The Times Square Ball takes 60 seconds to descend during the traditional New York City midnight countdown.
The ball begins its descent at 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and reaches the bottom of its pole at midnight. The one-minute movement provides the visual countdown that leads into the new calendar year.
The tradition began with the first ball drop in 1907, although the ball’s appearance, materials, and lighting have changed repeatedly. Modern versions have used Waterford Crystal panels and energy-efficient lights, making the ball far more elaborate than the original iron-and-wood design.
The public descent was suspended during the World War II blackout years of 1942 and 1943. In those years, the celebration continued without the illuminated ball. The phrase “ball drop” refers specifically to this controlled one-minute descent, not to the ball falling freely.