Times Square is located in New York City, which is already an expensive and crowded place that somehow looked at those traits and said yes but what if we turned them up and removed all seating. Everything costs too much, including the air, which appears to be recycled directly from a tour bus. You pay premium prices to stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers while blinking lights shout at you about phones, soda, musicals, and regret. It is famous everywhere on Earth. People in far away countries dream of it. People in the tri state area plan their lives carefully so they never have to be there. New Jersey avoids it. Long Island fears it. Upstate pretends it is a myth told to frighten children into behaving. New Years Eve does not save it. That night is a televised endurance event in which cheerful people willingly wait outside for hours in adult diapers, guarded by barricades and bowel based despair, all to watch a ball drop that could have been a video. The glow fades quickly. What remains is the same place, only stickier. Two stars because it is undeniably a thing, and because the lights do work as advertised. Otherwise it is a marvel of human determination applied to an experience most locals avoid like the plague. read more

I'll start off by saying that real New Yorkers steer clear of this mass human petri dish. We don't do Times Square on NYE and I would not suggest anyone do it, not even once. Unless you enjoy standing around doing nothing for 15 hours, no bathroom, and trapped in the caged-in corral area that if you must leave you can't get back to your spot which you sacrificed your whole day for. Oh, and if you do make the ridiculous decision to do this don't forget to wear adult diapers so you can pee and poop in while basting in your own bodily discharge all day and night in freezing cold temps. Along with thousands of others around you fermenting in their own human waste. Yuck, heck no. We leave this annual event to the tourists and transplants who waste their day to watch a ball drop for 10 seconds then wade through a mad scramble to get to a packed subway or find a bathroom somewhere. I'd rather go to a local bar where it's warm, has good food and drinks, along with bathrooms and and a toast at midnight. Or stay home and watch the idiocy on TV and not have to poop in my own pants. LOL! read more

I went to Times Square thirty years ago and vowed never again -- especially now that adult diapers are almost mandatory fashion accessories for the gridlocked revelers. What a zoo. Now I'm just content to watch New Years Rockin' Eve on ABC and marvel at the incredible advances in lip-synching technology. Fun fact... the program began in 1972 as Three Dog Night's Rockin' Eve hosted by Dick Clark and the band. For those of you under 40, feel free to Google Dick Clark and/or Three Dog Night. Somehow, I liked the original concept better. Is Botox Boy Ryan Seacrest really an improvement? Anyhow,I have to change my diaper, so on that cheery note, Happy New Year everyone!!! read more

In NYC celebrating our 20 year anniversary. We were in the theater district and decided to cut through TS on our way back to our hotel. Hubs recognized on the billboard that you could text your selfie and get on the Times Square T-Mobile billboard. So of course we did it and about 10 minutes later there we were. Pretty cool experience! TS is cool to experience and explore the shops however be prepared for a lot of people. Beware of the people dressed like monks walking around trying to put bracelets on your wrist -- they want money although it seems like they are only handing you a bracelet. I saw a post on this prior to our trip so I was prepared and sure enough as we were sitting there waiting for our picture to post on the billboard one walked up to us and we immediately said no. read more

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Happy New Year! Cheers to 2025! First review of 2025. I got to experience Time Square on New Year's Eve once in 2011 going into 2012. My friend, husband, and I booked a hotel and explored NYC. The City was essentially a ghost town and closed down early due to the celebrations. We were in the surrounding area but not in the crowd where the ball was; honestly, I didn't want to be in a crowd with no bathrooms close by lol. It was fun from afar and our hotel but I probably won't do it again since everything closed down early. We did get to have dinner at the Halal Guys food truck, which was the highlight of the evening. On New Year's Day 2012, we walked around Times Square and other areas of NYC; it was busy and lively as expected. My husband and I even got a caricature done by one of the street artists! It was memorable and a good one time experience, staying in Times Square on NYE. I prefer going to Time Square on a non-holiday day though. read more

Time Square New Years Ball Drop - Caricature of my husband and I on New Year's Day in NYC 2012. - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

I never had the desire or stupidity to stand for hours in times square new Year's Eve to see a ball drop in 10 seconds to ring in the new year but many strangers do and more power to you . However I do try to make it a semi traditional thing by watching dick Clark's rockin eve show that's now hosted by Ryan seacrest . The musical acts have always been so so in my opinion and some of the scripted dialogue is cheesy but overall there are worst programs to watch before the new years rings in . Happy new year , make sure you wear a heavy duty depends undergarment and try not to get picked pocket or mug while in times square surrounded by strangers Happy new year . read more

