Mobile's Moon Pie drop celebration to bring in New Year

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Tuesday night, many will be looking up, waiting for the Moon Pie to drop above downtown Mobile as they look forward to the New Year.

At the stroke of midnight, Tuesday, some people will close the door on 2012 but the crew behind the LoDa Biergarten on Dauphin Street will celebrate opening their's.

“We open with a bang, man. We picked a day to open: New Year's Eve at 5:00 p.m,” said co-owner of LoDa Biergarten, Matthew Golden.

Golden and his partners restored and renovated the building at the corner of Dauphin and Joachim Streets.

“We're sitting at the fifty-yard line,” said Golden.

Biergarten doesn't have a view of the iconic pie, but to those there on New Year’s Eve — pint in hand — maybe it won't matter.

“We don't have what we call gas station beer on draft. No, we have an incredible draft line-up and we probably spent a combined over 100 hours really just plotting out what we have on draft,” said Golden.

For those of you looking for the best place to watch the sign drop, city officials suggest Royal Street; from Government to St. Anthony Streets.

“We came to see the Moon Pie drop and it's our first New Year's Eve in Mobile,” said Jase Ramsey of Tuscaloosa.

Ramsey guessed that the Moon Pie was made in Alabama, and that was the reason behind the giant lighted sign. But, as many of you probably already know, the marshmallow treat is a popular Mardi gras throw, baked in Tennessee.

Ramsey's Brazilian friend hasn't tasted a Moon Pie, yet.

“It was hard for me to explain to her what a Moon Pie was,” said Ramsey.

Some downtown hotels have rooms available.

“There's not a bed here at the Battlehouse, I think the Riverview has a couple rooms left, so, if people are scrambling for last minute plans and want to stay downtown there is still opportunities there,” said Bill Lang, Public Relations coordinator with RTJ Resorts.

Parents can take the kids to the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center or History Museum for late-night activities.

“This event was designed for the entire family. You can see a wonderful parade, write your resolution on a wall, and bring the New Year's in with the Commodores,” said Barbara Drummond, the Mayor’s spokesperson with the City of Mobile.

Musical acts will perform on three stages, the Commodores start at 11 on the main stage at St. Joseph and St. Francis Streets.

For more info about Mobile’s New Year’s Eve festivities, check out this link.