Revelers didn’t let heavy rain dampen their spirits as they gathered at the epicenter of New Year’s Eve – Times Square – to ring in 2025. Decked out in ponchos, the crowds began lining up early in the morning for the iconic ball drop. While the day started dry, the evening brought wild weather, but that didn’t stop the celebration.
The official festivities on December 31st kicked off at 6 p.m. with the ball raised atop One Times Square. The night featured live performances from the Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Rita Ora, TLC, and others. Ryan Seacrest was also in attendance, mingling with the crowd. Just before midnight, the 60-second countdown began, and confetti poured down on the revelers – just as the rain subsided. Of course one of the most impressive moments is witnessing the clean-ups by the incredible sanitation crew.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
In the days leading up to the farewell of 2024, several events took place in Times Square. On December 19, One Times Square displayed hundreds of crystal triangles from the New Year’s Eve Ball, inviting the public to replace old crystals with new ones for the 2025 Ball. Participants took home a crystal as a keepsake.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
On December 20, the giant numerals for “2025” arrived in Times Square on Broadway Plaza between 46th and 47th Streets, 13 days before the New Year’s Eve celebrations. The public had the chance to take photos with the numerals until December 23. After a short break, the numerals were placed atop One Times Square to complete the “2-0-2-5” sign, which lit up at midnight on December 31, illuminated by 620 energy-efficient LED bulbs.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
On December 28, New Yorkers and visitors gathered for the 18th Annual Good Riddance Day, hosted by Jonathan Bennett, to erase bad memories from 2024. Participants wrote their frustrations on chalkboards and miniature boards, which they then wiped away. People also submitted messages online, which were displayed on the 148-foot digital billboard at One Times Square. The event was co-organized by the Times Square Alliance, One Times Square, and Countdown Entertainment.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
The following day, December 29, the Times Square Alliance, Countdown Entertainment, and Planet Fitness tested the confetti release at the Planet Fitness Center Stage in preparation for the 3,000 pounds of confetti to be released at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The confetti included wishes from the New Year’s Eve Wishing Wall, located nearby for additional submissions.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
CleanBoss co-founders Joy Mangano and Pitbull helped unveil the 2025 New Year’s Eve Ball at One Times Square, marking the installation of the final Crystal Triangles in preparation for the Ball Drop celebration. As part of the announcement, CleanBoss became the official cleaning partner of One Times Square. The co-founders joined Times Square New Year’s Eve organizers in showcasing the newly installed crystals, which featured designs symbolizing the building’s legacy and future. After the celebration, the Ball and Numerals were to be retired and displayed as part of the Times Travel immersive museum, opening in 2025.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
On December 30, one day before New Year’s Eve, the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball was tested in preparation for the official celebration. Sarah Beth Reno, Senior Vice President of Carnival Cruise Line, along with Chris Cassidy, CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, and Medal of Honor Recipient Staff Sergeant Earl Plumlee, flipped the switch to illuminate and raise the 11,875-pound Ball. The event featured a kaleidoscope lighting effect, created by 32,256 LEDs and 2,688 crystal triangles, capable of displaying over 16 million colors and billions of patterns.
Courtesy of Times Square Alliance
