TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (PIX11) — Even though New Year’s Eve is nearly two weeks away, there was an official celebration on Wednesday in the location best known worldwide for ringing in the new year: Times Square.
It was the unveiling of the numerals that will be on display to usher in the new year when the ball drops. The actual ceremony is in 13 days, but in some ways — especially for some New Yorkers — it was at least as meaningful as the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.
The 7-foot-tall numbers — two twos, a zero, and a five — are made of heavyweight steel, weighing more than half a ton in total. Each is outfitted with between 145 and 166 LED bulbs, which will light up when the new year is rung in at midnight on Jan. 1.
Organizers of that event missed no opportunity to create a well appreciated preview on Wednesday morning.
At the north end of Times Square, Jeffrey Straus, the president of Countdown Entertainment, which produces the ball drop ceremony on New Year’s Eve, led the first official countdown of the season.
A crowd of a few dozen people joined in, boisterously, with the countdown ending with all of the lights illuminating.
Teresa Hui works near Times Square and said that she looks forward to the numerals being introduced every year. She made her enthusiasm evident — she was wearing eyewear in the shape of the number 2025, had a necklace bearing the number, and also sported a “Happy New Year” headband.
“How cool is that?” Hui asked, “to have your own personal countdown?”
“How awesome is that,” she continued, “and in my hometown!”
Joe Simon, another New Yorker, was on hand with his chihuahua, Gladys.
“I'm born in New York, I live in Manhattan,” he said. “It's another New York thing you can see for free, for one thing,” he continued. “And it gives you optimism for the new year.”
His comment captured another key element of the numerals-unveiling event. It’s intended to be a preview of the new year's goodwill.
“Why wait, when you can do it today?” asked Kevin Anderson. He, his wife, and two daughters were visiting from Houston and made it a point to attend Wednesday’s unveiling.
It included a booth at which people could write their wishes for 2025 on pieces of confetti. It will be dropped with the world-renowned ball on New Year’s Eve.
There was a long line of people at the wish-writing booth. Clearly, the hope for a better year ahead was strong.
Cammy Montes and Luis Marquez were in New York from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Marquez shared what he wants to see in 2025.
“Peace in the world,” he said. “There's too much problems in the world.”
The New Year’s numerals will be on display for the public at 46th Street in Times Square through the weekend.
