Say goodbye to your mistakes from the past year at Good Riddance Day in Times Square!
This is an annual event inspired by Latin American tradition where you can say goodbye to what frustrated you in 2025 and usher in a new start for the new year.
Head over to @Times Square NYC today December 28 from 12-1pm.
In a past year, you could set fire to your mistakes, and every year there is a new creative way to say “Good Rddance!”
This year, step onto the stage and tell host Jonathan Bennett what you’re leaving behind from this past year. During the event, you’ll write what you’re leaving in the past on official Good Riddance Day tickets that will get ripped and partially disposed of.
Attending Good Riddance Day in Times Square is a unique and meaningful way to close out 2025 on a positive note. From my experience, the event truly resonates because it encourages reflection and emotional release—something everyone can benefit from as they prepare for a fresh start. In previous years, participants had the powerful chance to literally set fire to their written mistakes, symbolizing a clean slate. This year’s twist involves stepping onto the stage to share what you're leaving behind with host Jonathan Bennett, making it a deeply personal and communal experience. What makes Good Riddance Day special is its creative approach to collective healing, drawing from Latin American cultural traditions that emphasize letting go of negativity to create space for growth. Writing down what you want to say goodbye to on official Good Riddance Day tickets and seeing them ripped up provides a tangible sense of closure and hope. If you’re in NYC, attending is free and open to all, making it accessible for anyone wanting to reflect and recharge before the new year. Even if you can’t attend in person, this tradition can inspire you to create your own ritual for releasing past frustrations, whether by journaling, burning old notes safely at home, or expressing your feelings aloud. Embracing such a ceremony helps frame the new year with positivity and intention. Overall, Good Riddance Day in Times Square is more than just an event—it’s a symbolic moment for self-forgiveness, communal support, and setting mindful intentions for the year ahead. It reminds us that it’s okay to acknowledge past struggles while actively choosing to move forward with hope and resilience.
