Iconic NYC Times Square Ball Drops Eight Times For America 250

Semiquincentennial; a celebration of 250 years, or the 250th anniversary of something. For us, this is a once in a lifetime celebration this 4th of July across the US, and there's no shortage of ways to celebrate. Events big and small are taking place all over the USA, and here in the Hudson Valley there's plenty of options too; from community festivals, to readings of the Declaration of Independence, parades, and obviously plenty of fireworks displays to celebrate America 250.

Fireworks — Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash

Why Will New York's Times Square Ball Drop Eight Times This Weekend?

Maybe your plans include celebrations across the Hudson Valley, a trip into NYC, or even a nice spot on your couch in the air-conditioned house, make sure you're checking out the coverage from the NYC America 250 celebrations!

The rumors are in fact true, in honor of the big 250, the iconic Times Square ball (yes the New Year's Eve one) will drop a total of eight times!

Beginning on Friday July 3rd and spanning 21 hours, the ball will drop eight times to signify midnight in all eight U.S. time zones. Marking the first time ever (well since the ball drop first started in 1907), the iconic ball will be used for something other than signaling the start of the new year on 12/31 into 01/01.

The drop times are as follows:

Friday, July 3rd, 10am: Guam & Northern Mariana Islands
Friday, July 3rd, Afternoon: Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands
Friday, July 3rd, 11:59pm: Eastern Time (the main NYC ball drop)
Saturday, July 4th, 1:00am: Central Time
Saturday, July 4th, 2:00am: Mountain Time
Saturday, July 4th, 3:00am: Pacific Time
Saturday, July 4th, 4:00am: Alaska Time
Saturday, July 4th, 6:00am: Hawaii-Aleutian Time
Saturday, July 4th, 7:00am: American Samoa Time

Keep in mind this event will NOT be like a standard NYE in NYC celebration, there will be no public viewing areas and the surrounding streets near Times Square will be closed to foot traffic. It will be broadcast/streamed though.

How will you be celebrating America 250?