Tips for Celebrating New Year’s Eve on Times Square

Massive crowds gather on Times Square on December 31st to ring in the new year. Here's what you need to know.

How does New Year’s Eve work on Times Square?

If you don’t mind waiting for hours in the cold surrounded by crowds, you can ring in the New Year at Times Square. Every December 31, New York’s most famous intersection celebrates the arrival of the new year with a precisely choreographed American-style show.
Since 1907, a crystal ball descends down a pole atop the One Times Square building just before midnight, while the crowd counts down the final seconds of the year. 3, 2, 1… and the new year arrives in a shower of confetti and a roar of celebration.
The first 60 seconds of the new year are also marked by a spectacular fireworks display on the One Times Square facade. About one million people gather on Times Square each year to celebrate the New Year, according to Time magazine.

Attending New Year’s Eve on Times Square requires serious commitment. To get close to the action and see the One Times Square building, arrive early. The most dedicated spectators are in place by noon. If you want a prime spot, don’t arrive later than 3 pm. That’s when vehicle traffic closes on Times Square and the crowds really start to gather. After that, it becomes nearly impossible to move.
From that point on, it’s a matter of patience and endurance: there are no public restrooms on the plaza and no food vendors. If you need to use a restroom or buy water, you’ll lose your hard-won spot. Once you’re in position, you stay put. Fortunately, there’s plenty of entertainment to keep the crowd engaged.
Starting at 6 pm, the plaza comes alive with lights and the crystal ball begins its ascent. Multiple singers and bands perform on stages set up around Times Square throughout the evening. Happy New Year!

If you’d rather skip the Times Square crowds, here are other ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31 in New York.