WASHINGTON, December 30, 2012 — Even if you can’t be there in person on New Year’s Eve, an estimated 1 million others will be in New York’s Times Square on Monday, stomping their feet, wrapping mitten hands around hot chestnuts and imbibing something to keep them warm until the giant ball drops, signaling the arrival of 2013.
Activities start early and revelers are encouraged to come early, but be warned this will not be the balmy evening of a year ago, not with a wind chill factor of 23 degrees this year.
The fun starts at 3 p.m. and will end at 12:15 a.m. when the street cleaning crews come out and start sweeping up. The whole evening is choreographed, almost minute by minute, to be non-stop entertainment.
Times Square Ball
Here is the New Year’s schedule, including some of the TV highlights for the big night:
3:00 p.m. — Streets Are Closed and Merrymakers Welcomed
Streets will be closed to traffic from 42nd to 47th Streets, between Broadway and 7th Avenue as New York police direct merrymakers to various viewing sections.
As one area fills up, people will be diverted to the next section, and so on. If necessary, the City is prepared to continue to close streets as far north as Central Park.
6:00 p.m. to 6:03 p.m. — Lighting and Hoisting of the New Year’s Eve Ball
The official celebration begins with the lighting and ascent of the New Year’s Eve Ball to the very tip-top of One Times Square after the Philips Lighting Company switches on the more than 30,000 LEDs.
6:03 p.m. to 6:13 p.m. — Opening Ceremonies commence with Chinese Panda Dance
To ensure good luck in the New Year — any year that has 13 in it needs good luck — the Sino-America Friendship Association (SAFA) presents the Panda Dance on Duffy Island at 46th and 47th Streets, concluding with fireworks at the top of One Times Square
6:14 p.m. to 6:17 p.m. — Times Square Ball App Unveiled
The official host for the event, Allison Hagendorf, will introduce the Official Times Square Ball App so that everyone can view the official webcast on their mobile device. Users of the app can get their photo on the giant Toshiba Vision Screen just below the New Year’s Eve Ball.
6:20 p.m. — Time for Revelers to Don 2013 Hats, Balloons and Scarves
Times Square New Year’s Eve crowds
Decked out in bright red uniforms, New York’s sanitation crew will hand out tens of thousands of fun-stuff items to revelers to help ring in the New Year. Nivea will provide festive blue New Year’s Eve hats and blue balloons tied with silver Mylar ribbons along with its Nivea Lip Care product to make sure only unchapped lips kiss at midnight. SAFA will hand out beautiful red scarves for luck and warmth.
6:52 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. — Nivea Vignette
Mario and Courtney Lopez share their love story on the Nivea Kiss Stage at Turn Lane Island between 45th and 46th Streets.
6:57 PM to 7:00 p.m. — Carson Daly Begins the Countdown to Midnight
Carson Daly, host of NBC’s “Last Call with Carson Daly,” will wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year,” leading the ten second countdown to 7 o’clock as once again fireworks light up the sky. He will read some of the Confetti Wishes that will be mixed into the confetti for release at midnight.
7:18 p.m. to 7:28 p.m. — Musical Performance by Train
Train performs its new single “Mermaid” on the Nivea Kiss Stage from the album “California 37.”
7:57 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — Hourly Countdown with Fox News anchors Megyn Kelly and Bill Hemmer
8:12 p.m. to 8:17 p.m. — NBC’s “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” presents Cassadee Pope
Recent winner of the “The Voice,” Cassadee Pope, belts one out on the Nivea Kiss Stage.
8:34 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. — ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” this year hosted by Ryan Seacrest, without Dick Clark, who died earlier this year
Ryan Seacrest
Seacrest will introduce Neon Trees, who will deliver a collection of their hit songs “Animal,” “Lessons In Love” and “Everybody Talks” on the Nivea Countdown Stage.
8:52 p.m. to 8:55 p.m. — Best Kisser Award
Mario & Courtney Lopez present the couple who were the best smoochers in Nivea’s #KissoftheYear contest on — where else — the Nivea Kiss Stage.
