Times Square New Year's Eve ball tested

The Presidents of Carnival Cruise Lines and Countdown Entertainment practiced raising the New Year's Eve ball above Times Square on Friday. They will do the same thing on Saturday at 6 pm New York time.  Then, the ball will be lowered at midnight to mark the start of 2023.

At the stroke of midnight, a ton of confetti will rain down on revelers, glittering amid the jumbo screens, neon and pulsing lights. With no COVID restrictions this year, the throngs could return, although a chance of rain could conspire against even larger crowdsBut despite the rainy forecast, the Times Square Alliance expects many thousands of people to gather from 39th to 59th street to watch the ball drop.