Photos available for download here
B-roll available for download here
ORLANDO, FL – December 17, 2021 – What do bologna, a peach, and a high-heel shoe have in common? They are some of the strangest things dropped at midnight to ring in the New Year! Joining in on this quirky countdown tradition is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! with Hoss the Human Hairball — the new Guinness World Records™ title holder for Largest Ball of Human Hair!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will drop the 225.13-pound hairball on Facebook Live Friday, December 31, beginning just before midnight EST.
Hoss joins plenty of other weird New Year’s Eve drops around the country:
• Tallapoosa, GA – In the town once dubbed “Possum Snout,” Spencer, a taxidermy possum surrounded by holiday lights, is lowered.
• Plymouth, WI – In the Cheese Capital of the World, a giant wedge of Sartori cheese is dropped.
• Eastover, NC – The tradition of dropping Jasper, a three-foot-tall, 30-pound ceramic flea, stems from the town’s old nickname: Flea Hill.
• Boise, ID – What else but a foam potato the size of a car makes sense to lower from a crane?
According to Guinness World Records™, Ripley’s has broken the existing record for Largest Ball of Human Hair ever created by over 55 pounds. Initially crafted by Ohio stylist Steve Warden, Hoss eclipsed 100 pounds in 2019. Since then, more than 3,000 people have contributed to its weight!
A majority of Hoss’ record-setting weight can be attributed to Ripley’s Shave the Beard and Make it Weird! challenge, which launched in November during IAAPA Expo 2021 in Orlando, Florida. The campaign not only helped add to Hoss’ size, but also raised funds for Give Kids The World Village, an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical weeklong wish vacations at no cost.
Ripley’s New Year’s Eve hairball drop can be watched at facebook.com/RipleysBelieveItorNot.
Coverage Note: Please find b-roll and photos of Hoss linked above. A Ripley’s representative is available for interview to discuss both the weirdest New Year’s Eve ball drops and the creation of Hoss the Human Hairball. Hoss is also available for in-studio and virtual appearances prior to New Year’s Eve.
Susan Storey
IAAPA Media Contact
[email protected]
(608) 432 – 8197
Sabrina Sieck
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Creative Content Manager
[email protected]
(407) 450 – 1516
About Ripley Entertainment
Built on the foundation of a daily newspaper cartoon in 1918 — still in print today — Ripley Entertainment has grown to be a world leader in family entertainment, expanding to include more than 100 attractions in 10 countries around the world. Along with Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, Guinness World Records Attractions, Aquariums, WaxWorks, traveling shows, and miniature golf, the world of Ripley’s continues to grow through exciting new experiences, content, and books for all ages. Learn more about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! by visiting Ripleys.com and following on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
