New Year’s Eve 2022: Thousands flood Times Square to see in 2023 as US begins to celebrate

Thousands of revelers have flooded Times Square where a capacity crowd is tipped to mark New Year’s Eve without restrictions after two years of pandemic-dampened celebrations.

People from around the world have come to party together and watch the iconic ball drop with many already donning their New Year’s best including sparkly hats, 2023 sunglasses and waterproof poncho’s – as rain and fog blanketed the city.

Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment organized Times Square New Year’s Eve and are expected to release 3,000 pounds of confetti as the ball drops at midnight.

The stage is set, and crowds are already starting to gather in the iconic midtown Manhattan location for one of the biggest celebrations in the world.

Pictures from the event show thousands sardined together in the iconic location for the much anticipated ball drop as New York City prepares to join the glow of the new year with a dazzling spectacle

The ball hasn’t even dropped and New Year’s Eve celebrations are already starting with a bang, and a kiss, with revelers in New York City taking advantage of the lack of masks 

Pictures from the event show thousands sardined together in the iconic location for the much anticipated ball drop as New York City prepares to join the glow of the new year with a dazzling spectacle.

The night will culminate with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost six tons descends from its lofty perch atop One Times Square. 

Its surface is comprised of nearly 2,700 Waterford crystals that will be illuminated, officials said, by a palette of more than 16 million colors.

At the stroke of midnight, confetti is expected to rain down on soggy revelers, glittering amid the jumbo screens, neon and pulsing lights.

Last year, a scaled-back crowd of about 15,000 in-person mask-wearing spectators watched the ball descend while basking in the lights and hoopla of the U.S. marquee New Year’s Eve event. 

Because of pandemic rules, it was far fewer than the tens of thousands of revelers who can now be seen in the world-famous square.   

People from around the world have come to celebrate and watch the iconic ball drop with many already donning their New Year’s best including sparkly hats, 2023 sunglasses and rain-safe waterproof poncho’s

Thousands of revelers have flooded Times Square where record crowds are tipped to mark New Year’s Eve without restrictions under a blanket of fog and rain after two years of pandemic-ruined celebrations

The night will culminate with a countdown as a glowing geodesic sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost six tons descends from its lofty perch atop One Times Square – many gearing up for a night of standing taking solace where they can

At the stroke of midnight, confetti is expected to rain down on soggy revelers, glittering amid the jumbo screens, neon and pulsing lights

Last year, a scaled-back crowd of about 15,000 in-person mask-wearing spectators watched the ball descend while basking in the lights and hoopla of the U.S. marquee New Year’s Eve event – this year masks were few and far between

Because of pandemic rules, it was far fewer than the tens of thousands of revelers who can now be seen in the world-famous square a stark contrast to today’s events

The crowd stood behind barricades which were set up earlier in the day to keep the thousands expected to descend into the famed square. A lone officer walks past the crowd, but is one of a full force in place to deal with the influx of crowds 

Barricades were up, and quite a few test runs were made to make sure the main attraction goes off without a hitch.

As for security, thousands of uniformed officers will be in Times Square. Police will also be present throughout neighborhoods and the subways to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities safely.

The pandemic will not impact New Year’s celebrations this year. Restrooms will not be available and, despite the long wait and rain, revelers will have to stand in Times Square. Bags, chairs and umbrellas were not allowed.

The highly anticipated festivities will be broadcast for television and internet audiences and will include an immersive virtual experience from One Times Square – home of the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Celebration.

The international celebration will build in excitement with hourly countdowns leading to the iconic Ball Drop when the Mayor of the City of New York, Eric Adams, will push the Waterford Crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball and lead the 60 second countdown to midnight.

Without restrictions many were seen getting close for selfie’s and documenting the exciting gathering of thousands 

Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment are the organizers of Times Square New Year’s Eve and are expected to release 3,000 pounds of confetti as the ball drops at midnight

The stage is set and crowds are already starting to gather in Times Square for the one the biggest celebrations in the world

Times Square saw a little rainfall, but it hasn’t deterred the presence of many who came in early to get the best spot to view the musical presentations acts, and of course the Ball drop at midnight 

A rare sight of a mask during Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebrations as many have embraced the lack of pandemic-restrictions crowds sardined in the iconic location

People gathered in the packed streets of New York to celebrate the end of 2022 many crowding close together – some saying it’s a welcome reprieve from years previous during the pandemic 

Streets were closed earlier in Manhattan from about 4 am on Saturday morning. At 11am police were called to a stabbing incident near Seventh Avenue and West 40th Street just steps away from the Times Square celebrations.

