Indiana’s bicentennial year ended the way it began, with a splat in Vincennes. On New Year's Day 2016, state officials launched the bicentennial during the 8th annual watermelon drop along the Wabash River in Vincennes.
Following a year of celebration, it took just 1.7 seconds to end Indiana’s bicentennial .
Organizer Duane Chattin says the 9th annual National Watermelon Drop is an appropriate way to end the bicentennial.
“Vincennes is Indiana’s oldest city. So, last year, this was Indiana’s first event for the bicentennial in 2016, and this year, it is the last event. It’s just being part of history like that.”
Event emcee Mark Hill was dressed as a slice of watermelon. He described the sound of the watermelons ending their 50 foot drop as "a big splat". Some agreed, while others decribed it as a bang, or a smack or a "boom, shaka laka laka boom".
Hill says the watermelons are picked at the end of the growing season and put in a freezer at a local restaurant. On New Year's Eve, they are brought out at just the right time to thaw slightly so they don't break up as they drop but still have a satisfying splat when they hit the "splatform" underneath.
Whatever the noise it makes, it's all good fun and the result is the same. Somebody has to clean up the mess.