On January 1, 1907, the first New Year’s Ball Drop took place in Times Square. Ever since then, Times Square has become the site of the largest New Year’s celebration in the world. Every New Year’s Eve over a million people congregate to watch the Waterford crystal ball being lowered to the ground marking a brand new year. Watching the ball drop is something that should be done once in a lifetime. If you ever plan on visiting Times Square during the ball drop, preparation is key. The following are some important tips for watching the New Year’s Ball Drop at Times Square.
Stay in Manhattan
If you are visiting from out-of-town, stay in Manhattan. The largest New Year’s Eve celebration on earth takes place in Manhattan. Preparations for New Year’s Eve celebrations make getting to Manhattan very difficult. Many roads are closed and there are various detours all over Manhattan, particularly around Times Square. Being already in Manhattan, at the heart of the celebrations makes it easier to get around.
Book Your Hotel Room Early
As New Year’s Eve approaches, hotels in Manhattan become very hard to come by. Therefore, it is recommended to book early. If you can afford it, book a hotel in Manhattan. If you can’t afford a hotel in Manhattan, then book a hotel near the airport or somewhere in the vicinity. With over a million converging to Times Square, you are guaranteed that the finding a hotel will be difficult and that the closer you book to New Year’s Eve, the more expensive the hotel will be.
Get to Times Square Early
Get to Times Square Early. With the ball drop at Times Square getting more and more popular, it is not uncommon to see people flocking to Times Square the day before New Year’s Eve and camping at Times Square in order to get the best seats for the Ball Drop. The main area in front of where the ball drops becomes crowded around noon and is nearly inaccessible by early afternoon. Sometime in the afternoon, the police close off the streets and set up a blockade around the main area making it impossible to get in or out of the area.
Be Prepared
There are no bathrooms in Times Square and restaurants in the area are quite expensive. So make sure that you are prepared. The main entertainment starts around 10PM. Many of the large television studios around Times Square provide free entertainment. This includes MTV and ABC amongst others. So choosing where you want to be in Times Square is very important.
Have Fun
At midnight, the ball drops and partygoers get to witness an amazing display of confetti and fireworks. Random strangers from all over the world hug each other and give high-fives. Enjoy the moment because there is truly nothing like celebrating New Year’s at Times Square.
