From Sydney, Australia, to Las Vegas, you can enjoy New Years traditions around the world. Find out which cities are hosting the best parties. Times Square is the classic New Year's Eve destination, with its annual celebration dating back more than 100 years. Approximately one million people jam the square every December 31 for the yearly tradition of watching the ball drop, confetti bursts, pyrotechnics, and other revelries. If you're planning on seeing the action in person this year, bundle up and get there early: The crowds start showing up in the afternoon, and first arrivals get the best viewing spots. For all the details, visit the Times Square Alliance New Year's Eve website. (Photo: Countdown Entertainment, LLC) Times Square is the classic New Year's Eve destination, with its annual celebration dating back more than 100 years. Approximately one million people jam the square every December 31 for the yearly tradition of watching the ball drop, confetti bursts, pyrotechnics, and other revelries. If you're planning on seeing the action in person this year, bundle up and get there early: The crowds start showing up in the afternoon, and first arrivals get the best viewing spots. For all the details, visit the Times Square Alliance New Year's Eve website. (Photo: Countdown Entertainment, LLC) New Year's Eve in Sydney is no small affair: More than one million spectators, a holiday boat parade, and two gargantuan fireworks displays will help ring in 2008. If you've got kids (or are just an early bird), take in the Family Fireworks at 9 p.m., immediately followed by the Harbour of Light Parade. The midnight pull-out-all-the-stops fireworks show features explosives unleashed from six barges as well as the Harbour Bridge, with more than 100,000 pyrotechnic effects scheduled to light up the sky. To plan your festivities, visit the City of Sydney website. (Photo: Tim Starkey/iStockphoto.com) New Year's Eve in Washington, D.C., is a perfect excuse to get dressed up—at press time, there were more than 125 parties scheduled around town, ranging from upscale restaurants and hotels to dinner cruises on the Potomac. There are also plenty of events at laid-back pubs, should you want to ring in the New Year more casually. If you need accommodations, the Washington, D.C., Convention and Tourism Corporation has put together Holiday Homecoming packages, starting at $99 per night, with partner properties across the city. (Photo: iStockPhoto.com) Who wouldn't want to ring in New Year's Eve on a beach? And in Rio, the atmosphere is even more carefree than usual. Copacabana Beach hosts a fireworks show for more than two million attendees, many wearing white as a symbol of good luck for the new year. And in typical Rio style, the party starts mid-afternoon and goes into the wee hours of the morning. For vacation packages and other information, check out the Brazil Ministry of Tourism website. (Photo: iStockphoto) What better place to celebrate the New Year than America's party capital? No matter where you decide to go, the Champagne will be flowing. Among the highlights: The Fremont Street Experience again hosts America's Party (emceed last year by Ryan Seacrest), a rollicking street party featuring more than four hours of live entertainment, celebrity guests, and fireworks. And of course, any club you want to go to will have its own festivities in full swing. To plan your trip, Vegas.com has the scoop on hotels, parties, and more goings-on about town. (Photo: PJ Inc.) Head to Berlin's famous Brandenburg Gate to celebrate the arrival of 2008. More than one million people come downtown for the fireworks, party tents, and performances by famous DJs and live bands, making it one of Europe's largest open-air New Year's events. The party stretches two kilometers (approximately 1.2 miles) from the Gate down to the Victory Column, with plenty of fun diversions along the way. Admission is free. To plan your trip, visit the official Berlin tourism website. (Photo: iStockphoto) For a rollicking good time, ring in the New Year in Scotland at Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival, which dates back to the mid-winter celebrations of the Vikings, Celts, and Romans. The party starts on December 29 with a torchlight procession and goes through New Year's Day, with events including an arts carnival, concerts, and fireworks. The most popular event, however, may be the street party held on the big day itself, December 31. Party passes cost £5 and can be purchased online or at Tickets Scotland vendors. For more information, visit the official Hogmanay website. (Photo: Porter Novelli) The country's oldest and largest New Year's arts celebration, First Night Boston celebrates its 32nd anniversary in 2008. The plethora of arts events gets started at 1 p.m. and runs through midnight, with highlights including a swing dance party, a rock show by local band Harry and the Potters, a grand procession parade, and (of course) fireworks. A $15 button gets you in to most events, and all activities are alcohol-free and family-friendly. For a full event schedule, button/admission information, and available hotel packages, visit the First Night Boston website. (Photo: Paul Robicheau, First Night Boston) You'll find most of the action on the Champs-Elysées near the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, where crowds take to the streets to welcome the new year. There's also plenty going on at the clubs and restaurants around town. Whether you want to rave at a discothèque, watch live music performances, or indulge in one last calorie fest before your New Year's diet starts, Paris is the place to satisfy your cravings. Seek out your ideal nightspot at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau website. (Photo: iStockPhoto) Brrrr! It's frigid in upstate New York, but Buffalo's First Night festivities will keep you indoors, entertained, and out of the cold. All activities are geared toward families, such as amusement park rides, magic performances, a variety show, and live music. The party runs from 5 to 10 p.m.; tickets are $7 in advance (purchase at local Wegman stores) or $10 at the door. For a full listing of all the happenings, visit FirstNightBuffalo.org. (Photo: Independent Health Foundation)
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