Times Square ball drop: How to watch, the best viewing area and more
NEW YORK CITY - We are just hours away from ringing in the new year.
TIMES SQUARE BALL DROP: STREET CLOSURES l BEST VIEWING AREA l PERFORMER LIST
From luxury dining to lively parties and unique experiences, FOX 5 NY has you covered with what to do tonight in New York City.
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Things to do in NYC on New Year's Eve 2024
Here’s your ultimate guide to the best New Year’s Eve events across the city, with something for everyone—from luxury dining and ball drop views to lively parties and unique experiences.
Plan on heading to Times Square to see the ball drop in person? Here's what you need to know:
Times Square ball drop LIVE
***NOTE: FOX 5 NY will have a LIVE look at Times Square on our YouTube page for the ball drop. Watch fireworks LIVE from around the world from LiveNOW on FOX LOCAL.
NYC street closures
The following locations will be closed at the discretion of the NYPD:
Times Square New Year’s Eve
- Area bounded by West 34th Street on the South; West 59th Street on the North; 6th Avenue on the East; 8th Avenue on the West (All-inclusive)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: A view of the crowd during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2022 Celebration on December 31, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
New Year’s Eve in The Heights
- Broadway between West 174th Street and West 178th Street
- Wadsworth Avenue between West 174th Street and West 177th Street
- West 175th Street and West 176th Street between Broadway and Wadsworth Avenue
Where is the best viewing area of the ball drop?
The ball drop can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street.
When does the celebration begin?
The celebration will begin shortly before 6 p.m. After that, the ball will be raised to the top of the pole, where at exactly 11:59 p.m., the ball will make its 60-second descent down the flagpole to signal the start of the new year.
Revelers wait in pens after arriving more than 8 hours early ahead of New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square on December 31, 2022 in New York City. This year's New Year's Eve returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers with around 1 million people
The viewing areas opened at 3 p.m. If you wish to watch from there, head to the access points at 49th, 52nd, and 56th Streets on 6th and 8th Avenues.
Who is performing in Times Square tonight?
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New Year's Eve: Here's who's performing in Times Square
Before the ball drops, revelers in New York City can spend the waning hours of New Year's Eve watching performers celebrate the beginning of 2025. Here's who's performing this year in Times Square.
To see the full schedule, click HERE.