EVENT GUIDE FOR TIMES SQUARE 2018, NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES SQUARE
For 113 years, Times Square has been the center of worldwide attention on New Year's Eve, ever since the owners of One Times Square began in 1904 to conduct rooftop celebrations to greet the New Year. The first Ball Lowering celebration occurred in 1907, and this tradition is now a universal symbol of welcoming the New Year.
THE EVENT
3:00 p.m.
The Revelers
Revelers start arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 3:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. Revelers are directed by the NYPD to gather in separate viewing sections. As one section fills up, the revelers are directed by police to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers continue to fill the Times Square neighborhood along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to as far as Central Park.
6:00 p.m. to 6:03 p.m.
Lighting and Raising the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball
The celebration begins with the lighting and raising of the New Year's Eve Ball atop One Times Square. The representatives of the Philips Lighting Company flip the giant switch which lights the New Year's Eve Ball and begins its ascent accompanied by special pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.
6:04 p.m. to 6:07 p.m.
Intro of Webcast Host
Allison Hagendorf introduces Jonathan Bennett hosting our worldwide webcast live from the Kiss Stage between 44th and 45th Streets.
6:07 p.m. to 6:21 p.m.
SAFA Chinese Cultural Performance
The Sino-American Friendship Association ("SAFA") presents a spectacular Tongliang Athletics Dragon Dance from Chongqing China to begin the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration. The performance is on the Countdown Stage at Duffy Island between 46th and 47th Streets. The Chinese cultural performance will conclude with red and gold pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.
The Tongliang Athletics Dragon Dance is the most famous Chinese dragon dance, hailing from the Tongliang District of Chongqing. This year, a 15-meter long Athletics Dragon – gold and blue in color and undertaken by eight performers - will come to life in Times Square, depicting the characteristics of "high," "fast," and "strong" to thrill onlookers, presented in partnership with the Sino-American Friendship Association. The dance is the same type performed at the Beijing Olympic games, and its movements are relatively large in magnitude, speed and difficulty. Dragon dances are often performed during the Chinese New Year to scare away evil spirits and bring in peace.
6:25 p.m.
Times Square 2018 Hats, Balloons, and Scarves
Times Square Alliance sanitation crew clad in bright red uniforms begins to distribute tens of thousands of fun handouts to the Times Square revelers for cheering in the New Year. Planet Fitness is providing festive purple and yellow New Year's Eve hats along with purple & yellow balloons tied with gold mylar ribbons. Sino-American Friendship Association is providing beautiful red scarves.
6:58 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Steve Harvey
As we approach the New Year, Steve Harvey will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year"; and lead the ten second countdown to the 7 o'clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. He will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year.
7:01 p.m. to 7:16 p.m.
FOX New Year's Eve Performance by Andra Day
Andra Day performs two hit songs including Stand Up For Something on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
7:18 p.m. to 7:23 p.m.
Planet Fitness "Judgement Free" with Jenny McCarthy
Jenny McCarthy will lead the revelers in a fun "Judgement Free" moment.
7:57 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Tarana Burke
As we approach the New Year, Tarana Burke will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year"; and lead the ten second countdown to the 8 o'clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. She will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share her wish for the New Year.
8:02 p.m. to 8:07 p.m.
The USO Show Troupe Performance
The USO Show Troupe performs a Military Salute to honor our Armed Forces on the Countdown Stage.
8:11 p.m. to 8:23 p.m.
Musical Performance by Andy Grammer
Andy Grammer performs Honey, I'm Good, Good To Be Alive, and Smoke Clears on Planet Fitness Center Stage.
8:23 p.m. to 8:26 p.m.
Waterford Crystal Toast
8:33 p.m. to 8:41 p.m.
ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve": Performance by Sugarland
Sugarland performs a medley of their greatest hits on the Countdown Stage.
8:47 p.m. to 8:52 p.m.
Planet Fitness Presents the Kinjaz
The Kinjaz will perform their intricate choreography and creative storytelling through dance on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
8:52 p.m. to 8:55 p.m.
