Organizers of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City announced that the event will go digital to ring in 2021.
What We Know:
- For the first time in 114 years, a massive crowd will not be packed into Times Square to ring in the new year. In an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Times Square Alliance announced that the festivities will now be a “virtually enhanced celebration” that will come to people wherever they are.
- This year’s celebration won’t be totally digital, it will also feature some socially-distanced live elements including a limited group of in-person honorees who will reflect the “themes, challenges, and inspirations of 2020,” the Times Square Alliance stated in a press release. “This year there will be a significantly new and enhanced virtual, visual and digital offerings to complement whatever limited live entertainment or experiences – still in development — will take place in Times Square,” Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance, said.
One thing that will never change is the ticking of time and the arrival of a New Year. On December 31st, the Ball will drop in Times Square.
Times Square New Year’s Eve 2021 is happening visually, virtually, safely. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/5CE5ROZgTF
— Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) September 23, 2020
- Among the honored guests will be first responders, doctors, essential workers, and scientists along with entertainers and performing artists. Tompkins said while no one needs to be reminded of the dominant news of 2020, from the coronavirus pandemic to a collection of racial, economic, and climate crises, the honored guests will note where we have been. “More importantly we will honor and celebrate the courageous and creative spirits who have helped and will help us travel through these challenging times into the New Year.”
- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio applauded organizers for finding “a safe, creative and innovative way for all of us to continue to celebrate this century-old tradition”. The Times Square Alliance produces the celebration with Countdown Entertainment. Jeff Straus, the president of Countdown Entertainment, said he hopes people will join the event whether they want to “turn off and turn away from the bad news of 2020, or turn to the new year with a sense of hope, renewal, and resolution”.
- The changes to the New Year’s celebration comes as New York City modifies other historic celebrations. For the first time in 94 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be television-only and there will be no marchers making their way down the traditional 2.5-mile parade route.
Precise details remain unknown to the public at this time but the release indicated that celebrities and notable people from 2020 will take part in the event.
