About 1,360 kilograms of confetti are traditionally released over Times Square crowds at New Year, equivalent to about 3,000 pounds.
The confetti drop is one of the visual features of the Times Square celebration in New York City. Pieces of paper are released over the gathered crowd as the illuminated ball descends and midnight arrives. The material is prepared in advance and distributed across the square so that it can spread through the surrounding streets.
The familiar estimate of 3,000 pounds is often converted to approximately 1,360 kilograms. Because event preparations and reporting can vary, figures may be rounded, but the pound measure is the commonly cited description of the annual confetti release.
Confetti is separate from the Times Square Ball itself. The ball-drop tradition began in 1907, whereas the modern ball has been redesigned several times and the confetti, messages, and lighting form additional parts of the celebration.