| The Perpetual New Year's Eve Schedule |
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 Somewhere in the vicinity of a million revelers crowd Times Square on New Year's Eve The Ball is a six feet in diameter and weighs more than 1,000 pounds. It is covered with more than 500 Waterford crystal triangles, about 700 multicolored light bulbs, almost 100 high intensity strobe lights and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors. Now it's hard to remember what New Year's in New York City and around the world would be like without this long-honored tradition. The Schedule: 4 pm: The Revelers People who want a prime viewing spot of the ball begin arriving to the area in the late afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 6 pm, the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. Between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. The NYPD directs revelers into the viewing sections beginning with the closest ones to 43rd Street. As each section fills up you're going to be further and further away. If you have to leave to get something to eat or drink or use the restroom, you lose your spot. So be prepared to "camp out." There are no portable public restrooms or drinking in public allowed. There are no food vendors either. Disabled viewing is available on the northwest side of 43rd Street but get there early as it fills up quickly.  6 pm: The Ball is RaisedAt this point the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball will be raised to the top of the 77-foot flagpole at One Times Square and lit. Then... T minus 6 hours, 2 minutes (6:58 pm): Hourly Video Countdowns Begin As the New Year draws near, giant video screens will display two minutes of sound effects and music culminating in a 30-second video countdown to mark the end of each hour. The music and sound effects are heard using a wireless surround sound system specially engineered for the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration. T minus 2 hours, 30 minutes (9:30 pm): Pom-Poms, Balloons and Confetti Bags The Times Square Business Improvement District deploys its sanitation crews clad in bright red uniforms to distribute thousands of party favors, including American flags, pom-poms, single-use cameras, bright red and blue balloons, and "Official Times Square Confetti Bags." T minus 2 hours (10:00 pm): Live Video of Times Square Celebration Make sure you're looking your best: you might be seen by the world via the live video feed sent to broadcasters worldwide. If you haven't been to Times Square for the celebration before, this is what you've seen all those years from home. Now it's your turn! T minus 1 hour, 30 minutes (10:30 pm): Sound & Music Fill the Air You're now treated to continuous music via the sound system and are encouraged to sing along with everyone. Before you know it, it'll be 2005. T minus 1 minute (11:59 pm): All Eyes Are Focused on The Countdown Stage The Times Square Special Guest (identity not available yet) will push the Waterford crystal button that signals the 60-second Ball Drop. The Countdown Stage is located at the center island on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets.  PyrotechnicsA two-minute pyrotechnic display will brilliantly illuminate the sky above One Times Square. Bursts of custom-mixed colors glitter in the night sky and are computer-controlled and synchronized with other special effects. Then, Confetti.... The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square as the revelers celebrate the New Year in a bursting panorama of color. Musical Performances and Hosts to come… The complete schedule is not yet available—look here for further updates. |
