The Times Square Ball Drop: New York’s New Year’s Celebration

The Times Square Ball is located atop One Times Square in New York, a landmark building designed by Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz. Commonly known as the “ball drop”, it is a major part of New York’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. Founded by Adolph Ochs, the former owner of The New York Times, the first ball was built by Jacob Starr in 1907. Since then, it has been lowered almost every year, with a few exceptions during wartime in the 1940s. Over the years, the ball has been redesigned several times.

Every New Year’s Eve, Times Square becomes the center of global attention as the iconic New Year’s Ball takes the spotlight. Just before midnight, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, the ball begins its slow descent down the flagpole while millions of people around the world count down together. When the clock strikes twelve, the ball reaches the bottom, officially marking the start of the new year.

The current version, known as the Constellation Ball, is the ninth Times Square Ball. It weighs 12,350 pounds, measures 12.5 feet in diameter, and is covered with 5,280 crystals and LED light pucks.