Bundle Up For New Year’s Eve In Times Square
By: Hope Wilkos, Monique Nolan Writer / Blogger
Doesn’t it seem as if 2014 flew by and now we are left with both the good and the bad memories to forever fear or forever cherish? As is customary, the countdown is soon underway to the most highly anticipated night of the entire year, “New Year’s Eve In Times Square.”
Every year, the Times Square Alliance goes to tremendous efforts to make the passing from one year to the next a most memorable and unforgettable evening. Millions of onlookers ready to celebrate in revelry, star-crossed lovers looking to make history with that ‘Nivea’ kiss, tons of balloons and confetti falling, tourists eager to cross this event off of their bucket list and all the excitement of being in New York City, make up all the reasons why this is the biggest evening of the year. Although every New Year’s Eve tends to be brutally cold, the fans are ready to brave the weather and stand waiting for hours and hours to claim their place in the crowd.
Leading up to December 31st, the official champagne of “New Year’s Eve In Times Square” is MOËT & CHANDON. The champagne sponsor is reaching out to each of you to think back and share your most inspiring moment of this year.
Photo Courtesy of Nike Communications, Inc.
Leading up to this year’s celebration, the world’s most beloved champagne launches a social media campaign, along with New York talk show host Andy Cohen, which encourages people to share the moment that most inspired them in 2014. Those who enter will have the chance to win a trip to the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City to tell their story of inspiration and see it honored in the first-ever Official Toast of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, given in front of more than 1 million spectators.
“Moët & Chandon is pleased to return as the official Champagne of New Year’s Eve in Times Square,” said Thomas Bouleuc, Vice President, Moët & Chandon USA. “This year, we are encouraging people to share their most Inspiring Moment from 2014 and to raise their glasses to it, turning that moment into a milestone. New Year’s Eve is an opportunity to honor our most memorable moments from the year – both big and small – as we begin to look toward those to come in 2015.”
“What better way to celebrate last year’s triumphs and next year’s adventures than with a glass of Moët & Chandon at midnight? New Year’s Eve in Times Square is a memorable moment in itself and we are excited to work with Moët & Chandon to virtually ‘cheers!’ with revelers all over the world,” said Tim Tompkins, President of Times Square Alliance.
“The partnership between New Year’s Eve in Times Square and Moët & Chandon highlights the perfect pairing – Champagne and New Year’s Eve,” added Jeff Straus, President of Countdown Entertainment. “We once again look forward to toasting with Moët, and to sharing one lucky winner’s moment of 2014 with more than one million participants on New Year’s Eve in Times Square.”
To enter the contest, participants have the option of submitting their inspiring moment with a toast on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook by using the hashtag #MoetMoment2014 and uploading an illustrative image. In addition, if the participant tags a person who was most associated with that moment, the winner will be able to bring their “toast muse” along with them to experience the ultimate #MoetMoment in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
The contest winner will be decided on December 24th, when a judging panel composed of Moët & Chandon’s Thomas Bouleuc, Andy Cohen, Tim Tompkins and Jeffrey Straus will select and announce one winning submission. That winner and his or her guest will then be flown to New York City for a once in a lifetime, all expenses paid experience that includes airfare, a two-night hotel stay and an extravagant New Year’s Eve dinner. Most importantly, the winner’s toast will serve to inspire the Official Toast of New Year’s Eve in Times Square, which will be seen on 7 giant video screens including the screen atop One Times Square, directly below the New Year’s Eve Ball! For further details on the competition and how to enter, follow @MoetUSA or visit http://bit.ly/MoetMoment2014.
As we look back on what a tough year it has been on a more global level, the Times Square Alliance is very proud to announce that for the first time, there will be an official charitable partner. That partner is the International Rescue Committee . This monumental leader undertakes the duties each and every day to make sure that displaced individuals and forced refugees in over 40 countries are well taken care of by providing health care, clean water, and education. More than ever, millions are in need, affected by needless fighting in such regions as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, Sudan and Ukraine. Now, more than ever, it is so important to honor those that are brave and resilient and trying so hard to make it through the now normal challenges and horrific hardships. The International Rescue Committee and its representatives will be the special guests selected to signal the lowering of the Ball and lead the sixty-second countdown to 2015.
Photo Credit: Times Square Alliance Facebook Page
Securing the entertainers for the evening, to delight and entertain the crowds live as well as on millions of television sets across the nation, is still a work in progress . Once again, there is rumor that the lovely Taylor Swift will be up on stage to help ring in the New Year. Young and vivacious, she is a very befitting addition to the lineup. We know that we can look forward to seeing Ryan Seacrest who has officially taken over Dick Clark’s duties and who better than Ryan to rev up the eager attendees. We are also hoping to see Anderson Cooper and Carson Daly. You can get the details on the entertainment as it unfolds by going to:
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/new-years-eve/nye-schedule/index.aspx#.VJYNBACs
Photo Credit: Maxine Nolan-Whylie
The Ball Drop in Times Square dedicates the 2014 event to celebration, reflection, resilience and renewal, all words that took on monumental meaning this year. In 2015, we look towards promise, peace, progress and prosperity. Share a toast at midnight and greet 2015 with MOËT & CHANDON and a loved one.
Photo Credits: George Whylie
