Times Square ball to drop for America’s 250th birthday
Times Square ball to drop for America’s 250th birthday
(NewsNation) — For the first time, the iconic Times Square ball will descend on a date other than New Year’s Eve as part of the July 4 celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.
There will be eight ball drops to mark midnight across every U.S. time zone and inhabited territory, starting with Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and ending in American Samoa.
Organizer America250 said the rolling countdown is designed to unite Americans across the country.
America250 is a bipartisan organization set up by Congress to honor America’s 250th birthday. It is distinct from Freedom 250, the Trump-backed organization hosting events in Washington, D.C., including the Great American State Fair.
Trump returns to Mt. Rushmore to mark America’s 250th
It will be the first time the historic ball has dropped on a date other than New Year’s Eve. The iconic event debuted in 1907, though the ball itself has undergone multiple redesigns over the decades.
The current ball debuted in 2025, featuring circle-shaped Waterford Crystals, a shift from triangular crystals that have been featured since 1999. The Constellation Ball measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs in at 12,350 pounds. It’s adorned with 5,280 crystals in three sizes and LED light pucks.
The ball drops are included in the “Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show,” a live special in New York City, which also launches Giving 4th, an initiative that encourages Americans to support charities and volunteer in their communities.
The show will begin at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 3, with the show streaming on America250.org, hosted by Jim Gaffigan and featuring performances from Mary J. Blige, Brad Paisley and Ne-Yo.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
The van driver died at the scene, while the bus driver and a 14-year-old passenger were taken to hospital.
Test your knowledge of news from Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight with our quiz.
The community cafe will close on 31 October 2026, 20 years after it first opened in Palmer Park.
The project will take a community led approach and will start by understanding personal needs.
Shania Brannigan, 24, claims she had to move out of her Maghull flat after mould gave her asthma.
Footage shows Jagger Strang making explosives at his home in Stafford.
Why the Supplementary Vote may allow voters to vote with their heads and their hearts.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday visits Italy’s Lampedusa island, a major port of call for migrants risking the perilous crossing from Africa, in a stark message to US and EU leaders.The 70-year-old is expected to use the half-day trip to the Mediterranean island, a frontier between Africa and Europe, to call for safe and legal pathways for immigration.
Timothy Barnes admitted defrauding dozens of people, a charitable trust, and a residents’ association.
Staff at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital treated Jon White after he lost three limbs in Afghanistan.
A childhood fascination with bogs led one Welsh scientist to try and help save the planet.
Meg Avon held a wedding event to raise awareness about untreated sewage being pumped into waterways.
Devolution is at the heart of Andy Burnham’s plans for the country.
The president kicked off the 250th anniversary of July 4th with a patriotic speech at Mount Rushmore where he warned of a resurgence in communism.
Mariano Ferreira’s brother died in the earthquakes and has been accepting aid donations.
Alun Ebenezer kept his school open during the heatwave which he says taught pupils “resilience”.
America turns 250 on Saturday — a landmark birthday that coincides with a time of deep national division and a president determined to seize the festive center stage.On Saturday evening, Trump will hold a huge campaign-style political rally on the National Mall in the capital Washington, along with roaring military flyovers and what he has touted as the world’s biggest fireworks display.
Tylers Department store first started trading in Loughborough in 1922.
It is believed a poultry farm in Sileby is the “likely source” of the flies.
A round-up of stories from local newspapers and the BBC from the past week in the West of England.
Powered by WPeMatico