New Year’s Eve in Times Square – Ball Drop, Fireworks & Trivia

by Petr Novák, ? This article’s information was last verified on this date. If you notice any errors, let us know in the comments. Thank you! :-) Updated 05/26/2023 Fun Facts, How It Works in America, Manhattan, New York City, Times Square, Traditions & Customs

New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York’s Times Square are among the most famous and impressive globally. New York consistently appears in New Year’s Eve news coverage alongside images of fireworks from Sydney and London. There is no more sophisticated place to spend New Year’s Eve in the USA than Times Square.

1. Table of Contents

   1. New Year’s Eve in Times Square Has Been Celebrated Since 1904
   2. What You Need to Know About the Times Square Ball Drop

   New Year’s Eve in Times Square Has Been Celebrated Since 1904

   The origins of New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York’s Times Square trace back to 1904. The most famous symbol of the celebration, a large illuminated ball that counts down the final seconds of the old year, first debuted in 1907. Since then, it has only twice failed to descend from the One Times Square building: in 1942 and 1943 due to strict lighting restrictions imposed during World War II. On a few occasions, technical difficulties prevented the ball from dropping.

   In 2008, to mark the 100th-anniversary celebrations in Times Square, a colossal sphere weighing 1,213 lb was unveiled, illuminated by 9,567 LEDs, consuming the same amount of electricity as ten ordinary toasters.

2. What You Need to Know About the Times Square Ball Drop

   The New Year’s Eve ball begins its descent from the One Times Square building at 11:59 p.m. on the final day of the year. At this moment, over a million people are present in Times Square, with tens of millions more watching the spectacle on TV screens. It’s estimated that a billion people worldwide view footage of New York’s New Year’s Eve celebrations each year. The last ten seconds of the ball’s descent are accompanied by sound effects and a countdown echoed by a million voices.

   As the New Year approaches, a ton of sparkling confetti is released across Times Square, and the windows of the surrounding skyscrapers are illuminated by the light of relentless fireworks.

   If you wish to experience one of the most stylish, famous, and unquestionably most festive celebrations of the arrival of the new year, there are no tickets required. Everyone can celebrate in Times Square at no cost.