Even the confetti gets a test before New Year’s Eve in Times Square. This small rehearsal lets you see the colorful pieces flutter through the air before the big night.
What to expect
When the new year begins at midnight, more than a ton of confetti falls over Times Square. It’s traditionally tossed by hand from the surrounding buildings. The confetti test is much smaller: organizers throw a small amount into the air from a stage.
This is mainly a press event, not a full rehearsal of the New Year’s Eve celebration. Think of it as a brief preview rather than the huge confetti shower at midnight. The tosses tend to be repeated, with around three to six rounds observed on previous visits, but there isn’t a fixed number.
And some of the confetti for New Year’s Eve carries personal wishes. At the Wishing Wall, you can write down your own wish and have it become part of the midnight confetti shower.
The test usually takes place on Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets.
Good to know
- Watching from publicly accessible areas is free.
- Arrive a little before the start. The confetti tosses are brief, rather than a continuous show.
- The stage and press areas aren’t automatically open to spectators.
- The test takes place outdoors, so dress warmly for the wait.