8:57 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. — Hourly Countdown with CNN’s Anderson Cooper
Just before the hour, Anderson Cooper will lead the crowd in a ten-second countdown to 9 o’clock and read more Confetti Wishes. Again fireworks will light up the sky.
9:15 p.m. to 9:25 p.m. — Broadway on Times Square
The cast of the Broadway show, “Million Dollar Quartet” takes to the stage to perform Elvis Presley hits, “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and “Hound Dog.”
9:35 p.m. to 9:41 p.m. — ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” with Carly Rae Jepsen
Carly Rae Jepson performs a medley of her hit songs, “This Kiss” and “Call Me Maybe” on the Nivea Countdown Stage.
9:46 p.m.to 9:49 p.m. — A Toast to Peace
Psy Photo: AP
Waterford Crystal Master Craftsman, Jim O’Leary will lift a toast for peace for the people around the world. This year, 288 “Let There Be Peace” Waterford crystal triangles were engraved with the image of a soaring dove and added to the New Year’s Eve Ball.
9:51 p.m. to 9:54 p.m. — Practice Kiss for the World
Two people will demonstrate that special midnight kissing technique for all to practice at home and in Times Square.
9:56 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. — Hourly Countdown Surprise Guest(s)
A mystery guest will do the honors for the hourly countdown, complete with Confetti Wishes and fireworks.
10:02 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. — Musical Performance by Tiffany Alvord
The winner of Nivea’s unsigned artist contest and online sensation, Tiffany Alvord gives the rendition that won the hearts of 255 million video viewers, “This Kiss” and “My Heart.”
10:20 p.m. to 10:25 p.m. — USO’s Liberty Bells Performance
Taylor Swift
The USO’s Liberty Bells, the official USO show troupe that performs all over the world for our troops, will give A Military Salute in honor of our Armed Forces.
10:37 p.m. to 10:43 p.m. — ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” with PSY
Controversial and popular PSY will perform his hit song “Gangnam Style” on the Nivea Countdown Stage.
10:46 p.m. to 10:51 p.m. —IMAGINE THERE’S NO HUNGER Campaign
WhyHunger and Hard Rock International will team up to send out the message to end world hunger and poverty and how it can be done.
10:57 p.m. to 11:03 p.m. — Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina
Raul de Molina will lead the ten-second countdown to 11 o’clock and read more Confetti Wishes accompanied by fireworks.
11:03 p.m. to 11:12 p.m. — Musical Performance by Yuri
The Spanish network Univision’s “¡Feliz 2013!: Doce Uvas, Doce Deseos” presents Yuri performing two of her hit songs.
11:15 p.m. to 11:20 p.m. — AP’s 2012 News Reel Highlights
The Associated Press highlights some of the major events of 2012.
11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m. — Taylor Swift
ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” will rock with Taylor Swift performing a medley of her songs, including “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” on the Nivea Countdown Stage.
11:56 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. — Train Returns for an Encore
Just before the ball drops, Train performs a special rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” on the Nivea Kiss Stage.
11:59 p.m. — The Sixty-Second Countdown
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and special guests, the Radio City Rockettes, all 36 of them, will push the Waterford crystal button that prompts the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball, and lead the crowd in the final countdown to New Year 2013. Look for the mayor to bestow his official kiss, or kisses, on the high kickers.
The dazzling crystal ball takes sixty seconds to descend 70 feet. A geodesic sparkling sphere, the ball is twelve feet in diameter, weighs 11,875 pounds, is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles, and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.
12:00 a.m. — New Year’s Day Officially Arrives
As the clock strikes midnight, the New Year’s Eve Ball goes dark just as the numbers of the New Year “2013” light up, high above the million people below.
Then comes the blizzard of Times Square Confetti as spectacular pyrotechnic effects break forth in the night sky.
12:15 a.m. — The Celebration Is Over
Now come the street sweepers. Time to head for the subways.
To learn more about the revelry in Times Square this New Year’s Eve, go to the City’s web site.
To see the TV schedule for the ball drop, go to: New Year’s Eve: What to watch, TV schedule
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