New Year's Eve ball passes test ahead of Times Square celebration

TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan -- In final preparation for New Year's Eve, the iconic Times Square ball was illuminated and sent up the 130-foot pole atop One Times Square on Monday.

Times Square Alliance President Tim Tompkins and Countdown Entertainment President Jeffrey Straus flipped the giant switch to initiate the kaleidoscope lighting effects, illuminated by 32,256 energy efficient LEDs and enhanced by 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles.

The ball is capable of displaying a palette of more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns that create the kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.

Joining the ball test were some of this year's special guests, including teacher Jared Fox and students Ricardo Herrera and Daniel Soto.

The teachers and students are being honored in recognition of original innovative ideas developed to address the climate crisis.

On Friday, workers put the finishing touches on the New Year's Eve Ball with the installation of 192 new Waterford crystals.

This year's design celebrates the "Gift of Goodwill," utilizing three pineapple cuts signifying the traditional image of hospitality and goodwill.

For more information visit TimesSquareNYC.org/NewYearsEve.

Don't miss Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020.

Seacrest, who returns as host for his 15th year, will lead the traditional countdown to midnight live from New York City on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 beginning at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.