January 1, 2021: Confetti rains down on an empty Times Square in Manhattan after the ball dropped, marking the start of the New Year. Times Square, usually packed with thousands, was closed to all but a select few that year -- due to COVID-19 restrictions.
© Seth Harrison / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(New York, NY) – Final preparations are underway ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. Over the weekend they held the final confetti test to make sure things go off without a hitch. And on Saturday, it was “Good Riddance Day” — as people remembered things about 2024 they’d rather forget.
Millions of people are expected to pack Times Square Tuesday night into Wednesday to celebrate the arrival of 2025. Around 3,000 pounds of confetti will be dropped. Of course the ball drop and countdown are iconic and closely associated with New Year’s celebrations worldwide, but waiting it out in the penned-in areas at Times Square can be a challenge.
If you’d rather watch it from a more comfortable setting — other than watching the ball drop on TV — there are some expensive options just steps away. The 8th floor terrace at the Marriot Marquis hotel sells tickets for $7,500 per person — inclusive of an open bar and buffet. Other options at a similar price point can be located. Watching the ball drop at the nearby Applebee’s is a bit more reasonable — tickets close $730 per person.
Meanwhile, people’s 2025 New Year’s resolutions are coming in to focus. A new poll from Statista shows saving money is the number one incoming resolution. Other popular resolutions include eating healthier, exercising more, losing weight and spending more time with family and friends. Many aren’t making any resolutions this year — including 43% of those taking part in the survey.
