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As the United States gears up to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the organizing committee has exciting plans for the iconic Times Square Ball. Announced on Friday, the ball will play a central role in two upcoming events, marking both New Year’s Eve and a special celebration in July.
According to America250, the organization behind the celebrations, the Times Square Ball, which draws thousands of visitors each year for the traditional New Year’s countdown, will undergo a patriotic transformation. After its descent on New Year’s Eve, the ball will be illuminated in the colors of the American flag—red, white, and blue. At 12:04 a.m. on New Year’s Day, the ball will ascend once more above a “2026” sign, accompanied by a shower of red, white, and blue confetti, creating a vibrant start to the new year in New York City.
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(The Hill) – The committee overseeing celebrations for America’s 250th birthday next year announced Friday that the Times Square Ball in New York City will be featured in a pair of events on New Year’s Eve and in July.
America250 said the Times Square Ball, which attracts scores of tourists each year as it helps countdown to the new year, will be relit in red, white and blue after its drop on New Year’s Eve. The ball will rise above a “2026” sign, and red, white and blue confetti will drop at approximately 12:04 a.m. in New York City on New Year’s Day.
The ball will feature again in a celebration on July 3 to ring in Independence Day festivities. That ball drop will mark the first time the Times Square Ball has dropped outside of New Year’s Eve, the America250 committee said.
“One Times Square has long been a place where the world comes together to celebrate pivotal moments — from the end of World War II to the moon landing,” Michael Phillips, head of the company that owns and operates One Times Square, said in a statement. “We’re proud to serve as the starting point of this historic year, showcasing the nation’s celebration on a global stage.”
The Trump administration has for months been touting the planned celebrations for next year to mark 250 years since America’s independence.
Other events include a “Great American State Fair” that will feature exhibits from all 50 states on the National Mall from June 25-July 10; an Independence Day celebration that will include fireworks and a military flyover; and an Ultimate Fighting Championship event that will take place at the White House on June 14.
