Binghamton to Drop the Ball on New Year’s Eve

The City of Binghamton will be alight with fireworks to usher in the New Year.

City Council has unanimously approved plans to set off fireworks from the Metro Center parking lot for the Greater Binghamton Ball Drop.  The last time the city saw fireworks on New Year’s Eve was during the First Night festivities that ended several years ago.

While the New Year was ushered in then with the lights in the 18 stories of the State Office Building in Binghamton counting down to midnight, this year, A 6 foot round ball, lit with more than 5,000 lights will be lowered about 70 feet while the fireworks go off.

State Street from Henry to Lewis streets will be blocked off for the food, drink and entertainment that is to run from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Revelers can come to see the ball drop New Year’s Eve without charge, but getting into the closed-off area with the entertainment and refreshments is $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

The ball drop is being coordinated by the owners of Social on State.

As for First Night, a Facebook page had been set up in an effort to revive the event but Binghamton Mayor Richard David says it is unlikely that will happen.  First Night was coordinated by a non-profit arts group and got a majority of its funding from New York State arts grants that were no longer available, forcing the group to fold.