NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – The ball in Times Square will begin its one-minute descent at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, and at the stroke of midnight it will illuminate the 2024 numerals to help revelers ring in the New Year.
Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance, said in a security briefing on Friday that hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to Times Square on Sunday evening.
The official festivities begin around 6 p.m., and there is plenty to know before rushing off to celebrate.
SECURITY
Mayor Eric Adams and agency officials confirmed that there will be a large police presence at Times Square on Sunday to respond to potential issues and maintain safety amid an uptick in protests across the city since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war.
There are no credible threats to the Times Square celebration or the city in general, officials said, but uniformed and plain-clothed officers will be out en masse. Officials wills also use drones, canines, boats and helicopters to maintain the perimeter and support security.
STREET CLOSURES
The NYPD posted a map on X of the street closures that are in place on Sunday, and encouraged the public to use mass transit to get around the city.
Beginning at 4 a.m. Sunday morning, Seventh Avenue was closed from 42nd Street to 49th Street; Broadway was closed from 42nd Street to 49th Street; and 43rd to 48th Streets were closed from Sixth to Eighth Avenues.
The area was extended at 11 a.m., and southbound 7th Avenue and Broadway closed from 38th to 57th Streets and from Sixth to Eighth Avenues. 38th to 56th Streets also closed from Sixth to Eighth Avenues.
Commercial vehicles, trucks and other large vehicles were also barred from accessing the following routes at 11 a.m. on Sunday:
• North on 6th Avenue, from 34th to 57th Streets
• North on 8th Avenue, from
• East of Ninth Avenue, from 37th Street to 57th Street
• West of Fifth Avenue, from 35th Street to 57th Street
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS POINTS
Pedestrians can gain access to viewing areas at the following locations:
• 49th Street from Sixth and Eighth Avenues
• 52nd Street from Sixth and Eighth Avenues
• 56th Street from Sixth and Eighth Avenues
WHAT NOT TO BRING
The NYPD provided a list of items prohibited from Times Square on New Year’s Eve, listed out by Adams in a post on X.
The items include:
• Backpacks
• Large bags
• Umbrellas
• Lawn chairs or other folding chairs
• Picnic blankets
• Large coolers
• Alcoholic beverages
FDNY AND NYPD SAFETY TIPS
The FDNY encouraged people spending the holiday in Times Square to dress warmly and in layers, as prolonged exposure to the cold can lead to hypothermia.
The NYPD made a post on X highlighting important tips for attendees to keep their personal belongings safe. These tips included:
“✅Carry your purse close to your body.”
“✅Place your wallet in your front pocket.”
“✅Only the cash and credit cards you need.”
“✅Be aware that frequent crowd bumps might be related to a pickpocket.”
The NYPD also reminded New Yorkers to avoid drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve, and encouraged those who plan to have a few drinks to “seek rideshare, cab, public transportation, or call a friend.”
Police will have DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the city.
Police will have DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the city.
PERFORMANCES
Performances are set to begin at 6 p.m. and end at 12:15 a.m. at One Times Square, according to Harris.
Rita Ora will co-host the festivities with Ryan Seacrest, introducing a lineup of artists that includes Megan Thee Stallion, LL Cool J, Flo Rida, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul Anka, Jelly Roll, AGNEW, Maria Becerra, Triad Brass and Yng Lvcas.
More performances from across the country will be aired on ABC as part of "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest".
OTHER INFORMATION
There are no tickets needed to attend the Times Square New Year’s Eve festivities. The event is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.
No public viewing spaces are available for sale, but there may be parties or events held in Times Square hotels and restaurants that require tickets.
There will be no portable restrooms in Times Square for the event.
1010 WINS will be broadcasting the events live.
Times Square is providing a live webcast that will stream the festivities, equipped with captions and ASL. The webcast can be accessed here.