New Year's Eve: Tips for Armchair Revelers Who Aren't Heading to Times Square

New Year's Eve Schedule

For 109 years, Times Square has been the center of worldwide attention on New Year's Eve, ever since the owners of One Times Square began in 1904 to conduct rooftop celebrations to greet the New Year. The first Ball Lowering celebration occurred in 1907, and this tradition is now a universal symbol of welcoming the New Year.

The official event lineup features live performances by Miley Cyrus, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Blondie, Icona Pop, Jencarlos Canela, El Dasa and Rodney Atkins. Melissa Etheridge will perform her new song, Uprising of Love, and a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine during the 2014 Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. A spectacular Chinese cultural performance featuring Kung Fu and a colorful fan dance will kick off the festivities at 6 p.m. EST. The celebration will also feature an exclusive trailer of The Amazing Spider-Man 2™, featuring Times Square footage.

Watch the live webcast >>

THE EVENT

3:00 p.m.
The Revelers
Revelers start arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 3:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. Revelers are directed by the NYPD to gather in separate viewing sections. As one section fills up, the revelers are directed by police to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers continue to fill the Times Square neighborhood along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to as far as Central Park.

6:00 p.m. to 6:03 p.m.
Lighting and Raising the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
The celebration begins with the lighting and raising of the New Year’s Eve Ball atop One Times Square. The Event Organizers will be joined by representatives of the Philips Lighting Company to flip the giant switch which lights the New Year’s Eve Ball and begins its ascent accompanied by special pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.

6:04 p.m. to 6:14 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies – Chinese Cultural Performance
The Sino-American Friendship Association (“SAFA”) presents a spectacular Chinese cultural performance from Shandong, the home of Confucius and Kung Fu celebrated with a colorful fan dance to begin the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. The performance is on the Nivea Countdown Stage at Duffy Island between 46th and 47th Streets. The Chinese cultural performance will conclude with red and gold pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.

6:15 p.m. to 6:18 p.m.
Nivea Vignette #1
Nicole Ryan introduces Nivea Vignette #1 on the Nivea Kiss Stage at Turn Lane Island between 45th and 46th Streets.

6:20 p.m.
Times Square 2013 Hats, Balloons and Scarves
The Times Square Alliance sanitation crew clad in bright red uniforms begins to distribute tens of thousands of fun handouts to the Times Square revelers for cheering in the New Year.   Nivea is providing festive blue New Year’s Eve hats and blue balloons tied with silver mylar ribbons along with useful Nivea Lip Care product to keep our lips looking and feeling beautiful for that magical kiss at midnight. The Sino-American Friendship Association is providing beautiful red scarves and The Amazing Spider-Man 2™ movie is providing mittens to keep us warm through the night.

6:58 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Elisabeth Hasselbeck & Bill Hemmer
As we approach the New Year, Elisabeth Hasselbeck & Bill Hemmer will appear at the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 7 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Elisabeth & Bill will also read some of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share their wishes for the New Year. After the countdown, a Happy New Year video message from Andrew Garfield.  

7:01 p.m. to 7:12 p.m.
The USO Show Troupe Performance
The USO Show Troupe perform an Andrews Sisters medley and a Military Salute to honor our Armed Forces and to entertain the Times Square revelers on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

7:15 p.m. to 7:18 p.m.
Nivea Vignette #2
Nicole Ryan introduces Nivea Vignette #2 on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

7:58 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Anderson Cooper
As we approach the New Year, Anderson Cooper will appear at the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 8 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Anderson will also read some of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year. After the countdown, a Happy New Year video message from Dane DeHaan.

8:15 p.m. to 8:27 p.m.
FNC’s “All American New Year”: Musical Performance by Rodney Atkins
Rodney Atkins performs These Are My People, Doin’ It Right, and It’s America on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

8:35 p.m. to 8:41 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Musical Performance by Icona Pop
Icona Pop performs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.

8:52 p.m. to 8:55 p.m.
Waterford Crystal Toast

8:58 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Mack Wilds & Lil’ Mama
As we approach the New Year, Mack Wilds & Lil’ Mama will appear at the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 9 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Mack & Lil’ Mama will also read some of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share their wishes for the New Year. After the countdown, a Happy New Year video message from Stan Lee.

9:14 p.m. to 9:25 p.m.
Musical Performance by Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge performs her hit songs I’m the Only One and Bring Me Some Water on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

9:32 p.m. to 9:39 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Musical Performance by Blondie
Blondie performs a medley of her hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.

9:47 p.m. to 9:50 p.m.
Toshiba and NASA Happy New Year Message

9:52 p.m. to 9:55 p.m.
Nivea Vignette #3
Nicole Ryan introduces Nivea Vignette #3 on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

9:57 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Spider-Man
As we approach the New Year, Spider-Man joined by Marc Webb, the Director of The Amazing Spider-Man 2™ movie will appear at the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 10 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Marc will also read some of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year. After the countdown, a Happy New Year video message from Emma Stone.

10:01 p.m. to 10:11 p.m.
Univision’s “¡Feliz 2014!: Musical Performance by El Dasa
El Dasa performs his hits songs Por Ser Bonita and Mentirosa on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

10:11 p.m. to 10:14 p.m.
Moet & Chandon Toast

10:37 p.m. to 10:44 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Musical Performance by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis perform on the Nivea Countdown Stage.

10:50 p.m. to 10:53 p.m.
Exclusive Times Square Clip From The Amazing Spider-Man 2™ movie
The Director, Marc Webb introduces an exclusive reveal of Times Square action footage from the movie.

10:54 p.m. to 10:57 p.m.
Nivea Vignette #4
Nicole Ryan introduces Nivea Vignette #4 on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

10:57 p.m. to 11:01 p.m.
Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina
As we approach the New Year, Raul de Molina will appear at the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”; and lead the ten second countdown to the 11 o’clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. Raul will also read some of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share his wish for the New Year. After the countdown, a Happy New Year video message from Jamie Foxx.

11:02 p.m. to 11:11 p.m.
Univision’s “¡Feliz 2014!: Musical Performance by Jencarlos Canela
Jencarlos Canela performs Popurri and Tu Sombra on the Nivea Kiss Stage.

11:15 p.m. to 11:18 p.m.
The Associated Press Presents 2013 Year-End News Highlights
The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news gathering organization, presents a news reel highlighting some of the most memorable events of 2013.

11:39 p.m. to 11:45 p.m.
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”: Musical Performance by Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus performs a medley of her hit songs #GetItRight and Wrecking Ball on the Nivea Countdown Stage.

11:52 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Special Performance by Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge performs her new song Uprising of Love and John Lennon’s Imagine at the Nivea Kiss Stage.

11:59 p.m.
The Sixty-Second Countdown
The Times Square 2014 Special Guest U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushes the Waterford crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball, and leads the final sixty-second countdown to the New Year on the Nivea Countdown Stage.

The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball
The lighted Ball descends 70 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, twelve feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.

12:00 a.m. -- New Year's Day  
2014 Sign
At the stroke of Midnight, the lights on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year “2014” burst to life shining high above Times Square.   

Times Square Confetti Release and Pyrotechnic Effects
The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square creating a celebratory blizzard of colorful confetti as revelers welcome the New Year accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects.

12:15 a.m. - End of Show