The Times Square Ball’s descent traditionally lasts 60 seconds.
At the New York City countdown, the illuminated ball begins descending shortly before midnight and reaches the bottom of its pole at 12:00 a.m. The one-minute descent gives the crowd a visible final countdown before the new calendar year begins.
The ball is lowered on a specially built pole atop One Times Square. Its descent is controlled so that the movement is steady and easy to follow in person and on television. The ceremony is accompanied by the crowd’s countdown, music, confetti, and the lighting of the surrounding buildings.
The ball drop was first introduced in 1907, but the equipment, size, lighting, and crystal designs have changed substantially. The 60-second figure describes the traditional descent itself, not the entire televised program, which includes performances and earlier countdown segments. Weather and security conditions can affect surrounding activities without changing the ceremony’s basic symbolism.