What annual event in New York City begins with the Times Square ball drop at midnight?

New Year’s Eve is the annual event in New York City that begins with the Times Square ball drop at midnight.

New Year’s Eve is observed on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian calendar year. In Times Square, spectators and television viewers count down to midnight as the illuminated ball descends. The moment marks the transition to January 1, New Year’s Day.

The Times Square celebration became nationally prominent through radio and television, while the live crowd event grew into a major international attraction. Confetti, musical performances and fireworks or pyrotechnic effects are also part of different years’ programs. The ball drop itself is a specifically New York tradition within the wider global holiday.

Midnight occurs at different moments around the world because of time zones, so New York’s countdown is not the first New Year celebration globally. It is also distinct from New Year’s Day, which begins immediately after midnight on January 1.