Overview
- After the traditional midnight countdown, the ball will be relit in red, white and blue for a second drop to kick off the nation’s 250th‑anniversary year.
- Organizers say the Constellation Ball is the ninth and largest version, about 12.5 feet wide and 12,350 pounds, with thousands of Waterford crystals and advanced LED lighting.
- Patriotic programming includes a themed video, up to 3,000 pounds of confetti, and a pyrotechnic finale set to Ray Charles’ rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
- Major networks will carry live coverage, and the official Times Square webcast begins at 6 p.m. ET; spectator access opens at 3 p.m. with designated entry points and extensive street closures.
- A summer reprise is planned around Independence Day, though reporting differs on whether the additional drop is slated for July 3 or July 4.