The ball-falling ceremony in Times Square will be held without guests for the first time since 1907
'18.12.2020'
Vita Popova
For the first time since this tradition emerged over a hundred years ago, New Yorkers will not be able to gather in Times Square to watch the crystal ball descend. How this event will take place in 2020, the publication told New York Post.
For the first time in 113 years, the ceremony of launching a crystal ball down a spire from the roof of a skyscraper in Times Square will take place without the direct presence of spectators. That is, it will be possible to watch this action only online.
The event usually attracts over a million spectators. But this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers came up with a safer way to bring people together for this celebration.
This year, everyone will be able to take a virtual tour of the observation deck and playrooms of One Times Square, listen to performances by artists, enjoy contemporary art, and all this is absolutely free. Moreover, all the inhabitants of our planet will have virtual access to the event, and not just New Yorkers.
The digital party will begin this Saturday, December 19th, and run until January 3rd.
Everyone who wants to take part in it will not need to think about what to wear. All you need to do is download the free NYE app or visit the website VNYE.com.
On December 31st, both the app and the site will broadcast several live broadcasts of the falling crystal ball. The descent can be monitored from 10 viewpoints located around Times Square.
On the subject: 10 secrets of a crystal ball in Times Square
This year, users will be able to immerse themselves in a fantasy world and explore Times Square from any corner of the planet. For this, an exciting video game was developed that allows you to create personalized avatars to represent your virtual entities in the application and on the website.
Among other things, users will be able to visit an art exhibition called HI-RESOLUTION. Digital art is featured right on the Times Square billboards. The exhibition will feature over 60 digital works by approximately 45 artists, including Shyama Golden and Jeanette Getrost.
Virtual guests can ride the elevator in One Times Square. There, on three floors, they will have access to three immersive games. Participation in them will allow you to earn points, which can then be used to buy goods online.
Those who are looking for quieter entertainment will be able to virtually climb to the observation deck, which offers a virtually realistic view of the city.
Musicians who will perform for the guests include singer Alex Boye, famous for his African pop music, Chloe Gilligan, a pop musician from Nashville, and Armani White, a rap musician from West Philadelphia.
“I want people to be able to go to another world and dance with me,” White told The Post. “I hope this will allow everyone to forget everything for a moment, or at least for the nine to ten minutes I’m speaking. I would like to create an atmosphere in which people can feel that their soul is dancing, their mind, their spirit is dancing ”.
As ForumDaily New York wrote earlier:
- According to tradition, every year the day before the New Year, the world-famous crystal ball, which at midnight, marking the beginning of the new year, is about to fall, is tested. Thus, it is possible to avoid unpleasant moments during the official ceremony, which is followed not only by New Yorkers, but also by all earthlings.
- Annually famous crystal ball changes its "wrapper"Pineapples became the design theme this time.
- Despite the popularity of the action, not everyone knows secrets of this tradition... For example, that the owner of The New York Times was behind the first drop of the balloon in Times Square, or that the balloon was not so festive and beautiful at first.
