(NewsNation) — For the first time, the iconic Times Square ball will descend on a date other than New Year’s Eve as part of the July 4 celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.

There will be eight ball drops to mark midnight across every U.S. time zone and inhabited territory, starting with Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and ending in American Samoa.

Organizer America250 said the rolling countdown is designed to unite Americans across the country.

America250 is a bipartisan organization set up by Congress to honor America’s 250th birthday. It is distinct from Freedom 250, the Trump-backed organization hosting events in Washington, D.C., including the Great American State Fair.

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It will be the first time the historic ball has dropped on a date other than New Year’s Eve. The iconic event debuted in 1907, though the ball itself has undergone multiple redesigns over the decades.

The current ball debuted in 2025, featuring circle-shaped Waterford Crystals, a shift from triangular crystals that have been featured since 1999. The Constellation Ball measures 12.5 feet in diameter and weighs in at 12,350 pounds. It’s adorned with 5,280 crystals in three sizes and LED light pucks.

The ball drops are included in the “Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show,” a live special in New York City, which also launches Giving 4th, an initiative that encourages Americans to support charities and volunteer in their communities.

The show will begin at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 3, with the show streaming on America250.org, hosted by Jim Gaffigan and featuring performances from Mary J. Blige, Brad Paisley and Ne-Yo.

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