Finally, more than a million revelers are expected at Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve. They will take part in the 109-year-old tradition of watching the iconic ball drop from atop One Times Square.
The New York Times reports that the famous ball is about 4 meters in diameter, or 12-feet wide, and weighs close to 5,443 kilograms, or 12,000 pounds. It shimmers because it is covered in 2,688 Waterford crystals. At midnight, revelers will watch the sky above New York City ablaze with fireworks.
Some cities will not be celebrating the new year with fireworks. Belgium cancelled its traditional fireworks display in central Brussels due to fears of the continuing terror threat.