Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Times Square as the New Year's Eve countdown begins, and a man at the front of the live broadcast reveals how he relieves himself while waiting in line.
A million people are expected to watch the ball drop and another billion watch on television.
As the day progressed, crowds continued to flock, moving closer and closer to the event stage to get the best view of the ball drop.
A video post on TikTok shows crowds of people eagerly waiting to pass through police barriers since 5 a.m. A man at the front of the pack shared his secret for going to the bathroom while waiting in line.
“See these pads? You have to pee in these pads. “It doesn’t matter who you are,” said the man, wearing an orange jacket and a Kiss hat.
A million people are expected to watch the ball in person in Times Square and another billion are expected to watch on television
As the day progressed, crowds continued to flock, moving closer and closer to the event stage to get the best view of the ball drop
A video post on TikTok shows crowds of people eagerly waiting to pass through police barriers since 5 a.m
Revelers await the annual New Year's Eve ball drop
People sleep on the sidewalk in a pedestrian area before the ball drops
Crowds in Times Square at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024
A sign in Times Square reads “New Year’s Eve Times Square 2024.”
Crowds cheer in Times Square
Confetti flies around Times Square
People hold balloons in Times Square
“If you go and have to go to the bathroom or even get water, then that's the problem.”'
He said, “Whatever you set out to do, you must make the best of it.”
The celebrity-studded event includes live performances from Flo Rida, Megan Thee Stallion and LL Cool J, as well as television appearances from Cardi B and more.
Organizers said on-site attendance is expected to return to pre-COVID-19 levels, although foot traffic around Times Square has declined slightly since the pandemic.
CNN will broadcast Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen's New Year's Eve celebrations. This will be the seventh year Cooper and Cohen have hosted the extravaganza.
In addition to CNN, presenters from other major networks will also broadcast live from Times Square, where the protests threaten to reach.
ABC's “Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve” with Ryan Seacrest is co-hosted by Rita Ora and cast includes LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion, Jelly Roll and Sabrina Carpenter.
Megan Thee Stallion wore a purple matching two-piece set as she performed some of her hits.
The celebrations in Times Square began at 6 p.m., when the six-ton crystal ball will be lit and raised into the air. At 11:59 p.m., the ball begins its one-minute drop in front of hundreds of thousands of cheering partygoers.
In Nashville, stars including Elle King, Thomas Rhett, Trace Adkins, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton and Morgan Wallen are expected to take the stage at New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash.
A group plays card games in Times Square
A reveler wears purple and gold 2024 glasses in Times Square
In Times Square, people wear silver and gold 2024 glasses
Revelers sit on the ground in Times Square
Crowds form in Times Square
New York Police Department officers check people entering Times Square for the celebration
Rita Ora and Ryan Seacrest pose at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square
Jonathan Bennett speaks on stage during the 2024 New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square
Megan Thee Stallion stepped out in a purple two-piece outfit during the 2024 New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square
Tyla performs in an all-white outfit during the 2024 New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square
Sabrina Carpenter appears in Times Square in a white dress and white lace gloves
Thomas Rhett performs in Nashville, Tennessee
Elle King and Rachel Smith speak on stage in Nashville
Rob Schneider speaks on stage for New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash
Artists on stage in Nashville
Cable networks are preparing for the worst, fearing their live broadcast schedules for New Year's Eve may have to be changed if disorderly pro-Palestinian supporters take over Times Square.
Anti-Israel protesters are threatening to derail December 31st celebrations in the Big Apple.
The NYPD is mobilizing all security measures to address possible violence on the streets of New York City. There have been protests in the city since Hamas abused Israeli civilians, sparking a conflict in the Middle East on October 7.
At a news conference Friday, Mayor Eric Adams said, “There are no specific threats to the city,” but “as we saw last year, after there were no specific threats, we get a threat and we will be ready.”
He was referring to when three police officers were attacked with a machete by a 19-year-old Maine man on December 31, 2022 over US support for Israel.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said on Dec. 29, “We will have tow trucks parked strategically along the actual New Year's Eve festivities and we will have drones stationed around the perimeter so we can monitor the protests coming in real time.” '
Adams added: “Hundreds of thousands of people will be lined up here and no matter how many times we see it, you never get used to it, the excitement remains over and over again.”
Times Square will be closed from around 12pm on New Year's Eve and anyone wishing to enter the area will have to pass through police checkpoints and security checkpoints.
Homeland Security and the FBI will be in Times Square alongside state police, mounted police and canine units.