3:00 p.m. The Revelers Revelers start arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 3:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. Revelers are directed by the NYPD to gather in separate viewing sections. As one section fills up, the revelers are directed by police to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers continue to fill the Times Square neighborhood along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to as far as Central Park. 6:00 p.m. to 6:03 p.m. Lighting and Raising the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball The celebration begins with the lighting and raising of the New Year's Eve Ball atop One Times Square. The Event Organizers will be joined by representatives of the Philips Lighting Company to flip the giant switch which lights the New Year's Eve Ball and begins its ascent accompanied by special pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. 6:04 p.m. to 6:18 p.m. Opening Ceremonies - Chinese Cultural Performance The Sino-American Friendship Association ("SAFA") presents a spectacular Chinese cultural performance from YunNan featuring the traditional performance of The Peacock's Blessing and The Little Running River to begin the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration. The performance is on the Cosmo/Covergirl Countdown Stage at Duffy Island between 46th and 47th Streets. The Chinese cultural performance will conclude with red and gold pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.
6:20 p.m. Times Square 2013 Hats, Balloons, Mittens, Scarves and Colorlicious lipstick The Times Square Alliance sanitation crew clad in bright red uniforms begins to distribute tens of thousands of fun handouts to the Times Square revelers for cheering in the New Year. Cosmo/Covergirl is providing festive pink New Year's Eve hats and pink, red and rose balloons tied with silver mylar ribbons along with colorlicious lipstick for that magical kiss at midnight. The Sino-American Friendship Association is providing beautiful red scarves and Planet Fitness is providing mittens to keep us warm through the night. 6:58 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Hourly Countdown with FNC's "All-American New Year" As we approach the New Year, FNC hosts Bob Beckel, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery, Anna Kooiman, and Jesse Watters will appear at the Cosmo/Covergirl Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year"; and lead the ten second countdown to the 7 o'clock hour accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square. They will also read some of the Confetti Wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight and share their wishes for the New Year.
7:06 p.m. to 7:11 p.m. Planet Fitness "Judgement Free"Cheer Jenny McCarthy will lead the revelers in a fun cheer of "Judgement Free" in 2015. 7:41 p.m. to 7:44 p.m. Good Riddance Day Highlights Allison Hagendorf will share highlights from Good Riddance Day with the Times Square revelers from the Cosmo/Covergirl Countdown Stage. 7:45 p.m. to 7:48 p.m. Cosmo/Covergirl Vignette #1 Kat Graham introduces Cosmo/Covergirl Vignette #1 on the Cosmo/Covergirl Kiss Stage.