New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Times Square: A Virtual Experience
When the iconic ball drops this year, it won’t be over hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and tourists gathered in Times Square. Instead, fans of this momentous event will countdown from home, as the time-honored New Year’s Eve celebrations shift to a digital format. This year, the focus is on celebrating the remarkable human spirit, particularly acknowledging essential workers, first responders, and scientists who kept us safe during the pandemic.
As the dazzling ball descends, marking the beginning of the New Year, traditional festivities such as kissing and hugging will be absent from Times Square. Celebrations are being scaled down due to health and safety precautions amidst the ongoing challenges posed by the coronavirus. However, revelers will still be able to witness the ball drop at midnight from the comfort of their homes, thanks to the creation of a virtual experience by the organizers.
According to Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, “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.”
This year, there will be extremely limited and socially-distanced events in Times Square, which are designed to complement the new and enhanced virtual offerings. The owner of One Times Square, the venue where the New Year’s Eve ball drops, has developed a broadcast app aimed at connecting people around the world to the New York celebrations. Producers emphasize that this year, the spotlight will be on first responders and individuals who played critical roles in ensuring public safety during the pandemic.
“One thing that will never change is the ticking of time and the arrival of a New Year at midnight on December 31st,” added Tompkins. He stressed the need for the world to come together, even if only virtually, to commemorate the people and things that matter most, cultivating a spirit of renewal and new beginnings.
