Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Will Be Virtual This Year
For the first time in 114 years, the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration will not have a huge crowd of people on the street to celebrate the entrance of 2021.
While plans are still in development, organizers of the event have confirmed that the event will be scaled-back and socially- distanced with live elements still to be determined, and an extremely limited group of in-person attendees.
In addition, Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins said in a statement, “Any opportunity to be live in Times Square will be pre-determined and extremely limited,” but the event will offer spectators an opportunity to participate virtually from around the world.
Tomkins added, “One thing that will never change is the ticking of time and the arrival of a New Year at midnight on December 31, More than ever in these divided and fear-filled times, the world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings.”
The organizers noted that as in past years, news, people and pop culture from the year will be woven into the celebration. Tomkins said, “No one needs to be reminded of what the dominant news of 2020 has been so far: COVID-19 and a host of racial, economic and climate crises.”
