The famous New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square reaches the bottom at midnight.
The descent is timed to the final moments of December 31, ending precisely as the new year begins in New York City. A one-minute descent became the standard modern format, creating a highly recognizable visual countdown for people in the square and viewers watching television broadcasts.
The first ball drop occurred in 1907, when fireworks restrictions made the earlier celebration format impractical. Since then, the ceremony has continued through changes in the ball's design, television technology, and crowd-management practices. The countdown is based on local New York time, not on midnight everywhere in the world.
The event is sometimes confused with earlier evening celebrations held for families. Times Square has hosted several public programs before midnight, but the ball drop itself is the signature moment marking the change of year.