The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and police are looking for a suspect described as a man in his 20s who was wearing a black jacket, black pants and white sneakers, and carrying a red bag.

A heavy police presence will remain in the area for the entirety of the night.

While there are no specific credible threats to NYC or the planned New Year’s Eve celebrations, authorities prepared for the unexpected, New York City Police Department Commissioner Keechant Sewell said Friday at a security briefing.

‘Our intelligence analysts, working very closely with the FBI and joint terrorism task force, will be monitoring all streams for any kind of threats that may be coming in,’ NYPD Chief of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Thomas Galati said during the news conference. 

He added that there will be ‘an abundance of protective measures in place.’

The NYPD is expected to deploy K-9 teams and explosives and drone detections, and ‘multilayered screening by our counterterrorism officers posted at every checkpoint’ will be employed, Galati said. 

Several access points allowed the public to enter the event in Times Square. Protective measures for police include a heavy weapons teams, bomb squad, and teams monitoring more than 1,000 cameras, according to Galati.

A woman was seen wearing a red poncho as crowds began to flood in for the night’s celebrations. A heaving crowd gathered later in the night, the days of social distancing a distant memory 

Revelers waited in the rain in Times Square for New Year’s Celebrations with millions of others watching eagerly from home

People gather in Times Square to celebrate New Year’s Eve on a rainy day in New York City – a few masks spotted among a sea of people taking advantage of the no restriction celebration 

As revelers continue to arrival in Times Square the NYPD posted a ‘thank you’ to all of ‘New York’s Finest’ who are out there doing their part to ensure the safety of everyone leading up to the New Year’s Eve celebration

As for security, thousands of uniformed officers will be in Times Square. Police will also be present throughout neighborhoods and the subways to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities safely

The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball was seen being tested in preparation for the December 31 celebration in Times Square on Friday

People began celebrating New Year’s Eve at Times Square in 1904, in 1907 the New Year’s Eve Ball made its first descent from the flagpole at One Times Square.

Singer, songwriter, and producer, Chelsea Cutler, and multi-talented singer, songwriter, and producer, JVKE, will lead the music performances this year for the hot ticket event.

In addition to the musical performances, actor and TV personality Jonathan Bennett, will return to the celebration as Times Square New Year’s Eve official host. 

Bennett will be joined by Jeremy Hassell who has been part of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration since 2016.

Other live coverage of the event includes Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest on ABC.

Ryan Seacrest is back to ring in 2023 hosting the iconic broadcast with co-host Liza Koshy and Jessie James Decker. 

The party will span both coasts, in both New York and Los Angeles with performances include Duran Duran, j-hope, Jax, New Edition. Ciara, Fitz & The Tantrums, Maddie & Tae, Shaggy, Ben Platt, Aly & AJ, Halle Bailey, Tomorrow x Together, Bailey Zimmerman, Lauren Spencer Smith, Wiz Khalifa, Finneas, Armani White, Betty Who, Dove Cameron and Nicky Youre.

Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager will kick off New Year’s Eve on NBC with a two-hour special featuring interviews with Miley Cyrus, George Lopez, Dolly Parton, Kenan Thompson, Christie Brinkley, Andrea Canning, Mario Cantone to name a few.

The Today hosts will discuss some of the year’s biggest and buzziest moments with their celebrity guests.  

Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper will host a more sober CNN New Year’s Eve celebration from New York with guests Jean Smart and Cheri Oteri, while Don Lemon hosts from New Orleans. 

The show will include performances from Usher, Kevin Hart, Ellie Goulding, Patti LaBelle, REO Speedwagon, Nick Cannon, Jenifer Lewis, John Stamos, Tenacious D’s Jack Black and Kyle Gass, and Ava Max. 

It will also cover celebrations from around the world and feature recorded interviews with stars Theo James, Steve Aoki, NCT 127, Geena Davis, Deepak Choprah and Wayne Rooney.