Which New Year's Eve event has a crystal ball descend at midnight in New York City's Times Square?

The New Year's Eve event in which a crystal ball descends at midnight in New York City is the Times Square Ball Drop.

The tradition began in 1907, when a time ball was lowered from the flagpole atop One Times Square. The first ball was made of iron and wood and illuminated with electric lights. It replaced fireworks that had been used for earlier celebrations and gave crowds a visible signal for the start of the new year.

The ball has been redesigned several times. Modern versions use illuminated glass panels and are much larger than the original. The descent begins shortly before midnight on 31 December and ends at the stroke of midnight, when the new year is welcomed in Times Square.

The event is often described simply as “the ball drop,” but it is distinct from New York City's broader street celebration. The drop has also continued through changing technology, television coverage, and major public events.