New Year's Eve
In New York City

The pyrotechnics explode and confetti rains down on Times Square as everyone waves the balloons, pompoms and other free handouts.

If you are planning to come to this year's Times Square celebration, just remember to dress warm, bring your own food and drink (non-alcoholic) and get here early. The streets will begin closing at 43rd Street at about 6:00pm and move north as more people arrive.

Disabled viewing is available on the northwest side of 43rd Street but get there early as it does fill up as well.

If you want information about hotels in the Times Square area, click here.

After all the celebrations, it's either on to party or on to bed. But you can be sure that it'll be the sanitation workers who will be up later than anyone!

NYCtourist.com wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

Here's a countdown of what you can expect when visiting Times Square this year:

T minus 7 hours (5:00 p.m.)
The Arrival
People begin arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 6:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. Between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. The NYPD directs you into the viewing sections beginning with the closest ones to 43rd Street. As each section fills up you're going to be further and further away.

T minus 6 hours, 2 minutes (6:58 p.m.)
Hourly Video Countdowns Begin
As the New Year draws near, giant video screens will display two minutes of sound effects and music culminating in a 30-second video countdown to mark the end of each hour. The music and sound effects are heard using a wireless surround sound system specially engineered for the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration.

T minus 2 hours, 30 minutes (9:30 p.m.)
Pom-Poms, Balloons and Confetti Bags
The Times Square Business Improvement District's (the group which makes Times Square the amazing place it now is all-year-round) deploys its sanitation crews clad in bright red uniforms to distribute thousands of fun handouts including American flags. glittering multi-color mylar pom-poms, single-use cameras, bright red and blue balloons, and "Official Times Square Confetti Bags" to all of you cheering in the New Year.

T minus 2 hours (10:00 p.m.)
Live Video of Times Square Celebration
You may want to check your face because you might be seen by the world via the live video feed sent to broadcasters worldwide. If you haven't been here before, this is what you've seen all those years from home. Now it's your turn!

T minus 1 hour, 30 minutes (10:30 p.m.)
Sound & Music Fill the Air!
You're now treated to continuous music via the sound system and are encouraged to sing along with everyone! Before you know it, it'll be next year.

T minus 1 minute (11:59 p.m.)
All Eyes Are Focused on The Countdown Stage
The Times Square Special Guest will push the Waterford crystal button that signals the sixty-second Ball Lowering. The Countdown Stage is located at the center island on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets.

The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
The lighted Ball descends 77 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. The Ball is covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles, 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high intensity strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.

T minus 0 minutes (midnight)
Next Year's Sign
Marking the New Year at the stroke of Midnight, the light bulbs on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year burst to life shining high above Times Square.

Pyrotechnics
A two-minute pyrotechnic display will brilliantly illuminate the sky above One Times Square. Bursts of custom-mixed colors glitter in the night sky and are computer-controlled and synchronized with the other special effects.

Confetti
The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square as the revelers celebrate the New Year, creating a brilliant panorama of color.

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