English
All across the United States and the world, people tune in via television to see the end of another year at this mega-party in New York City. If you’re traveling to the Big Apple, you can be there to witness it live in person on December 31, and say good-bye to 2012 and welcome in the year 2013 in style.
The always bustling Times Square is the setting of the much-awaited countdown and party to welcome in the New Year. One million people attend this huge event each year while an estimated one million people in the United States and one billion people around the world watch the events take place. This party has a long history, and Times Square has been the place to go in New York City to countdown the hours and minutes and welcome the New Year since 1904, and the tradition of lowering the ball has been around since 1907.
Revelers begin arriving early, and by 3:00 PM the main area of Times Square is already filled. The ceremony begins at 6:00 PM, which is when the New Year´s Eve Ball is raised. Free hats, balloons, scarves and other items are always distributed to the attendees. The hourly countdowns begin starting at 7:00 PM. There will be music concerts to help pass the time. Last year, for example, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga performed.
At 11:59 PM the illuminated Waterford Crystal New Year´s Eve Ball begins its descent at One Times Square as people join in on the countdown to the New Year. The giant ball descends 70 feet as people count down the last 60 seconds in 2012. Then the lights on the ball are turned off and the year 2013 is seen in lights high up in Times Square. For the best views, head over to Broadway, anywhere between 43rd Street to 50th Street or along Seventh Avenue up to 59th Street. You’ll want to arrive early for the best views. There are also large screens set up at various locations so that you’ll also be able to see the ball in various other locations by video.
When the clock strikes twelve, people embrace and kiss in a blizzard of colorful confetti and a pyrotechnics display lights up the skies. An impressive one ton of confetti is dropped from the rooftops of buildings throughout the area. No matter where you celebrate this New Year´s Eve, you can submit your own personal wish to the New Year´s Eve Wishing Wall. They will print your wish on a piece of confetti that will be displayed on the wall and then collected to be thrown from the rooftops at midnight. For more info: http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/wishing-wall/index.aspx
This event is free of charge, but many of the restaurants and hotels host private parties. To find about more about the private parties, check the following website: http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/nye-parties/index.aspx
Check out our listings of apartments in New York City. There´s nothing better than returning to a home away from home after a long night of partying, and the Big Apple is an exciting place to start the New Year.
