8 ball drops in Times Square will celebrate Fourth of July in every American time zone
The celebration of America's 250th birthday in New York City's Times Square is taking a page out of the New Year's Eve playbook.
Times Square is hosting eight ball drops to celebrate Independence Day, with each occurring at midnight in every American time zone, including U.S. territories.
The first ball drop took place at 10 a.m. Friday, marking midnight in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Following the Guam ball drop, the next took place at 11:59 p.m., marking midnight on the East Coast.
Unlike New Year's Eve, which draws hundreds of thousands of people to Times Square, there was no street-level viewing event planned, but that didn't keep hundreds of pedestrians from stopping to watch and count down to the moment.
That ball drop is considered the centerpiece of the event, although additional ball drops will take place overnight through each U.S. time zone - Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaii and culminating in the finale at 7 a.m., marking midnight in American Samoa.
The ball that's being used is the same one that millions watched usher in 2026. The Waterford crystal ball weighs over 12,000 pounds and measures about 12.5 feet in diameter.
The event is hosted from atop One Times Square, which planned a free, ticketed "block party in the sky" on July 4 and 5. Both events are already at full capacity.
The ball drops are being broadcast and livestreamed for people to experience the moments across the country.
"This is more than a countdown. It's a moment that brings the entire country together, one time zone at a time," said Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, the group organizing the event. "From Guam to New York to Alaska to American Samoa, we are creating a shared experience where every American can see themselves in this celebration and be part of something bigger than any one city or moment."
"It's definitely a special time and we wanted to be here. Absolutely historic," said Patrick Bryant, of California.
America250 aims to support Giving 4th, an effort that hopes to encourage giving to various nonprofits and other charitable organizations as part of the semiquincentennial celebrations.
