WATER VALLEY — Water Valley is set to ring in the New Year with the 2025/2026 Crappie Drop, returning to Pocket Park on Main Street on New Year’s Eve.
Festivities begin around 11 p.m. and run until approximately 12:30 a.m., with the midnight countdown centered on the Steampunk Crappie — the six-foot mechanical fish complete with lights, bells, confetti breath and its signature ooga horn.
This year marks several milestones for the event, including its first appearance in the city’s Christmas parade and its official adoption as a signature celebration of the Water Valley Main Street Association. The crappie float earned first place in the parade’s non-profit category.
First held in 2017, the Crappie Drop honors the world-record white crappie caught at Enid Lake in 1957 and has grown into a popular downtown New Year’s Eve tradition.
Organizers say the Steampunk Crappie returns with upgraded electronics, new lighting and added visual effects, along with a more dramatic landing zone area.
The Pocket Park is located at the intersection of North Main and Wagner streets. The event is free and open to the public.
