From Staff Reports

 HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — A minor mishap occurred during the 2026 New Year’s Eve Apple Rise celebration during which the large lighted-up apple bumped into the “2026” sign,  briefly knocking it sideways, in downtown Hendersonville, AI Overview noted on Jan. 1.

“The county raised a giant apple covered in over 160 lights from the Historic Courthouse on Main Street,” Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) reported on Dec. 31.

“News 13 captured the moment on video when a slight mishap happened. The apple bumped a neon “2026” sign, causing it to swing for a few moments. Operators quickly grabbed the sign and straightened it.” 

Meanwhile, AI Overiew reported that, “on Dec. 31, 2025, Henderson County held its annual New Year’s Eve Apple Rise event in front of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street to ring in 2026. 

“The celebration involves raising a giant, illuminated apple, symbolizing the county’s status as North Carolina’s apple capital.

“During the event, as the apple was being raised, it slightly bumped the neon ‘2026’ sign positioned on the courthouse. Operators quickly stabilized the sign, and the event continued without significant disruption. 

“The incident was captured on video and circulated on local news, described as a “slightly sour snag” and a “bumpy start” to the new year, but not a major disaster or ‘fiasco.’” 

Henderson County Special Events Coordinator Bridgette Thompson told News 13 the following:

 “We thought an apple rise would signify ‘rising up,’ instead of doing the traditional ball ‘drop.’ We wanted to do something a little different and rise up,” 

The event is a popular, family-friendly tradition thatI is scheduled early in the evening (5-7 p.m.) to allow families — as well as “early-risers” — to celebrate.

News 13’s “Comment Bubble” appearing after its story included the following assertions:

• Ataboy56 — “Nothing like planning.” 

• Budman1 — “WLOS is a woke liberal news agency!!!”

• Ummagumma — “Dude, will you please stop?”

•WasatchJason — ‘‘Tis true...”

• WAVLNATIVE — “He can’t help it, he is da liberal Democrat!”

• Bobbyjoebob — “They took lights out of the courthouse and put them on the apple?”

• WAVLNATIVE -— “BREAKING NEWS!”