Kennett Square took its place among New Year's Eve celebrations at the stroke of midnight, when a 700-pound, 8-foot-tall stainless steel mushroom, glittering with lights, touched down and the crowd cheered. 

The Mushroom Drop was the highlight of Midnight in the Square, the first New Year's Eve event in Kennett Square, sponsored by Kennett Area Restaurant and Merchants Association and the Mushroom Festival, Inc. 

Attendees were asked to bring canned goods as admission to the event, and more than 3,200 pounds of canned goods were collected for the Kennett Food Cupboard.