No matter where your celebrations for New Year’s Eve are taking place, New York City’s Times Square Ball is infamous and returning for its 115th year.
Over 1 million people from around the world are expected to attend the annual ball drop celebration in New York City’s Times Square. The tradition has been held annually since December 31, 1907, with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943 due to wartimes.
The Waterford crystal ball that will drop in New York’s Times Square to usher in 2013 is previewed on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The ball will be seen by millions again this New Year’s Eve.
The Waterford crystal ball that will drop in New York’s Times Square to usher in 2013 is previewed on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The ball will be seen by millions again this New Year’s Eve.
AP Photo/Verena Dobnik
The event was first organized by the owner of The New York Times, Adolph Ochs. Prior to the first ball drop, Ochs had held a fireworks display for New Year’s Eve.
The ball itself was designed by Artkraft Strauss. In the years since the first drop, the ball’s design has been updated to include new lighting technology. The original ball was made from wood and iron and lit with 100 light bulbs. It was 700 pounds and 5-feet in diameter, according to the Times Square official website.
In 1920, a 400-pound ball was made from iron to replace the original. That one was replaced in 1955 with an aluminum ball that weighed 150 pounds. Then in the 1980s, red lights and a green stem made the ball into an apple for the “I Love New York” campaign. In 1995, the ball was upgrade. It had an aluminum skin, rhinestones, strobes and computer controls.
An estimated 350,000 revelers gather to welcome the new year in New York’s Times Square, Jan. 1, 1958. Crowds will gather again on December 31 for the 115th ball drop.
An estimated 350,000 revelers gather to welcome the new year in New York’s Times Square, Jan. 1, 1958. Crowds will gather again on December 31 for the 115th ball drop.
AP Photo, File
Now there’s LED lighting systems and outer crystal panels. The panels, which are manufactured by Waterford Crystal, have inscriptions of a new theme each year. This ball design was originally made in 2007 for the 100th anniversary of the Times Square Ball Drop.
The ball descends from One Times Square as a countless number of people in person and at home watch to bid the past year farewell.
In the 115 years, there have been a few mistakes like the ball not hitting the bottom on time during multiple festivities or heavy rain causing the fireworks to smoke in the 2018-19 celebration.
Festivities formally begin at 6 p.m., with the ball drop starting at 11:59 p.m. EST.
What Streaming Apps Are Playing the Times Square Ball Drop?
The festivities can be watched on the NBC New York app as well as on the ABC app. It is also viewable on Roku, Peacock, Xumo Play, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire Live TV, Google TV, CNN Max and Local Now.
The ball drop can also be watched live at TimesSquareNYC.org starting at 6 p.m.
People are also encouraged to join in on the conversation over social media, with the hashtag BallDrop, according to the Times Square official website.
What Channel Is the Times Square Ball Drop On?
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest will start at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
CNN will also have its own show, New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, which will start at 8 p.m.
How To Stream the 2025 Times Square Ball Drop
