What is the name of the New Year's Eve event in New York City centered on a midnight ball drop?

The New Year's Eve event in New York City centered on a midnight ball drop is the Times Square Ball Drop.

The event takes place at One Times Square in Manhattan and attracts a large in-person crowd while reaching a much larger audience through television and online broadcasts. The illuminated ball descends during the final minute of December 31 and reaches the bottom at midnight, marking the start of January 1.

The first descent occurred in 1907, after the New York Times moved into a new headquarters and promoted a fireworks celebration. Fireworks were soon replaced by the safer and more reusable ball-drop format. The tradition was interrupted during World War II blackouts in 1942 and 1943, when the crowd observed midnight in darkness.

The ball has changed substantially over time, from a small iron-and-wood structure to a large crystal-covered installation using programmable lighting. The event is often called simply “the ball drop,” but “Times Square Ball Drop” identifies the specific New York celebration rather than any countdown involving a suspended object.