Estimated 1 Million Ring in 2013 at Ball Drop in New York City
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Monika Graff/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — An estimated 1 million people crammed into New York City’s Times Square to ring in 2013. With fireworks and confetti in the air, the crowd, many wearing plastic “2013” glasses, cheered and snapped photos as they watched the ball drop.
The ball, which was covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles and illuminated by more than 32,000 LED color lights, was engraved with the name of longtime host, Dick Clark, who died in April, reports ABC News affiliate WABC in New York. It was the first New Year’s Eve celebration without Clark, who had hosted his “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” television special for nearly 40 years.
Ryan Seacrest hosted this year’s celebration again with cohost Jenny McCarthy.
With the countdown to 2013 complete, the wishes of visitors from all over the world were thrown in Times Square at midnight. People in New York City could fill out their wishes for 2013 at the Times Square Museum prior to the celebration.
One sailor, stationed in Italy, was in Times Square for the celebration on New Year’s Eve. He recalled some of the challenges Americans had faced in 2012, but looked forward to the new year with optimism.
“All Americans are getting together to watch the ball drop, bring in the new year — new experiences, you know. Closing out a year. You know we’ve had some hard times … Newtown, Connecticut … the fiscal cliff crisis … everything else,” he said. “Hopefully beginning a new year, new experiences and just great times for America, I hope.”
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio