The illuminated ball drops in Times Square at midnight on New Year's Eve. The event takes place at One Times Square in Manhattan and is watched by an in-person crowd and a large international television audience.
The first ball drop occurred on December 31, 1907, to celebrate the arrival of 1908. Newspaper publisher Adolph Ochs organized the event for the New York Times, whose new headquarters had given the area its name. Pyrotechnics had been used for earlier celebrations, but city officials later prohibited them.
The ball has been redesigned several times. The modern version is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and illuminated by LEDs. Its diameter and weight have changed as technology and public displays developed.
The ceremony is sometimes confused with the New Year's Eve celebrations at other New York landmarks. Times Square is the specific site of the famous descending ball, while nearby streets host performances, confetti, security barriers, and viewing areas.