This New Year’s Eve celebration will look different.
Normally, every year, New Yorkers will gather in Times Square on New Year’s Eve to watch the Constellation Ball drop from the iconic One Times Square building. This celebratory moment signifies the start of a new year.
However, on Jan. 1, New Yorkers might be surprised to see that there’ll be two ball drops instead of one.
In honor of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary of when the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Times Square Alliance — a group that organizes the annual ball drop — decided it would be best to include a second one in the night.
The Alliance has also been working with America250, a nonpartisan body that Congress established in 2016 for the upcoming anniversary, to put the whole event together.
According to America250, the second ball drop will start at around 12:04 a.m. EST. Unlike the first ball drop, this one will feature a red, white, and blue design.
During the celebratory moment, New Yorkers will be covered with “2,000 pounds of red, white, and blue confetti.” There will also be a pyro finale set to Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful,” according to the press release.
“Our goal is to inspire all 350 million Americans to join in this moment to celebrate our country,” Rosie Rios, Chair of America250 said in a press release.
Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance added, “Every year in Times Square on New Year’s Eve we unite the crowds cheering in the streets with the millions of people around the country and the world to celebrate one of the most iconic moments together as one. It’s perfect that this moment will be in partnership with America250 and the very first moment of a year’s worth of moments to celebrate our country’s 250 great years.”
The decorated Times Square Ball will also drop again on July 3, 2026, the eve of the nation’s birthday. This will mark the first time in history that the Ball drops outside of New Year’s Eve.
