The region’s downtown NYE gathering — the CherryT Ball Drop — has gone virtual, with an invite to watch the giant TC cherry descend live on Facebook.

The event, put on by the National Cherry Festival, always collects donations to a local charity that’s focused on food insecurity, and this year is no exception. Food Rescue collects fresh healthy food and distributes it to local food pantries. Click here to donate. 

And you can still make it a party with a glass (or two) of the event’s signature wine, a sparkling brut rosé made by Mawby and meant “to remind you of summer days at the beach, cherry pie and all things Northern Michigan.” The exclusive Mawby Ball Drop Bubbly is available at local retailers and here, or you can head to Mawby HQ in Suttons Bay. Mawby’s tasting room is open for curbside pickup, retail sales to go and (if you are bundled up and feeling hardy) wines by the glass outside today, Dec. 28 through Dec. 31, noon to 5pm (closed New Year’s Day). Proceeds from Ball Drop Bubbly benefit the Festival Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports the National Cherry Festival, Iceman Cometh and several other events in Northern Michigan. Read more about their mission here.