What is the name of the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square that includes the famous ball drop?

New Year’s Eve in Times Square is the New York City celebration that includes the famous ball drop.

The event takes place in the heart of Manhattan, where crowds gather for live entertainment, a countdown, and the descent of a lighted ball from One Times Square. The first drop happened in 1907, replacing fireworks that had been used by The New York Times to celebrate its new headquarters. The ceremony has continued through changing designs, locations, and broadcast formats.

The ball itself is not the same as the celebration’s name. It is a ceremonial time ball, while the event is the broader Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. The tradition has also been adapted during exceptional circumstances, including periods when public attendance was restricted. Television coverage helped transform a local gathering into an internationally recognized symbol of New Year’s Eve.