Small crowd in Times Square rings in New Year with low-key celebration

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Just a few hundred people — mainly first responders spaced apart by barricades — were given access to Times Square on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to 2020.

Mayor de Blasio and First lady Chirlane McCray were on hand at the low-key celebration to initiate the traditional ball drop at midnight.

Leading up to the new year, a star-studded performance featuring Jennifer Lopez, Cyndi Lauper and others was televised for viewers at home.

The event normally attracts thousands of tourists, but this year the all-but empty affair drew the attention of several Twitter users.

“It’s so surreal to watch New Year’s Rockin Eve and see Times Square empty,” one user wrote.

Another person on Twitter poked fun at the “sad” set-up.

“The NYE celebration in Times Square was sad af. People in cow pens wearing Planet Fitness hats and they dropped the ball late after the slowest rendition you’ve ever heard of Imagine, and DeBlasio dancing super awkward. Yikes NYC,” he tweeted.

A third user was similarly unimpressed over the showing.

“This must be the most pathetic New Years celebration ever witnessed at Times Square. How depressing!” the person wrote.