This review is long overdue, but as an aspiring professional Yelp connoisseur, I simply had to put my thoughts into words for this and many, many other places I've come across. My wife and I, of course, secured front-row VIP seats, because, well, money speaks. The experience was nothing short of magical, and I must admit, watching the less fortunate shiver in discomfort only added to the evening's charm. read more

This massive glass ball is an iconic staple of New York City. Every year it is used for the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. Musicians perform before the ball drops, and everyone stands out in the cold wearing diapers to worship this gigantic glass ball. I just wish that people had the opportunity to rent the ball for gender reveal celebrations. This would be great, Because all the jumbotrons would light up pink or blue following a countdown, pink or blue confetti and smoke could come showering down on the family expecting the baby on all of Times Square, and it would be a great way to prevent such celebration from getting out of hand. Too many ge.der reveals get out of hand, but with professional event coordinators of the Times Square alliance, there would be no chance of that happening. read more

Times Square New Years Ball Drop for 2022 is going to be very different this year than in the past. It's an experience I suggest you get at least once in your lifetime. This year I advise you to do your research regarding the latest Covid protocols before you attend. They are limiting the number of attendees. You can't line up along Times Square this year until after 3pm. Masks are required and I believe you must show proof of vaccination. To me it's a group experience that made me feel like everyone joined in one spirit. It's the same vibe I feel at a rock concert. I'll be hoping the weather is tolerable on New Years Eve 2022! read more

I am not a fan of crowds but I'm perfectly okay with watching them on TV. If I can stay awake that late, that's what I try to do every year though nothing has been the same since "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" became "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" and I definitely tuned out after Kathy Griffin made it super weird. Other than the inane host behavior, it's fun to watch and keeping the countdown on the screen certainly helps you get hyped up for the actual drop. The ball itself is located on the roof of One TImes Square and the ball drop was first held on December 31, 1907. It's been dropped every year with the exception of wartime blackouts during WWII. At least they haven't cancelled it for COVID, though 2020-21 was closed to the general public. In 2021-22, attendance is limited, masks are required (outside!) and the technical direction was done remotely. Sigh. The New York dazzling ball is the best but it's great to see Atlanta do a Peach Drop and Charlotte raises a crown (We're the Queen City, y'all!) and in Seattle, the elevator on the Space Needle gets extra decoration and is raised. I've been to Times Square a few times - it was my 2000th review back in 2012, https://www.yelp.com/biz/times-square-new-york-2?hrid=85elJ8d44NlaQ_s01s86BQ and I was there as recently as August 2020. The last time I attended a NYE event was Boston's First Night 1986-87. Happy New Year and I wish you many Useful-Funny-Cool votes on your reviews in this coming year! [Review 16502 overall - 317 in New York - 10 of 2022.] read more

Time Square New Years Ball Drop - New York's Times Square, not NYE - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

Ever wonder where all that confetti at Times Square comes from when the ball drops ? Well a group of volunteers of 80 to 100 people are spread across buildings and rooftops with boxes of confetti and when the ball is about to hit at 12 they tossed it out by hand. A guy name Treb Heining, has been in charge of this for the last 30 years for the Times Square Business Improvement District Association. It's takes about 3,000 pounds confetti needed to cover a dozen square blocks around Times Square and when it's windy all of midtown Manhattan can get covered. The The confetti is made out of recycled, flame-retardant, biodegradable paper just in case there a mishap with a pileup and a cigarette butt or complaints about landfills. read more

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We waited in line for 8 hours and was told the "Times Square is full" and was turned away, together with other people waiting in line with a half mile long queue. It's probably the worst organized event we ever experienced. We ended up spending the night in a bar. read more

Times Square on NYE can equally be a very exciting experience or a terrible one. I'm not personally happy with how they run most of it but here's a few pros/cons: Pros: The atmosphere is electric around the time the famous NYE ball drops at 12 Midnight. And I always loved watching on TV as a kid. The live performances are often good. And you can get some really cool pics w/ sig others and such. Cons: The stringent rules can ruin much of the experience. You can't leave your crowded spot and may be standing for hours while nothing much is happening until the performances begin, usually after 9 or 10pm. That means no restroom breaks and coming back. This is absurd and there's no rationale for it. The other is the weather - it's Winter by now and most years it's either damp and rainy or quite cold. I remember back in 2009-10 was good while warmer and I had access right in the middle of it away from the crowds when I worked at ABC. It's probably still worth experiencing esp. if you're not from the NY area but other cities have good options too. read more

