With the Halloween Parade canceled and the Thanksgiving Parade still going on (albeit very differently), most NYC holiday traditions have been turned completely upside down due to COVID-19.
And the latest announcement skips right over Christmas.
The Times Square Alliance shared the first news today regarding the city’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration and ball drop, as it is 100 days away.
The press release said it would be “a virtually enhanced celebration that brings Times Square and the Ball to you digitally no matter where you are, scaled-back and socially distanced live elements still to be determined, and an extremely limited group of in-person honorees, socially distanced, who will reflect the themes, challenges and inspirations of 2020.”
Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, which co-produces the event with Countdown Entertainment, said:
This year there will be significantly new and enhanced virtual, visual and digital offerings to complement whatever limited live entertainment or experiences – still in development — will take place in Times Square. And because any opportunity to be live in Times Square will be pre-determined and extremely limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be the opportunity to participate virtually wherever you are. Because more than ever in these divided and fear-filled times, the world desperately needs to come together symbolically and virtually to celebrate the people and things we love and to look forward with a sense of renewal and new beginnings.
You can watch a preview of their plans here:
In other news: The Met Opera Has Now Canceled All Shows Until Fall 2021
featured image source: Countdown Entertainment, LLC