What New Year’s Eve event in New York is known for a midnight ball drop in Times Square?

Times Square New Year’s Eve is the New York event known for its midnight ball drop.

The celebration takes place in and around Times Square in Manhattan, where a large illuminated ball descends from One Times Square as the final seconds of December 31 pass. The ceremony is accompanied by a countdown, performances, confetti, and millions of viewers in person and through broadcasts.

The event began in 1907 after the New York Times organized a celebration for its new headquarters. The ball drop continued after the newspaper moved away, becoming a civic and commercial tradition associated with New York City and the worldwide television calendar.

The event is sometimes casually called “the ball drop,” but that phrase can describe other celebrations. “Times Square New Year’s Eve” identifies the specific New York event and distinguishes it from local countdowns that also use illuminated objects or timed descents.