will drop the Hollow Earth orb at 7 p.m., and dropping something in the evening to mark New Year’s is not uncommon.
Prescott, Arizona, is known for its Wild West heritage and has a Whiskey Row Boot Drop that happens twice, once at 10 p.m., but does drop the lit-up large boot at midnight. Panama City, Florida, celebrates twice, releasing 10,000 inflated beach balls into the crowd at 8 p.m. and then a traditional ball drop with a 10-foot diameter ball at midnight.
In Mount Olive, North Carolina, (home to Mt. Olive Pickles) they drop a giant pickle at 7 p.m., which lands in an equally giant pickle jar.
And if the cheese capital of the world in Plymouth, Wisconsin, can drop a drop a block of Satori cheese, why not drop large orb in the former home of John C. Symmes Jr., the 19th century Army officer who perpetuated the debunked Hollow Earth theory that sparked widespread curiosity and inspired works of early science fiction, like Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and stories by Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells, Maslin said.
The Hollow Earth theme is something the city has embraced since this past spring’s inaugural Hollow Earth Fest at Symmes Park, a onetime cemetery for the city of Hamilton. Symmes and Revolutionary War veteran Paul Bonnel are still buried there.
The Hollow Earth Fest date for 2025 will be announced at the countdown celebration, said Chris Maraschiello, an organizer of the festival. He also said the names of two people ― a visionary and a veteran from Hamilton ― to be honored at the second annual festival will be announced celebration.
The Hollow Earth Fest is a celebration of science, the city and its history, and military veterans and service members.
The decision to have the Hollow Earth Countdown at Main and D is strategic for a few reasons, Maslin said.
“First, it’s a central, visible location in Hamilton, where we can draw attention to both the event and our local businesses that are participating in DORA’s Countdown to Midnight,” she said. “By positioning it in this area, we’re hoping to create a buzz that not only celebrates the event itself but also encourages people to explore all that Hamilton has to offer.”
The location was also chosen for logistics: access to a boom truck, a solid surface and easy access to electricity, among other reasons.
This year, Maslin said the intended for it to act as a kickoff to the New Year’s festivities that are taking place elsewhere downtown and around the city. However, if the revelers respond positively to the countdown, she said a second countdown could be added in the evening.
”If the event continues to grow in popularity, a midnight countdown could definitely be a possibility in the future ― especially if we see that it’s something the community really rallies around,” she said.
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