At New York City's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration, the Ball reaches the bottom of its pole at midnight.
The descent lasts 60 seconds and ends precisely as the old year becomes the new year in New York City. The modern Ball Drop is held in Times Square, at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, and is watched by a large in-person crowd and a global television audience.
The tradition began on December 31, 1907, when the first illuminated time ball was lowered from the flagpole atop One Times Square. The event continued after the city banned fireworks celebrations in the area. Earlier time balls had been used to help ships and communities set their clocks accurately.
A common mix-up is confusing the Ball Drop with the celebration's performances and fireworks. Those elements can occur before or after midnight, but the Ball's traditional descent is timed to conclude at exactly 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time.