It will be double the excitement in New York City this New Year’s Eve as the occasion will be celebrated with two ball drops.
As usual, New Yorkers will assemble in Times Square to watch the Constellation Ball drop from the One Times Square building.
This will usher in the start of a new year.
But this year, a second ball will drop in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The Times Square Alliance decided this was a good year to add a second ball drop.
The alliance has been working with America250, a nonpartisan body, which has been tasked with put the whole event together.
According to America250, the second ball drop — dazzlingin red, white and blue — will start at around 12:04 a.m. ET.
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At that moment, revelers 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,” per 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 the release.
“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,” Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, said. “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.”
This will not be the only time to see the patriotic ball.
It will also drop again on July 3, 2026, the day before the nation’s birthday. This will mark the first time in history that the ball drops outside of New Year’s Eve.