For years, the perfect couch potato event be it home or with friends. So, is the crowd getting younger or...? read more

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Thankfully, I was never brought to this event as a kid, or as an adolescent/teenager, and as a sentient middle-aged adult-- sorry to those who relish it, or at least the "tradition" of it--- I can say there's absolutely nothing about the prospect of standing packed in tight like (the cliche is appropriate here) "sardines" in freezing winter weather, unable to get a drink, or micturate, or do ANYTHING other than watch the ball drop at midnight, yell out a welcome to the New Year, bid farewell to the old, and move as quickly as the crowds allow to where your car is parked so you can get the hell home, that appeals to me. Nothing. Sounds like I never attended this event? Why am I reviewing it then? Well, according to my birth mother, I WAS there before she actually knew she was pregnant with me. She and my birth father (she was 15; he was 16) went with another couple to see if the Times Square ball dropping was all it was cracked up to be. It wasn't. They froze, watched the ball drop, and left for home. So, technically speaking, you could say I was there. Before they left to return to NJ, my birth mother's girlfriend was groped by someone in the crowd. Christmas can still have some nostalgic appeal for me if I'm in the right mood (and can throw me into a mild depression if I'm in the wrong mood, like recently; for the first time in years, I haven't gotten a Christmas card from my ex-girlfriend, who sent me one regularly every year out of some strange sense of duty or obligation, even though we haven't had any other contact since we broke up; maybe I'm not the resentful nihilist I think I am, but a sentimental fool at heart... anyway...), but I've just never gotten the appeal of New Year's celebrations in general or the Times Square one in particular. I don't have the faintest, remotest idea of what compels people to attend this. Or even to watch it on TV. Then again...there are those who don't understand my fascination with historic cemeteries, my visitations to distant cities so I can wander down rows of tombstones, my unbridled enthusiasm at locating the final resting places of people as disparate as Al Capone and Malcolm X, so...I guess in some sense, I get it, and kind of understand...so...with that being said, have at it, my Yelp friends! Enjoy "roughing it" at the "crossroads of the world!" I'll pay my respects to Babe Ruth or James Cagney or John Dillinger during the daylight hours, and you can stand out in the icy darkness, wedged in elbow to elbow with the strangers on either side of you, tortured by the "dulcet" screeching...I mean, singing...of Mariah Carey (or maybe they'll have some other "star entertainment" scheduled for tonight...don't know...don't much care), staring up with sleepless, bloodshot eyes at the ball, that much vaunted ball!...waiting expectantly for it to drop...waiting...waiting... Obviously, I won't be there, and I won't be watching it on TV at midnight either. I expect to be riding on the Unisom Express, right into the "arms of Morpheus," but to all my Yelp friends who WILL be up, and who DO care, have a very Happy New Year, and let's hope it's a damn sight better than the one we've just passed! And that I mean sincerely. (As an aside...here I go off topic again!...thinking about New Year's Eve in Times Square tends to remind me of a time when I was much, much younger. I worked at a company in Ft. Lee, across the river from Manhattan. One of my co-workers was a much, much older guy from Queens who resembled Kharis the Mummy from the old Universal horror movies. He was a nice guy, but truly looked like a walking nightmare; I've heard he was a very hard drinker in his younger years, and that drinking had left its destructive mark on his physiognomy. Another employee, a middle aged Latino named Juan, got a certain inexplicable pleasure out of making "the kid"...me...laugh, usually at someone else's expense (I wasn't cruel, but I was immature). One New Year's Eve, we were all working, and I asked if anyone intended going to Times Square after work. Juan said, "Well, Eddie, Mr. B___ would like to go but he had a very bad experience when he attended last year. The crowd caught sight of him walking around, thought he was the Old Year going out, and they chased after him, tried to kill him...very nearly did..." Maybe my sense of humor is "inexplicable"...or maybe I was just a very, very immature "kid"...but the thought of Mr. B___ being chased down by an enraged "holiday crowd" intent on inflicting grievous bodily harm because they thought he was The Previous Year In The Flesh made me laugh unroariously, like I usually did at Juan's many so-called "jokes." Still does make me laugh, when I think of it now. I think even Mr. B___ laughed; he was always a good sport. So...if you're out there tonight, and you see Mr. B___ wandering around Times Square in the cold, please don't hurt him! Don't kill him! He's not the Old Year going out!) Happy New Year! read more

