Which New Year's Eve event in New York City is known for releasing confetti over Times Square at midnight?

The Times Square Ball Drop is the New Year's Eve event in New York City known for releasing confetti over Times Square at midnight.

During the annual ceremony, the illuminated ball descends One Times Square during the final minute of the year. When it reaches the base of the flagpole at midnight, confetti is released over the crowd, and the new year is celebrated with music and cheering. The confetti tradition is separate from the ball itself, although both are now strongly associated with the same event.

The ball drop began in 1907, while confetti became part of the Times Square celebration in the twentieth century. Modern editions use large quantities of paper confetti, including pieces carrying messages from people around the world. The event is sometimes called simply the Times Square countdown, but “Times Square Ball Drop” identifies the specific ceremony. It should not be confused with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which also takes place in New York but is held in November.