NYC celebrates America 250: Fireworks, events and more | Live updates

The iconic Times Square Ball is dropping on a day other than New Year's Eve for the first time in its history.

The special series of ball drops on Friday is part of the nationwide celebration marking America's 250th birthday.

The festivities begin at 10 a.m. Eastern, when the first ball drop commemorates midnight in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Throughout the day, the ball will drop a total of eight times, marking midnight across every U.S. time zone and inhabited territory as Independence Day begins around the country.

Click here for more.

The special series of ball drops on Friday is part of the nationwide celebration marking America's 250th birthday.

With millions expected to celebrate America250, NYPD's Harbor Unit is mounting a massive security operation on New York's waters.

Eyewitness News got to see the Harbor Unit up close on Thursday. They enforce laws recreational boaters need to follow and help them when they need it.

Protecting New York Harbor is a shared responsibility between the NYPD and U.S. Coast Guard. There is always a lot of commercial traffic there - and this year, there's the added presence of visiting Navy ships.

Sonia Rincón got an inside look at NYPD preparations.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to deliver remarks on Friday to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America, and will be speaking from the desk used by George Washington in Federal Hall, the original capitol, according to the mayor's office.

Mamdani's office said that the speech will reflect "on New York City's role in our national history and its position as the nation's symbolic gateway."

The mayor, himself a naturalized citizen, will appear with recently naturalized citizens during the speech, according to his office.

Due to Coast Guard regulations, Staten Island Ferry service will be suspended from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

During operating hours, the ferry will run every 30 minutes, with increased 20-minute service between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to accommodate crowds heading to the fireworks.