NYC Has Times Square; Bartlesville Has The Olive Drop

Rick Wells, The News On 6

BARTLESVILLE, OK -- Bartlesville has lots of community spirit and pride. They always seem to find unique ways to celebrate. OKMozart is one example. Another is good example is the Olive Drop – they drop a large olive into a huge martini glass to usher in the New Year. 

New York City has its special way of celebrating the New Year, the big crystal ball drops, and the New Year is officially here.

Bartlesville has a special something in its own way.

"We believe that our Olive Drop is the only one on the face of the planet," said Tim Boruff, executive director.

You heard the man: an Olive Drop. The one-of-a-kind, Frank Lloyd Wright designed building has come up with a one of a kind New Year celebration.

"Ingenuity, creativity - we are an art center," Boruff said.

They drop a giant olive from the top of the building into an equally giant martini glass at the bottom. Jason Lindley is responsible to make sure it works.

He says it takes the olive 55 seconds to get down to the glass.

Lindley says he's tested it three times so far, and it works fine. The olive is made of styrofoam with several strobe lights inside. It weighs 30 or 40 pounds.

In case there is too much in your glass, the Price tower has several hotel rooms you might stay in.  Marketing director Debra Woodall showed us one.

Up in the copper bar I found a martini glass and thought I'd stage my own olive drop. It took me a while to get the range.

It was harder than I thought.

But finally I got the range, and ahhhh, success!

The New Year's Eve celebration at the Price Tower runs from 9 p.m. to midnight. The Olive Drop is outside and is open to the public.

The olive starts dropping just before midnight, and when it reaches the glass it will be 2010.