New Year's Eve 2021 In NYC Will Be Unrecognizable: What To Expect

NEW YORK CITY — Like so many other time-honored traditions, New York City's customary New Year's Eve celebrations have gone out the window this year because of the pandemic.

For the first time in more than a century, crowds will not flock to Times Square on Dec. 31. But there will still be ways to celebrate — or to wish good riddance to a year that most would rather forget. Here's what to know.

Will the ball still drop?

Yes! The ball atop One Times Square will make its customary descent just before midnight on New Year's Eve.

Organizers announced in September that Times Square would be closed to the public during the event, marking the first time since its inception in 1907 that throngs of people would not gather in Midtown.

The drop was suspended in 1942 and 1943 during World War II, but crowds still gathered in Times Square and marked the new year with a minute of silence, according to the Times Square website.

How can I watch?

A live telecast, "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021," will air live from Times Square on ABC, starting 8 p.m. Eastern.

Times Square will also host a commercial-free webcast on its website starting 6 p.m. Eastern.

Jennifer Lopez will be the headline performer, along with other stars including Billy Porter, Cyndi Lauper and Jimmie Allen. Seacrest, who is hosting for the 16th consecutive year, will be joined by Porter and actress Lucy Hale.

Will there be any street closures?

Despite the lack of crowds, yes. Vehicle traffic from 45th through 48th streets in Times Square will be closed by the early morning of Dec. 31. By 3 p.m., 42nd through 49th streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues will all be closed.

Subway access will also be limited: the 42nd Street entrances to the Times Square subway station will close around noon. Riders can use the 41st Street entrances instead.

The 47th Street entrance to the 49th Street N/R/W station will close at midnight, and the south side entrance at 49th Street will close around noon.

Related coverage:

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• Times Square New Year's Eve Goes Virtual Due To Coronavirus