Ball Drop 2011 Countdown: Times Square New Year’s Eve

Ball Drop 2011 Countdown: As the iconic Times Square ball is about to drop, New Yorkers and travelers have gathered at the crossroad of the world to live the once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Edward Dai/The Epoch Times)

UPDATE: It’s 2011! Click HERE to read the story.

For New Yorkers, there’s no better place to be on New Year’s Eve than Times Square.

As 2010 is about to slip by, revelers who started to pack the world’s crossroads since noon are staying out until the iconic lighted ball drops at midnight.

The night is filled with cheers, excitement, and entertainers including the Broadway cast of American Idiot, Backstreet Boys, and Ke$ha.

In addition to the revelers on site, about 48,000 viewers are tuned to organizer Times Square Alliance’s live online broadcast at 11:30 p.m. EST.

At 11:59 p.m., the iconic-lighted ball will descend 70 feet in 60 seconds along with a 60-second countdown.

The 11,875-pound ball, 12 feet in diameter, is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs, making it the largest crystal ball in the world, according to Times Square Alliance, the organizer of the night’s festivities.

A confetti release and pyrotechnic effects will follow the midnight ball drop.