New York City hosts the annual ball drop at the Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve celebration.
The event takes place in Times Square, the commercial crossroads in Midtown Manhattan. A large illuminated ball descends One Times Square during the final minute of December 31, reaching the bottom at midnight. The ceremony is accompanied by music, performances, confetti, and a huge crowd in the surrounding streets.
Waterford Crystal became associated with the ball in 2000, when crystal panels were introduced for the millennium celebration. Successive designs have used patterned crystal panels and energy-efficient LED lighting. The name “Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve” reflects that long-running partnership, while the event itself is organized in New York.
New York City's celebration is sometimes confused with citywide fireworks displays in other capitals. Its signature feature is a ball descending above Times Square, not a clock striking in another landmark or a beachside fireworks ritual.