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Sweet · New York
New York cheesecake
Dense, creamy tart made with cream cheese, eggs and cream on a cookie crust, served without topping.
Popular festival · New York
New Year’s Eve in Times Square
On the night of December 31, Times Square, in Manhattan, New York, celebrates New Year’s outdoors: a lighted ball descends from the top of One Times Square in the last minute of the year, under a shower of confetti, in front of a crowd that fills the square and the surrounding avenues.
In the photo: New York
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New Year’s Eve in Times Square — New York
When
On the night of December 31, from the afternoon until midnight, when the ball drops in the last minute of the year.
December
Dates change every year: check this year's date before you travel.
The festival
What is New Year’s Eve in Times Square
New Year’s Eve in Times Square is New York’s best-known street party and one of the world’s most watched New Year’s events on television. On the night of December 31, the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, in central Manhattan, is filled with people from many countries who spend hours standing in the cold waiting for a single minute: the lowering of the illuminated ball on the mast of One Times Square, which ends exactly at midnight.
The tradition started with The New York Times. In 1904 the newspaper opened its headquarters in the corner building now called One Times Square, and the square, until then Longacre Square, took its name. To celebrate, it organized a New Year’s party with fireworks atop the tower. Three years later, instead of fireworks, an iron-and-wood ball about 1.5 meters in diameter and lit by bulbs was lowered on the building’s mast to mark the turn of 1908. The idea came from time balls used at ports since the 19th century, which dropped at the same time so sailors could set their chronometers. Since then the ceremony has repeated every year, except for 1942 and 1943, when city lights were dimmed during World War II; in those years the crowd marked midnight with a minute of silence.
The ball has been replaced several times and today is a sphere covered with crystals and LED lights, kept atop the building year-round and changing colors and patterns on the night of the celebration. In December the large numerals of the incoming year arrive in the square and are on public display for a few days before being raised to the top of the building, where they are lit at midnight.
The day is long. Streets around the square close to traffic in the morning, and in midafternoon public areas roped off by barriers open and are filled from south to north, block by block, along Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Early in the evening the ball is raised to the top of the mast, and from then on there are musical performances on a stage, broadcast on television, and countdowns over the hours. In the last minute of the year the ball begins to descend, the whole square counts the seconds out loud and, at midnight, more than a ton of confetti falls on the crowd while the numerals of the new year light up atop the building.
Some of that confetti carries wishes written by visitors. In December the organizers set up the Wishing Wall right in Times Square, where anyone can leave their New Year wish; it can also be submitted online. The papers are printed into confetti and, days before the event, organizers test the drop from neighboring rooftops. For many people, being in the square at that moment is a way to experience in person a scene the whole world watches on television and to start the year amid a crowd speaking many languages.
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What not to miss
The ball rising to the top of the mast at the start of the evening, when it lights up before the crowd and begins to change colors. The countdowns throughout the night that warm up the crowd during the hours of waiting. The last minute of the year, with the ball’s descent and the final ten-second countdown chanted in unison by the entire square. The confetti shower at midnight, with wishes written by visitors from many countries, and the lighting of the new year’s numerals atop the building. In the days before, without the party crowds: the Wall of Wishes, set up along Broadway’s pedestrian areas, where you can write a wish that will be turned into confetti; the giant new-year numbers displayed in the square before they are lifted onto the building; and the ball itself, atop One Times Square, which can be seen from below at any time, including lit at night. On the early morning of January 1, the square is almost empty and covered in colored paper, before the cleanup. If you prefer not to face the wait, you can watch the ball’s descent from farther away, from the blocks north on Seventh Avenue, where the ball appears above the crowd.
How to enjoy it
Entry to the public areas is first-come, first-served, with no tickets. Those who want to see the ball up close usually arrive in early afternoon; by evening the first blocks are already full and arriving groups are directed farther north, along Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Access points are on the cross streets from Sixth to Eighth avenues; on the day the police will indicate which entrances are open. There are no public restrooms or food sales inside the fenced areas, and if you leave your spot you cannot return to it: eat and use the restroom before entering and bring a small snack and water. Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, folding chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers and alcoholic beverages are not allowed, and small bags are searched at the entrance. Dress in layers, wear gloves, a hat and closed comfortable shoes, because the wait is standing and the night is usually cold. To get there, use the subway and get off at a station a few blocks from the square: the Times Square–42nd Street station gets very crowded and some exits may be closed. After midnight the exit is slow; the subway usually runs additional service. There is a reserved area for people with disabilities, which fills early.
Plan ahead
Hotels in Midtown, near Times Square, are crowded and expensive in the week of New Year’s: book many months in advance and confirm whether the hotel requires a wristband or ID to enter and exit on the night of the 31st, when streets are closed. Restaurants and private parties with views of the square sell tickets in advance. In late December New York usually has short, cold days, with temperatures around 0 °C or below at night and the possibility of rain or snow. Check the program, access points and subway changes in the days before.
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Your questions
Questions about New Year’s Eve in Times Square
What time does the ball drop in Times Square?
The drop takes place during the last minute of December 31 and ends at the moment of midnight. Hours earlier, at dusk, the sphere is hoisted to the top of One Times Square and stays lit while waiting for the turn of the year.
Do I need a ticket to see the ball drop in Times Square?
No. On the street, first arrivals get closer spots, and nobody sells places in the roped areas. Only private parties in nearby restaurants and hotels require advance purchased admission.
What time should I arrive at Times Square on New Year’s Eve?
To be near the ball, arrive in the early afternoon of December 31. The public areas open in the mid-afternoon and fill from south to north; at night, late arrivals are directed to blocks farther away.
What can’t you bring to Times Square on New Year’s Eve?
The prohibited list includes backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, chairs, picnic blankets, large coolers, drones, and any alcoholic beverage. Small purses are subject to inspection.
Are there restrooms in Times Square on New Year’s Eve?
There are no public restrooms or porta-potties in the public viewing areas, and anyone who leaves their spot cannot return to it. For that reason, it’s wise to use the restroom and eat before entering.