The Amazing History of New Year’s Eve in Times Square
New Year’s Eve in Times Square New York City, is one of the world’s most iconic celebrations. Its origins date back to the early 20th century, when the area was transformed from Longacre Square into a cultural focal point for welcoming the new year.
A Look Back
The first public New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square took place on December 31, 1904. It was part of festivities organized by The New York Times to celebrate its new headquarters. Roughly 200,000 people gathered for fireworks and festivities that night, making it an instantaneous success.
The spectacle evolved just a few years later. In 1907, city officials banned fireworks because of safety concerns. As a result, the New York Times owner Adolph Ochs commissioned a 700-pound ball of iron and wood adorned with 100 light bulbs to be lowered from the flagpole atop the Times Tower. Later called One Times Square, to mark midnight on December 31, 1907 and ushering in 1908. Over 200,000 revelers attended that first ball drop, cementing the tradition for decades to come.
Over the 20th century, the event steadily grew in popularity and spectacle. The ball itself underwent several redesigns. First, a heavier wrought-iron version in 1920 and an aluminum sphere in 1955. Then during the 1980s, a themed “Big Apple” design reflecting New York City’s identity.
The ball drop held annually with only two exceptions — 1942 and 1943, when World War II “dim-out” lighting restrictions led to suspended drops. Yet, crowds still gathered for a minute of silence and the ringing of bells.
By the mid-20th century, the celebration was widely broadcast, first on local television and later on national networks. The introduction of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in the 1970s. It helped turn the ball drop into a fixture of American pop culture, familiar to millions tuning in annually.
Crowds Through the Years
Estimating crowd sizes in Times Square has long been part of the lore. Modern estimates usually range around 1 million people gathering in person to watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. Although exact figures can vary by year due to weather, security measures, and special occasions.
During the millennium celebration on December 31, 1999, official estimates suggested up to 2 million people packed the streets for the arrival of 2000. Thus making it one of the largest gatherings in the history of Times Square celebrations.
In recent decades, organizers have regulated the crowd with fenced viewing pens that hold tens of thousands of people. Hundreds of thousands more stand in surrounding streets. The event also captivates global audiences. More than one billion viewers worldwide tune in via broadcast and livestream each year.
Tradition and Innovation
Over time, the Times Square spectacle has added new elements. In 1992, the tradition of dropping 3,000 pounds of confetti at midnight began. It added to the celebratory explosion of color. The ball itself has evolved technologically. Now a 12.5-foot geodesic orb weighing over 12,300 pounds, illuminated by thousands of LEDs and crystals.
In 2025–26, a new Constellation Ball debuted with a design reflecting modern innovation and symbolic meaning. For the first time in the event’s history, a second ball drop was announced for July 3, 2026, celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Photo: Pixabay
