Which New Year's Eve ball drop takes place annually in New York City's Times Square?

New York City's annual Times Square New Year's Eve countdown features the Times Square Ball.

The tradition began in 1907, when a time ball descended from the flagpole atop One Times Square shortly before midnight. The first ball was made of iron and wood and decorated with 100 light bulbs. Dropping a visible ball gave the public a dramatic way to mark the exact start of the new year.

The ball has been redesigned several times. The current illuminated version is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and LED lighting. It is raised to the top of One Times Square at 6 p.m. on December 31 and completes its descent at midnight.

The event is often confused with the entire Times Square celebration, but the ball is specifically the descending time ball. The gathering also includes musical performances, confetti, and the midnight singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”