The New York Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop happens every year at 11:59 pm. Unfortunately, when the crystal-encrusted ball descends down a pole to welcome 2021 this year, there will be no crowds, just an empty street due to the ongoing pandemic. Expedition 64 astronauts aboard the International Space Station send their warmest greetings to everyone on Earth and decided to recreate the ball drop tradition.
The Times Square Ball drop was first organized by Adolph Ochs, owner of The New York Times newspaper, as a successor to a series of New Year’s Eve fireworks displays he held at the building to promote its status as the new headquarters of the Times. What you may not know is that the ball itself was designed by Artkraft Strauss, with the very first event being held on December 31, 1907, to welcome 1908. It has been held annually since, except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts.
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