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Location
Getting Here
Timing
Food, Drinks, Shopping and Restrooms
Security
Parties
History
Other Questions
Where is the Ball lowered?
The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball descends from a flagpole at the top of One Times Square. It can best be seen along Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street.
What streets will be closed for the celebrations?
The New York Police Department will begin closing down access to Times Square starting at 43rd Street and Broadway and moving north as revelers arrive. The exact times that these blocks close to pedestrian and vehicular traffic will depend on when the revelers begin arriving. It is likely that there will be no vehicular traffic on either Broadway or Seventh Avenue as of approximately 4:00 p.m. Vehicles will most likely have difficulty traveling across town after 6:00 p.m. above 42nd Street as far north as 59th Street. If you are planning to come to Times Square and join in the festivities, you are advised to enter from Sixth or Eighth Avenue. Your chance of getting a viewing spot near the Ball (at Broadway & 43rd Street) increases the earlier you arrive. The blocks will be closed off as they fill up northward, street-by-street, as the police deem necessary.
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Will there be areas in Times Square designated for the disabled?
Yes. The police will set aside a viewing area for the disabled, located on the northwest corner of 43rd Street. However, this area will fill up quickly, and it is advised that disabled visitors arrive early in the day. For a listing of the access points from which you can enter Times Square, please click here.
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Where is the best view?
The earlier you arrive, the better your view and the closer you will be to the action. The sound system is set up in the Bowtie area (where Broadway and Seventh Avenue cross), and the video screens on One Times Square (where the Ball is lowered) are easily visible. There are additional screens set up at Broadway and 50th Street, Broadway and 52nd Street, Broadway and 54th Street and Broadway and 58th Street.
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What is the best way to come to Times Square?
The best way to come to Times Square is via public transportation. To get to Times Square, the # 1, 2, 3, 7, A, B, C, D, E, F, N, Q, R, W, V and S shuttle trains all service the Times Square area. Please note that the MTA has advised revelers not to use the 42nd Street Subway Station on New Year's Eve due to crowding conditions - you are advised to exit at one of the surrounding stations and enter Times Square on foot. It is expected that the MTA will keep all subway stations open on New Year's Eve. Some entrances and exits may be closed as crowd conditions require. After 7 p.m. on December 31st, the N and R train station at 49th Street and Seventh Avenue may be closed until after midnight. Trains may also bypass some stations, depending on how the crowds build. For further information nearer the date of the event, please call or visit the MTA at (718) 330-1234 or
www.mta.info.
Other useful sources of information:
Port Authority Bus Terminal (212) 564-8484
New York City Transit Authority (Local Bus Service) (718) 330-1234
Amtrak (800) 523-8720
Metro North (212) 532-4900
Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) (718) 217- LIRR
For questions on New Year's Eve about access, please contact the NYPD sub-station at (212)-239-9803 or the Times Square Alliance Dispatch Office at (212)-452-5218. Please call ONLY on New Year's Eve.
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How do I enter Times Square on New Year's Eve?
Please click here for a list of all access points.
When should I get there?
Revelers begin to gather in the late afternoon on New Year's Eve, December 31st. The best advice we can give is to get there as early as possible. We cannot predict how quickly the viewing areas will fill up. Prime viewing areas may fill up early in the afternoon.
At approximately 6:00 p.m. EST the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball will be raised to the top of the 77-foot flagpole at One Times Square (Broadway at 43rd Street) and lit. At exactly 11:59 p.m. EST, the Ball will make its 60-second descent down the flagpole to signal the start of the New Year.
Please Note: Revelers who arrive very early in the day, before the police have established viewing areas, may be moved by the NYPD when barricades are put in place.
Here is the timeline for last year's street closures and viewing areas. This information may be helpful for planning your trip to this year's event:
3:45pm - 7th Avenue & Broadway closed to vehicular traffic from 43rd Street to 49th Street (cross streets were closed at 3:30pm).
5pm - All cross streets closed to vehicular traffic except 57th Street, 58th Street & 59th Street. 42nd Street closed to vehicular traffic.
5:30pm - Viewing areas filled north to 48th Street, south to 40th - 41st Street.
6pm - Viewing areas filled to 52nd Street.
10pm - Viewing areas filled to 58th Street, south to 38th Street.
10:30pm - Viewing areas filled to 59th Street.
