Every year on Dec. 31, when the clock strikes midnight, the world turns to the most dazzling lights and extreme energy of Times Square. As 2015 is coming to an end, people are quickly looking for an exciting way to ring in the New Year. Not only are people frantically searching for the best outfit or the perfect date but they are looking for the best event to attend.
Spending New Year's Eve in Times Square isn’t just a ball drop or a countdown. It is a whole experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. It is a moment of time that is shared amongst millions of people. Most of us have grown up watching the ball drop on our television sets but, there is nothing like seeing it in person. This celebration has been an ongoing tradition for many years and is unlike any other party you will be a part of.
Here is a list of why you should spend New Year's Eve in Times Square:
1. The experience of standing outside in the freezing cold
No other time of the year would it be acceptable to stand outside in the cold for over 12 hours. This is the one night where the cold isn't a bother. As long as you are prepared for any temperature and dressed appropriately in your New Year's Eve hats and 2016 glasses, you won’t realize the sub-32 degree temp.
2. Claiming your spot
If you never had an interest in “camping out,” then this is the best time to do so. People from all over the world travel to New York City and begin claiming their spot as close to the ball as possible. People start arriving in the Times Square area around 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 to get as close as possible to the ball. The best vantage points to see the ball drop are the blocks closest to the ball itself so, you need to get there early enough to secure your standing point.
3. Surrounded by a diverse group of people
It’s estimated that more than one million people attend this New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. People from all over the country, even the world, travel to New York City every year to watch the beautiful crystal ball drop live.
4. Celebrity performances
For many years, New York City has been the center of attention for New Year's Eve. Every year the New Year's Eve party in Times Square has an elaborate lineup of celebrities who are there to perform for the brave souls who embrace the cold and hours of standing. These performances make the hours of waiting all worth it. Although the celebrity lineup for the 2016 New Year's Eve party has not been announced yet, I can assure you it won’t be one you want to miss.
5. The countdown
We wait 365 days each year to let go of the past and welcome a new year. The anticipation begins to build when the countdown begins. Ten, nine, eight...it's getting closer...seven, six, five...the crowd is getting louder...four, three, two...here we go...one—Happy New Year! As the ball begins to drop, the crowd gets rowdy and we are all ready to say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016. We begin to hug our friends, relatives, and strangers wishing everyone a happy New Year. This is the best moment to forget your problems and live in the moment.
6. The legendary ball drop
Growing up, we have all most likely watched the Times Square ball drop on live television, but there is nothing like seeing the crystal ball shine in the night’s sky. The twinkle and the mass size of the ball are unlike anything you will ever see before your eyes. The energy of the crowd during those final moments—there is nothing else like it. As the countdown begins, the ball starts to drop and it’s the surreal moment that we are leaving 2015 in the past and starting a new chapter in our lives.
7. Confetti
When it is officially 2016, tons of confetti are sprinkled across the streets of Times Square. Each year, people from all over the world have the opportunity to write down some of their New Year's resolutions on official Times Square confetti paper. These wishes are put in the confetti and flutter down at midnight to celebrate the New Year. Be a part of the most magical night by attending Times Square and have your dreams and personal goals come true.
8. The afterparties
You are in the city that never sleeps, so the party does not end once the ball drops. Once Times Square begins to clear out and you realize you are ready to keep the night going you should check out some of NYC’s finest clubs and hotspots.
New York City is one of the greatest places to celebrate the dawn of 2016. So if you are feeling adventurous and want to experience the biggest celebration of the New Year, you need to spend it in Times Square. I hope you all get to cross this off your bucket list and have a happy and healthy New Year.
