Times Square Ball - Special Guests

Special Guests

Since 1996-97 to add an additional focal point to the event, the current Mayor of New York City has been joined on-stage by a special guest, selected yearly to recognize their community involvement or significance, in "activating" the ball drop by pressing a button at exactly one minute to midnight. The button itself is merely ceremonial and does not actually trigger the drop, however: it is officially activated from a control room, synchronized using a government time signal. Special guests that have activated the ball drop have included:

• 1996–97: Oseola McCarty
• 1997–98: Randi Fisch, Karl Vetter, Ariel Rodriguez, Dominique Miller, Diana Shen
• 1998–99: Sang Lan
• 1999–2000: Dr. Mary Ann Hopkins from Doctors Without Borders
• 2000–01: Muhammad Ali
• 2001–02: Rudy Giuliani and Judith Nathan; activating the drop was also Giuliani's final act as mayor. Michael Bloomberg officially became the new Mayor of New York City upon the beginning of 2002, and took his oath of office shortly after midnight.
• 2002–03: Chris and Dana Reeve
• 2003–04: Cyndi Lauper and Shoshana Johnson—the first U.S. prisoner of war belonging to an ethnic minority.
• 2004–05: Colin Powell
• 2005–06: Wynton Marsalis, a notable jazz musician.
• 2006–07: A group of 8 United States Armed Forces members, including Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Oswaldo San Andres and Master-at-arms 2nd Class Lillianne Perez.
• 2007–08: Karolina Wierzchowska, a valedictorian of the NYPD's academy who also served in the Iraq War
• 2008–09: Bill and Hillary Clinton
• 2009–10: Twelve high school students from New York City high schools on America's Best High Schools' Top 100 "Gold Medal" List
• 2010–11: Former Staff sergeant Salvatore Giunta.
• 2011–12: Lady Gaga (who also performed for New Year's Rockin' Eve shortly prior)
• 2012–13: The Rockettes