The ball dropped to welcome 2021 in a mostly empty Time Square to ring in the New Year. A small live crowd of first responders and essential workers were allowed to watch in a secure area. read more

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An energetic high buzz place, but a Slightly over hyped event. I don't know when a big glittery golf ball became synonymous for New Years Eve. The ball barely drops, it just goes down a little bit on the pole, very anti climatic visually speaking. You have to wait for like 72 hours to get to the front and then you can't go to the bathroom, so wear a diaper I guess. The entertainment is good sometimes, some singing I suspect is playback lip syncing. Congrats you waited outside in the freezing NYC winter cold the better part of a day to see a big kitschy sphere marginally move while watching someone mimic singing. Still, it's something you can do once in life according to some. Or you can check out the ball un-dropped when the crowds are gone in preparation for next year. Happy new year from the holiday Grinch. read more

Review #430 None Elite Squad Yeah. Dont know what to say... I mean it's nice to see in person but watching it on TV is just as good. New Years is a Amazing place to be for all the tourist that come... it's a place that gets so packed and has one of the most famous..wait for it ..uh huh...Poke Stops..yup..made it happen so to make it short and sweet..the only reason to come here on New Years Eve is to Spin this monumental Pokestop but guess what..I already did on Christmas Day! read more

Time Square New Years Ball Drop - Happy 2019! - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

As for NYE, we started lining up at 49th and 8th at 1:30. The line was long and there were already people posted up at 42nd, where you can see the shows and such. If you can't get up there, you won't be able to see or hear anything but you'll still have a view of the ball drop. We were turned away at the 49th entrance because it was full after 2 hours of waiting. Annoying. So we entered at 52nd and worked our way to 49th and 7th anyways. If planning to see the ball drop, Do yourself a favor and check the weather beforehand. Wear layers and a rain poncho if it's going to be wet. You go through security checkpoints many times and they do not allow back packs and umbrellas. Prepare for many hours of standing. A hidden gem is Sbarro's on 49th -- we managed to squeeze a couple hours of waiting in there instead of outside. Was the restaurant happy? No. But we purchased food and there were many others who felt entitled enough not to. If you blink, you miss the ball drop. Keep an eye on the clock for the 60 second countdown! It was cool, but no way I'd do it again. On another note, there are no event staff. Thank your NYPD members for not only keeping us safe, but they also provide directions and information to the best of their ability. read more

Time Square New Years Ball Drop - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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Happy New Year! Watching the annual ball drop with millions of people in Times Square was epic and makes me appreciate NYC even more. read more

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR! A New York annual tradition since its inception in 1907 founded by Adolph Ochs for rooftop celebration time ball to ring in the new year. There is only one Times Square and it is in New York City. Frigid arctic cold temperature 20 °F (-6 °C) standing outdoors and eyes watching a rooftop ball to drop at the stroke of midnight - either in-person or on TV. Fireworks blaring, confetti flung from nearby building rooftops, spectators wearing "2018" glasses, people kissing, hugging, screaming "happy new year," singing "Auld Lang Syne" and some proposing to their significant other to ring optimism as the glue to hope, confidence, and new beginnings for the new year. Some spectators possibly burning photos, papers of current year bad memories. As the calendar turn it starts new beginnings for a renewed sense to be stronger with New Year's resolutions filled with joy. Time marches on... Time is of essence. A public spectacle of a time ball that welcomes the new year. The energy to countdown for a new year is positively contagious and the spirit is filled with hope. Heed the hope within my mind. Why exist to be? Why not live? How to have fun in this fabulous but fleeting time on Earth? Ringing in the new year is a global countdown (at different time zones), but the Times Square New Year's Ball Drop is a New York tradition indelible, indisputable, and an original. I always enamored with clocks adorning churches and civic buildings. In passing on street level in the vicinity of Times Square the actual building where the ball sits is: One Times Square. The ball can be viewed publicly year round street level of rooftop on Broadway from 43rd to 50th Street and on 7th Ave from 43rd to 59th Street - only in Manhattan. https://www.history.com/news/how-times-square-became-the-home-of-new-years-eve?cmpid=email-hist-made-2017-1228-12282017&om_rid=b1ad39322ad4ac3e1399148e01757c0d6c4647fef9ebe41764e0b0a68883da04&om_mid=293599158&kx_EmailCampaignID=17678&kx_EmailCampaignName=email-hist-made-2017-1228-12282017&kx_EmailRecipientID=b1ad39322ad4ac3e1399148e01757c0d6c4647fef9ebe41764e0b0a68883da04 read more

