Times Square Ball Will Drop in July for the First Time Ever—Here’s Why
Celebrations for the 250th birthday of the United States will take place all across the globe this weekend, and New York City is no exception. But while those in the Big Apple will be treated to patriotic parades and festivals this Independence Day, another event will take place in a familiar location.
During a 21-hour period from July 3 through July 4, the Times Square Ball will drop to mark the historic event, in a summertime first since the tradition began in 1907.
Eight Drops for Eight Time Zones
The Ball Drop will happen eight times as the clock hits midnight in each U.S. time zone. The eight distinct ball drops ensure that every U.S. time zone is included in the historic 250th birthday.
The first drop, at 10:00 AM ET, will be for the American territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which are on Chamorro Standard Time. It will then drop at 11:59 PM ET for the New York City countdown and continue every hour or two to mark Central Time, Mountain Time, Pacific Time, Alaska Time, and Hawaii-Aleutian Time. The last Ball Drop will occur at 7:00 AM ET in American Samoa, which observes Samoa Standard Time.
"This is more than a countdown. It’s a moment that brings the entire country together, one time zone at a time," Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, said in a press release. "From Guam to New York to Alaska to American Samoa, we are creating a shared experience where every American can see themselves in this celebration and be part of something bigger than any one city or moment."
How to Watch
The Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show main show will air from 9:00 PM ET on July 3 until 12:15 AM ET on July 4, after the New York City Time Ball Drop. It can be livestreamed at america250.org or on the America's Block Party Mobile App. Unlike the New Year's Eve Ball Drop, the 250th birthday celebration will feature a closed set, and no one will be allowed in the plaza or streets around Times Square.
Comedian Jeff Gaffigan will host the main show, while Grammy-winning musicians Mary J. Blige, Brad Paisley, NE-YO, and others are expected to perform. While they aren't part of the Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show, the first Ball Drop and those that follow New York City's can also be livestreamed online or through the app.