In the hours leading up to midnight and the dawning of the new year, much partying and celebration will occur, including the tradition of dropping objects from tall buildings to mark the moment. As the Times Square Ball is falling on New Year's Eve a 12-foot-tall MoonPie will descend upon Mobile, Alabama.

Mobile is the home of America's first Mardi Gras celebration, and the MoonPie is the favored "throw" of the hundreds of Mardi Gras maskers riding floats Mardi Gras parades. Mobile consumes more than four million MoonPies annually, and has adopted the treat as an informal town emblem.In 2008, the city teamed up with Chattanooga Bakery, maker of the MoonPie marshmallow sandwich, to create a 12-foot-tall lighted mechanical MoonPie as the featured attraction for its New Year's Eve celebration.

The giant MoonPie descends the 34-story RSA BankTrust building at the stroke of midnight followed by a laser light show and fireworks display. Earlier in the evening, the world's largest MoonPie is cut and served to the public as part of the festivities.