New York Dearest
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An event · Times Square · on 1 of my list

New Year’s Eve in Times Square.

Skip, says Antonina. Celebrating New Years Eve in Times Square is like getting front row seats to hell.

Antonina Pattiz
Antonina PattizI went myself · from my guide to New Year’s Eve in Times Square
What this page is

New Year’s Eve in Times Square is on one of my lists, Christmas in NYC, Everything I'd Do This December.. Below you’ll find what to know and when I go, in my own words from that list, what I wrote about it there, and where it is and what’s near. I also wrote a whole guide to it, 2026 Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square (Is it Worth it?).

  1. 2026 Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square (Is it Worth it?)
  2. Christmas in NYC, Everything I'd Do This December.Skip

Before you go, in my words

Quoted from my own lists
Good to know

Just because I’m not keen on celebrating New Years Eve in Times Square again doesn’t mean it isn’t a core memory I share with loved ones. Every year we bring up how cold we were, and how grateful we are to be celebrating indoors!

From Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square
When to go

The Times Square New Years Eve celebrations are over at 12:20AM so sanitation workers can begin cleaning up, the next morning it’s like nothing ever happened (I wish my friends were this good at cleaning up after a party).

From Guide to Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square
Skip, says Antonina. Been? Say if you agree.

Where it appears on New York Dearest

One of my lists

Christmas in NYC, Everything I'd Do This December.

No. 25 on that list · 3 min from the subway
Skip

Celebrating New Years Eve in Times Square is like getting front row seats to hell.

What I wrote thereFold it away

Listen, I grew up watching the ball drop at Times Square like everyone else. But I’ll tell you something all locals know. Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square is like getting front row seats to hell.

First, the crowds absolutely suck the joy out of the event. Participants get gated into the main area and bathrooms are non-existent, so much so that some people wear adult diapers to the event. Hard pass.

Second, the frigid temperatures and duration of the event make it unbearable. You’ll be standing for hours in the cold and crowded streets. It’s simply not worth it, just watch the event from the comfort of your warm home. You won’t be missing much.

Read it on the list
  • HoursPublic plaza, open 24 hours, free; individual businesses keep their own hours
  • CostFree
  • Subway1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, W to Times Sq-42 St, 3 min
  • This yearTimes Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop, last year Dec 31expected
  • Checked September 18, 2026.
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