Toshiba Happy New Year Message
8:55 p.m. to 8:58 p.m.
Getting Ready For The Midnight Kiss!
Jonathan Bennett preps revelers for midnight kiss at the Kiss Stage and encourages revelers to send their photos to #BallDrop to be displayed on the Toshiba sign below the Times Square Ball.
8:58 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with FNC's "All-American New Year"
As we approach the New Year, FNC hosts Kennedy and Jesse Watters will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year"; and lead the ten second countdown to the 9 o'clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. They will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share their wishes for the New Year.
9:02 p.m. to 9:14 p.m.
Musical Performance by Lauren Alaina
Lauren Alaina performs her two hit songs Road Less Traveled and What Ifs plus cover of Katy Perry's Firework on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
9:15 p.m. to 9:18 p.m.
Barefoot Bubbly Toast
9:39 p.m. to 9:44 p.m.
ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve": Performance by Camila Cabello
Camila Cabello performs medley of her hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
9:49 p.m. to 9:52 p.m.
Getting Ready For The Midnight Kiss!
Jonathan Bennett preps revelers for midnight kiss at the Kiss Stage and encourages revelers to send their photos to #BallDrop to be displayed on the Toshiba sign below the Times Square Ball.
9:57 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Planet Fitness
As we approach the New Year, representatives from Planet Fitness will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year"; and lead the ten second countdown to the 10 o'clock hour accompanied by purple and yellow confetti release and colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. They will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share their wishes for the New Year.
10:02 p.m. to 10:10 p.m.
Univision's "¡Feliz 2018!: Performance by Chyno Miranda
Chyno Miranda performs his hit songs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
10:11 p.m. to 10:14 p.m.
Good Riddance Day Highlights
Allison Hagendorf will share highlights from Good Riddance Day with the Times Square revelers from the Countdown Stage.
10:26 p.m. to 10:32 p.m.
FOX New Year's Eve Performance by TBD
TBD performs his hit songs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
10:38 p.m. to 10:46 p.m.
ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve": Performance by Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas performs medley of his hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
10:46 p.m. to 10:49 p.m.
ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve": American Idol Video
Ryan Seacrest introduces American Idol video on the Countdown Stage accompanied by blue and white streamers filling the sky above Times Square.
10:57 p.m. to 11:01 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina
As we approach the New Year, Raul de Molina will appear at the Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year"; and lead the ten second countdown to the 11 o'clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Raul will also read several of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year.
11:01 p.m. to 11:09 p.m.
Univision's ¡Feliz 2018!: Performance by Leslie Grace with Play-N-Skillz
Leslie Grace performs with Play-N-Skillz on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:12 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.
The Associated Press Presents 2017 Year-End Video Highlights
The Associated Press, the world's oldest and largest news gathering organization, presents a news reel highlighting some of the most memorable events of 2017.
11:17 p.m. to 11:22 p.m.
FOX New Year's Eve Sing-Along Performance by Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond performs his hit song Sweet Caroline on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m.
ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve": Performance by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey performs medley of hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
11:51 p.m. to 11:58 p.m.
Special Musical Performance by Andy Grammer
Andy Grammer performs Fresh Eyes and John Lennon's Imagine on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:59 p.m.
The Sixty-Second Countdown
The Mayor of New York City joined by Times Square 2018 Special Guest Tarana Burke push the Waterford crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year's Eve Ball, and lead the final sixty-second countdown to the New Year on the Countdown Stage.
The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball
The lighted Ball descends 70 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, twelve feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.
12:00 a.m. -- New Year's Day
2018 Sign
At the stroke of Midnight, the lights on the New Year's Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year "2018" burst to life shining high above Times Square.
Times Square Confetti Release and Pyrotechnic Effects
The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square creating a celebratory blizzard of colorful confetti as revelers welcome the New Year accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects. The three thousand pounds of confetti includes tens of thousands of wishes from revelers around the world hoping for peace, love, good health and a better future in the new year.
