Gallagher To Take Part In SW Ind. Watermelon Drop

The comedian Gallagher will help revelers in a southwestern Indiana city ring in the New Year with the spectacle of watermelons dropped from a giant man-made watermelon.

The comedian whose full name is Leo Anthony Gallagher would seem a natural for Vincennes’ annual watermelon spectacle because he’s known for smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer.

A dozen watermelons are dropped each New Year’s Eve about 100 feet onto a “splatform” from an 18-foot steel-and-foam melon lifted high above the city about 50 miles north of Evansville.

The watermelon drop debuted in 2008 and pays homage to Knox County’s many melon farms.

Watermelon Drop chair Shanon O’Toole says Gallagher’s appearance at the Dec. 31 drop will be “tough to top” at next year’s spectacle. CNN will carry this year’s melon drop live.