The Times Square Ball Drop is the New Year's Eve event in New York City where revelers gather for a midnight countdown. A lighted ball descends from One Times Square shortly before January 1.
The first ball drop took place in 1907, organized by newspaper publisher Adolph Ochs as a replacement for a fireworks display used to mark the opening of the New York Times building. The tradition continued, with interruptions during the World War II blackouts of 1942 and 1943.
Modern versions use a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford crystal panels and illuminated by LEDs. The ball's design and technology have changed over time, while the basic countdown format has remained recognizable.
The event is often described simply as “the ball drop,” but the Times Square location matters: many cities conduct their own object drops. This New York ceremony is also distinct from the separate fireworks around the city.