The Empire State Building will sparkle to announce live election results tonight

The Empire State Building's state of the art lighting and tech system is constantly used by the institution to celebrate festivals, honor historical events and raise awareness for important social issues. 

Tonight, the landmark building will indirectly take part in the Presidential Election, shining its famous tower lights red, white, and blue as swing state results come in. As those specific numbers come in, the building will sparkle red for five minutes if the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, wins the swing state. A five-minute blue sparkle will signify a win by the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris. 

Once the final results are announced (keep in mind that, according to pundits, that might take a few days), the building will remain lit in one of the two colors.

While we're talking about the election: we know everyone is feeling really tense today so we took the liberty of gathering a bunch of different events that will help you de-stress all around NYC—from comedy shows to dance parties and art-related endeavors. 

Our very own Things to Do editor Rossilynne Skena Culgan went even deeper, offering suggestions that will help you relax on this historic Election Day. Get outside! Take a workout class! Hang out with other New Yorkers!

And because there is no better pick-me-up than a free goodie, don't forget to check out our list of free things that you can get on Election Day when presenting an "I Voted" sticker, including an original glazed doughnut at participating Krispy Kreme locations and a bagel from Ess-a-Bagel—minus the schmears and toppings.