One city, one night, a million people. You may say I’m absolutely nuts for spending New Year’s Eve in probably the most crowded place in the world at the time of the celebration, and I would totally agree. Thirteen hours of standing was probably one of the craziest things I’ve ever done, but ended up being one of the most memorable. I experienced what felt like my first New Year’s Eve celebration of my life. Nothing compared to the excitement and the thrill that came with this daring decision. As I was being covered in confetti and being unified with the entire city to cheer on a successful future, I realized this moment was going to be a story I would tell for the rest of my life.
If you’re convinced you want to take the challenge and get a life changing experience out of it, here’s a few tips to help you through it:
1. Go with people you absolutely love, and meet new ones! I would have never kept my sanity if it weren’t for my boyfriend of almost two years and his supportive cousins, along with their girlfriends (we called ourselves “six in the city”). All of us are naturally positive people who strive to maintain a fun environment, and that’s exactly how I made it through the night. Also, you want to have that special moment at midnight to share with someone you truly love. It was the most incredible feeling and can only be explained with one word: happiness. We also got to meet such interesting people around us, including two from Australia! Becoming friends with these Aussies allowed us to talk for hours about their different culture, and that was only the beginning! Without this experience I never would have had this opportunity.
2. Dress warmly, and wear comfortable shoes. Normally NYC in December gets super cold (last year it was only 18 degrees!) but this year we lucked out and thankfully the weather was super cooperative. You’ll be standing all day and night, so the last thing you want is your toes begging for mercy. Just remember, it’s better to be prepared with hats and gloves than to wish you had thought about your warmth earlier.
3. Get there super early. The only way to guarantee your view of the ball, the big screens, and the stage to see the performances is to arrive early in the daytime (10:00-10:30 AM) so that you can make it into the crowd. Yep, that means getting up early, eating a HUGE breakfast, and setting yourself up for the longest wait time ever, all worth it in the end!
4. Make sure your coat has pockets. Security did not allow bags to be brought into the crowd, so the easiest way to carry everything you need is to absolutely stuff the life out of your pockets.
5. Pack snacks, Advil, tissues and a camera. After you’ve conveniently packed all of these goodies in your pockets, you’ll be glad you came prepared. Snacks are a must since you cannot leave the crowd (security blocks you) so instead of going hungry all day, make sure you have a few protein bars stashed away. Advil will come in handy when you feel like your knees are about to come crashing down. Tissues are always just a comfort to have when outside in the cold. You’ll want to capture all the big moments on camera as well and take a few group pictures along the way. Nothing looks as good on TV, so get the real shots while you can.
6. Don’t drink more water than you need to. I cannot stress this enough: you are not allowed to leave to go to the bathroom! I know, it sounds completely impossible, but trust me, it can be done. Leave it to me to tell you, because I am so used to drinking 10 glasses of water with one meal and always taking advantage of a nearby bathroom. This time though, it’s important to keep it off your mind entirely. If I can hold it, anyone can!
7. Snag a spot near the big stage. The best way to stay entertained for a long day is to go where the TV networks, hosts, and the city stays active to keep you on your toes. Near the big stage where all the top performers sing (this year PSY, Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift) is the best place to be standing so that you can see everything that’s going on.
8. Most of all, stay positive! Keep the atmosphere cheery and fun by playing games like 20 questions. Along with our Aussie friends, our big group just kept smiling and knew that everything would be worth it in the end. By the time the big countdown arrives, you’ll be so happy that you finally made it.
Personally I don’t know if I would ever try this again, but I know I can look back on this experience and at least say I had the courage to do it. The feeling of accomplishment when reaching midnight was just a huge rush of joy. I totally recommend that everyone try this, when they’re good and ready.