Gatlinburg will welcome the arrival of 2017 in unique style with its 29th annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Show around the intersection of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at the base of the Space Needle late Saturday night, December 31Since 1987, Gatlinburg has welcomed the New Year in grand style with the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Fireworks Show from the Gatlinburg Space Needle. The family friendly celebration is one of the largest organized New Year’s Eve events in the nation. Nearly 50,000 people will gather around the intersection of Parkway and Historic Nature Trail at the base of the Space Needle late Thursday night, December 31 to ring in the New Year.