EVENT GUIDE FOR TIMES SQUARE 2018, NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES SQUARE
For 114 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
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 Sino-American Friendship Association 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.
Good Riddance Day Highlights
Allison Hagendorf will share highlights from Good Riddance Day with the Times Square revelers from the Countdown Stage.
6:07 p.m. to 6:21 p.m.
SAFA Chinese Cultural Performance
The Sino-American Friendship Association (“SAFA”) presents a spectacular Chinese cultural performance 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.
6:25 p.m.
Times Square 2019 Hats, Balloons, Scarves and Gloves
The 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. The Sino-American Friendship Association is providing beautiful red scarves. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is providing warm blue gloves.
6:46 p.m. to 6:56 p.m.
FOX New Year’s Eve Performance by Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke performs medley of his hit songs Magic, Living in New York City and Blurred Lines on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
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 7:05 p.m.
Planet Fitness “Judgement Free” with Jenny McCarthy
Jenny McCarthy will lead the revelers in a fun “Judgement Free” moment.
7:39 p.m. to 7:44 p.m.
Planet Fitness Presents The Lab
The Lab dance crew will perform their energetic and intricate choreography on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
7:45 p.m. to 7:48 p.m.
LOT Radio Streams the Best and Most Varied Music to Ring in 2019
7:57 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with the Committee to Protect Journalists
As we approach the New Year, Joel Simon, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists and Maria Ressa, Filipino journalist & CEO of the Rappler.com news organization, 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. They 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.
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 Bebe Rexha
Bebe Rexha performs her hit songs Meant to Be; Me, Myself & I; I’m a Mess on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
8:23 p.m. to 8:26 p.m.
Waterford Crystal Toast
8:32 p.m. to 8:40 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by Dan + Shay
Dan + Shay performs a medley of their hit songs Tequila and All To Myself on the Countdown Stage.
8:52 p.m. to 8:55 p.m.
Guardian Band Showcases the Defender Watch
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 Pete Hegseth 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 lovelytheband
lovelytheband performs their hit songs broken, these are my friends and maybe, I’m afraid on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
9:15 p.m. to 9:18 p.m.
Ninja Leads Revelers in “The Floss” Dance Moves
9:25 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Barefoot Bubbly & Lance Bass “Sleighin’ the Holidays”
9:36 p.m. to 9:43 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by New Kids On The Block
New Kids On The Block performs medley of their hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
9:50 p.m. to 9:53 p.m.
Chongqing Happy New Year Message
9:57 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Planet Fitness
As we approach the New Year, Roger Chacko 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. 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.
10:02 p.m. to 10:10 p.m.
Univision’s ¡Feliz 2019!: Performance by Mau y Ricky with Lali Esposito
Mau y Ricky featuring Lali Esposito perform a medley of their hit songs Mi Mala, Desconocidos and Ya No Tiene Novio on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
10:11 p.m. to 10:14 p.m.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Celebrates 100th Anniversary
10:20 p.m. to 10:25 p.m.
FOX New Year’s Eve Performance by Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg performs medley of his hit songs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
10:38 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by Bastille
Bastille performs medley of his hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
10:57 p.m. to 11:01 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina
As we approach the New Year, Raúl 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. 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.
11:01 p.m. to 11:09 p.m.
Univision’s ¡Feliz 2019!: Performance by Paulina Rubio
Paulina Rubio performs medley of her hit songs on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:10 p.m. to 11:13 p.m.
The Associated Press Presents 2018 Year-In-Review 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 2018.
11:19 p.m. to 11:24 p.m.
FOX New Year’s Eve Performance by Sting
Sting performs his hit song Brand New Day on the Planet Fitness Center Stage.
11:37 p.m. to 11:47 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Performance by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera performs medley of her hit songs on the Countdown Stage.
11:55 p.m. to 11:58 p.m.
Special Musical Performance by Bebe Rexha
Bebe Rexha performs 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 2019 Special Guest 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 Waterford Crystal 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 LEDs.
12:00 a.m. — New Year's Day
2019 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 “2019” 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.
12:15 a.m. — End of Show
