2023-2024 New Year's Eve in Times Square
Dec 31, 2023 to Jan 01, 2024
4:00pm to 12:30am
Official Site
More than two million people are expected to brave the cold to usher in the New Year with a great big party in Times Square. At the stroke of midnight on December 31st, the crowd goes wild as a symbolic crystal ball descends from a pole high atop One Times Square.
Leading up to the big event are star-studded musical performances and colorful pyrotechnic displays, along with balloons, pom-poms and loads of confetti. Millions of people watch the celebration each year across the country, and over a billion worldwide.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Revelers start arriving at 3pm ET as 42nd to 47th Streets in Times Square are closed off to vehicular traffic. Revelers are then directed by the NYPD to various viewing stations. Be sure to get there early and dress appropriately for the weather.
- At approximately 6pm ET, organizers will flip a giant switch for the lighting and raising of the New Year's Eve Ball high above the city.
- At 11:59pm ET, the countdown begins as the ball slowly descends 70 feet in sixty seconds.
- At the stroke of midnight a blizzard of confetti rains down on revelers along with lots of kissing and horns honking as America celebrates the start of the new year.
INCREASED SECURITY
The NYPD beefs up security each year ahead of the big event, including:
- Aerial drones patrolling from sky
- Thousands of police on patrol, including undercover officers
- Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas and alcoholic beverages prohibited
- Bomb-sniffing dogs and radiation detectors deployed.
- Concrete blocks and sandbag trucks used as barricades.
- More than 1,200 security cameras
STREET CLOSURES
On December 31, the New York Police Department will begin closing down access to Times Square starting at 43rd Street and Broadway, and moving north as revelers arrive. It is likely that there will be no vehicular traffic on either Broadway or Seventh Avenue as of approximately 3:00 PM, According to the Times Square Alliance.
Pedestrian access points to enter viewing areas:
South of 41st Street:
38th Street: 6th and 8th Avenues
North of 43rd Street:
49th from 6th & 8th Aves
52nd from 6th & 8th Aves
56th from 6th & 8th Aves
Pedestrians and general public are NOT permitted to traverse north, south, or across intersections within the closed area.
FUN FACTS
The New Year's Eve Ball is designed by Waterford Crystal. The geodesic sphere measures 12 feet in diameter featuring 2,688 crystal triangles and weighs nearly 12-hundred pounds. There have been seven versions of the ball since its debut in 1907. The original was lit with just one hundred 25-watt bulbs.
TV BROADCASTS
- Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC at 8PM more
- New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on CNN at 8pm more
- Fox News will present "A New Year with Tyrus" more
ALTERNATIVE CELEBRATIONS
- NYC Restaurants and Clubs to ring in the New Year! More NYE Parties!
- New Year's Eve fireworks and live music at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, 10:30pm-12am more
New Year's Eve cruises, parties and dinners via Viator:
- NYC: Stunning Inside Live Ball Drop View in Times Square
- NYC: Celebrate New Year's Eve Aboard the Fireworks Cruise
- Celebrate New Years in the Heart of Times Square New York City
MORE INFO
For more information visit the Times Square Alliance click here
To book a hotel in the area click here
Author: Editor's Pick
Times Square
Manhattan
42nd St at Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Map
All events and times are subject to change.
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