When the iconic crystal ball drops in Times Square this New Year’s Eve, it will rise again moments later, transformed into a dazzling tribute to the American spirit, marking the start of the United States’ 250th birthday celebration.For the first time in the event’s 120-year history, the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball will display patriotic red, white, and blue colors to kick off a nationwide observance of the U.S. semiquincentennial. The moment will be punctuated by a second wave of confetti and a formal launch of months of events honoring the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.“I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that,” said Rosie Rios, chair of America250, the bipartisan commission established by Congress in 2016 to organize the milestone celebration. “It’s going to be one for the ages, the most inspirational celebration this country and maybe the world has ever seen.”The updated New Year’s Eve spectacle was developed in partnership between America250, the Times Square Alliance, and One Times Square, the building from which the crystal ball descends each year. Beyond the nighttime festivities, America250 is also planning a rare mid-year event: a second ball drop in Times Square on July 3, 2026, on the eve of Independence Day.“It will be in the same beautiful style that Times Square knows how to do it,” said Rios. “It will mark the first time in 120 years there will be a ball drop in Times Square that doesn’t occur on New Year’s Eve.”The New Year’s Eve tradition dates back to 1907, when a 700-pound ball constructed from iron and wood by immigrant metalworker Jacob Starr was lowered for the first time. Measuring five feet in diameter and illuminated by 100 25-watt bulbs, the original ball introduced a custom that has endured with only two exceptions in 1942 and 1943, when wartime blackout precautions suspended the ceremony. On those two years, crowds observed a moment of silence followed by chimes at the base of One Times Square.Over the decades, the ball has undergone multiple redesigns. In 2024, the latest version, known as the Constellation Ball, was unveiled. At 12 feet in diameter and weighing nearly 12,000 pounds, it is the biggest and heaviest version to date.This year’s stroke of midnight will also signal the formal launch of America Gives, a national volunteer service initiative organized by America250. The effort aims to make 2026 the highest year of volunteer engagement ever recorded in the U.S.The following day, America250 will participate in the 2026 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, debuting a float titled “Soaring Onward Together for 250 Years.” It will feature three oversized bald eagles symbolizing the nation's past, present, and future.“We want to ring in this new year from sea to shining sea. What better way to think about it than going from New York to California,” said Rios. “This has to be community-driven, this has to be grassroots. We’re going from Guam to Alaska, from Fairbanks to Philadelphia, and everything in between.”President Donald Trump has also announced a separate initiative, called “Freedom 250,” which will focus on coordinating additional events around the semiquincentennial.Organizers say the national commemoration will span a wide range of activities. Planned events include fireworks displays, statewide potluck dinners, student contests, and oral history projects. Rios said the scope of the programming is intended to offer Americans many ways to participate.“If we can find something for everyone … having those menus of options that people can pick and choose how they want to participate,” said Rios. “That’s how we’re going to get to engaging 350 million Americans.”