The Waterford Crystal Ball drop on New Year's Eve takes place in New York City, at Times Square.
The current Times Square Ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and lit by thousands of LEDs. Waterford Crystal became associated with the ball in 2000, when a new millennium-themed design was introduced. The crystal panels have been updated and expanded in later versions, while the basic ritual remains the same: the illuminated sphere descends the flagpole at One Times Square during the final minute of the year.
The ball is often called a crystal ball, but it is not a solid crystal sphere. It is a metal-framed structure fitted with faceted crystal panels and lighting equipment. The event is also distinct from the annual Waterford crystal design itself, which may receive a new theme or pattern. This combination of engineering, branding, and public ritual made the object one of the most recognizable New Year's symbols in the world.