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Will there be portable public restrooms available?
No.
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Is alcohol or champagne allowed?
No. Public drinking is illegal in New York City. Police will confiscate alcohol.
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Will there be food and drink vendors in the square?
No. There will be no licensed food and beverage vendors in Times Square. However, there are hundreds of restaurants in and around Times Square (see below).
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Will there be restaurants open in the area? Can revelers return to the same viewing areas after dining?
Many restaurants located in the Times Square area will be open on New Year's Eve - be sure to consult our Interactive Map and Guide to locate a restaurant - and make your reservations well in advance. Please remember that if you dine at a local restaurant, you will not simply be able to come out and watch the Ball lowering at midnight. Revelers will arrive in Times Square early in the day, and while you are dining, designated viewing areas will fill up on a "first come, first served" basis. Furthermore, no one is allowed to stand in the emergency lanes or on sidewalks. Please remember that if you leave your viewing area to dine in a restaurant, you will not be able to return to your spot in a viewing area.
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Are theaters, stores and restaurants going to be open?
Some Broadway theaters will be open on New Year's Eve. The TKTS booth will open at 10 a.m. on New Year's Eve. You can check the schedules for Broadway and some Off Broadway shows at www.telecharge.com or www.ticketmaster.com, and check out our Interactive Map and Guides. Stores and restaurants will be open at their own discretion, so please call them ahead of time. Please remember that if you leave your viewing area to dine in a restaurant, you will not be able to return to your spot in a viewing area.
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Which Times Square restaurants and hotels have a view of the Ball?
Renaissance New York
DoubleTree Guest Suites
Marriott Marquis
TGI Fridays
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
Sbarro Pizza
Olive Garden
2 Times Square
Please check out our Interactive Map & Guides for contact information for the above venues.
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What security procedures are in place?
The New York Police Department will control all access points to Times Square. No bags or backpacks are permitted. Emergency Service squads, drug and bomb sniffing canine units and counter-terrorism personnel will be present in Times Square on New Year's Eve.
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Where can I find information on Times Square New Year's Eve parties?
There's no more electrifying place on the planet than Time Square on New Year's Eve. Check this page for details on New Year's Eve parties you can attend at the Crossroads of the World. More >>
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What is the history of the Times Square New Year's Eve event?
Revelers have been celebrating New Year's Eve in Times Square since 1904. To learn more about the celebration's history, check out our History of New Year's Eve in Times Square.
What can you tell me about the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball?
Plenty. Check out this page: About the the New Year's Eve Ball.
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What should I wear and what should I bring?
Dress warmly. Remember that you could be spending an extended period outdoors in potentially below-freezing conditions. You should be well-prepared and well-insulated. Many layers, synthetics (such as Goretex and polypropylene), wind-resistant and water-repellant outerwear and a good hat are the keys to staying warm.
Finally, remember to drink lots of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine. Not only is public drinking illegal in New York City, but both caffeine and alcohol will dehydrate you. Dehydration is very common and can sneak up on you in cold weather.
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Are tickets needed for this event?
No. This event is open to everyone. However, to get the best view, arrive early in the afternoon.
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Will there be a Webcast?
Yes. Webcasts are being offered at
http://www.mogulus.com/2009live, Earthcam.com and hulu.com.
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Are there still hotel rooms available in the Times Square area?
There are more than 16,000 hotel rooms in the Times Square neighborhood - ranging from large hotel chains, to small quiet retreats or suite hotels for extended stays. There are also several youth hostels situated in and around the Times Square area. Book your stay now to avoid disappointment. For a complete listing of hotels in the area visit our Interactive Map and Guides. You can contact the hotels directly about rates and availability, or contact your travel agent for more information and reservations.
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How much confetti is dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve?
More than 1 ton of confetti.
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Can I volunteer to help prepare for New Year's Eve?
Absolutely. There are many opportunities to help the Times Square Alliance prepare for New Year’s Eve. Once you’ve signed on, you will be contacted with specific information about the various volunteer projects that you can participate in. Projects include helping with mailings, putting together gift bags, general office support, and much more. There will be weekday, evening and weekend volunteer dates throughout November and December. If you would like to help out, please email us at volunteers@timessquarealliance.org. Please be sure to include your name, phone number, email address, and general availability (evenings, weekends, or weekdays.)
Thanks in advance for your help.
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