BY AMANDA MOSES
The journey to the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square was illuminated by dazzling crystals, confetti-filled wishes, and weeks of captivating entertainment leading up to midnight on December 31st.
Numeral Arrival
The festivities kicked off on December 18th with the unveiling of the 2025 numerals on 46th Street and Broadway Plaza. Tourists and New Yorkers were invited to pose in front of the vibrant, seven-foot-tall numbers “2025,” illuminated with 620 energy-efficient LED bulbs. These numbers are displayed to the public for about 13 days before being hoist-ed to the top of One Times Square.
Times Square Crystal Experience
On December 19th, the public had the opportunity to participate in the tradition of changing the New Year’s Eve ball crystals for the first time. Through a unique interactive artwork display, visitors could remove crystals from previous years and replace them with newly designed crystal triangles that would adorn the ball for December 31st.
In addition to contributing to this exciting effort, each participant was given a crystal from past New Year’s Eve Balls as a keepsake.
New Year’s Eve Ball Crystal Installation
On Dec. 27, the New Year’s ball was unveiled with the assistance of CleanBoss Co-Founders Joy Mangano and Pitbull, who helped clean and install the final piece for the 2025 Ball Drop Celebration.
The New Year’s ball measures 12 feet in diameter, weighs approximately 11,875 pounds, and is covered with 2,688 crystals. Each year, the ball features a theme, and for 2025, the letter “E” was embedded in the design, symbolizing the word “EVER” representing unity.
Good Riddance Day
On December 28th, in preparation for the new year, Times Square Alliance invited visitors to let go of the past and embrace a fresh start for 2025 by burning away “negativity.” Attendees wrote down their negative memories on paper and watched as they were burned, symbolizing the release of the past and the opportunity to begin with a clean slate.
New Year’s Eve Ball Test
On December 30th, Sarah Beth Reno, Senior Vice President of Operations at Car-nival Cruise Line, Chris Cassidy, President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, and Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel Jack Jacobs helped turn on the switch to test the New Year’s Eve ball, testing the rise and fall its 139-foot pole atop of One Times Square.
According to organizers, the New Year’s Eve Ball features over 16 million vibrant colors, creating a kaleidoscope effect as it lights up for all to see.
New Year’s Eve
Thousands gathered in Times Square, some arriving as early as 2 a.m. the day before to secure a prime spot for watching the New Year’s Eve Ball drop. The wait is long and challenging, with no access to food or rest-rooms. However, this year, many attendees said they were blessed with beautiful, warm weather during their long wait. It wasn’t until the final three hours before the ball dropped that a heavy downpour began. Despite the rain, spirits remained high, with many visitors sharing that there is something truly magical about being in New York City on New Year’s Eve.
Photos by Amanda Moses