12.31.2017. Hi Yelp world and All friends everywhere! Welcome to the Time Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop. Thank you Tina C. for showing me this site, I guess I'm not done with New Year's Eve. Tonight, a page of History will turn for the better. 2017 will fade into the Dust of memories. We as a family of humanity, experienced and survived its Passage. Many did not. We are here to celebrate their lives, dreams and accomplishments as well as our own. A large percentage of the world will include The Times Square Adventure amongst their bucket list of personal endeavors. Sort of like Running with The Bulls? But the Bulls are easier. At 2 p.m. New Year's Eve you had better be on the way already. If you live in the tri-state area. Worldwide Travelers, will already be in there hotels staging their participation in this event. You will experience heavy security and brutal weather conditions on the New Year's Eve of 2017. Please expect temperatures tonight to be real feel at 1 below zero. I would very much recommend having a secured hotel for this evening following the event. If you are coming from out of town most likely you are relying on the rail system. Almost 1 million people will overload the MTA causing hour-long delays. For folks looking to immediately depart the venue following the ball drop, I recommend running like hell for the subway station before the ball even touches the ground. Be well prepared. Have a reunion spot for your group. Make sure you have your phone charged and your charger with you. Consider wearing a diaper there will be no bathrooms. I have also written another review under "Times Square" with additional Tips and memories of this event. Given the harshness of weather expected. IF you are coming here, I recommend reading this review also. New York City's a crowded place to begin with wait until 1 million people hit this joint in Sub-Zero temperatures. Enjoy yourselves, but please do not take this adventure lightly tonight. I have already done this 4 times. Including nights where it was almost as cold. Watching the event through the glass of your hotel room window is NOT cheating tonight. The Beautiful Crystal Ball will have thousands of colors including shimmering images of butterflies. They will help to Send the world all our prayers of love, hope and inclusiveness. We pray that these ideals may shine bright across the planet tonight. As a personal note, I wish to thank my wonderful Yelp family that stretches across our small world. Thank you for the friendship and love that you have shown to me and my family the past year, I am grateful for so many friends I have made. 2017 was filled with so much love. Cheers to All! See you in 2018! BIG Jim and family read more

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It's time square and you need to experience it at least once, but it's chaotic as hell. Bright lights with lots of stimuli. Would I go back??? I dunno to be honest read more

I was looking for a Sbarro and got tucked in to hundreds of thousands of people staring upward and counting down. Dunno what kind of cult BS that's all about, but I totally dropped my contact and everyone stopped what they were doing and let me look for it. Thanks hundreds of thousands of count-downers. . *\*|*/* Happy New Year's Eve! *\*|*/* read more

The worst. Save your money! Feels like we got ripped off. No Food lines over 90 minutes just to get into each event. THe employees had no idea what they were doing. We stood in 2 different lines to get in. Once we were in each place NO PLACE TO SIT. There appetizers were a soft pretzel. Come on $200 a person to eat crap. Save your money Book directly with the place you want to go. NEVER AGAIN! read more

Very well organized 'ball drop' event, but you will have to be there at least 8 hours in advance to see the ball dropping from a close distance. read more

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You look up and expect to see a ball the size of a house and instead you see a small ball that from ground floor it looks like a golf ball haha. I bet it would be nice to see it drop on New Years but for now all you see it do is change colors! read more

This has been on my bucket list for years! After we bought the tickets and reserved the hotel room, we found out we had to be in Time Square by 10 am to find a good spot for the ball to drop at midnight. We were not up for wearing depends or standing in the rain all day. I am glad to cross it off the list, but watching it at home with friends and family is soooo much better!!! The NYPD is amazing and kept a sense of humor while keeping us safe. read more

The most energizing place in the planet. America at its highest. No other place like this. Crowded, sometimes dirty, but you feel you are on top of the world. The display of lights is incomparable read more