For those who missed the "TributePalooza" on New Year's Eve, the bands will be playing all weekend!  Need show tickets?  Click here!

From the Sun:

The self-described "happiest mayor in the universe," Las Vegas' Oscar Goodman, saw a world of hurt in his city last year.

Unemployment spiked. Tourism was down. The ripple of economic woes affecting America touched many in the city so dependent on tourism.

But the last night of 2009 offered Goodman a chance to focus on better times ahead. As the clock ticked toward midnight, with a ceremonial wave of his martini glass, Goodman bid adieu to 2009.

"What I see tonight on Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas is the end of the stupid recession," he told a crowd of thousands gathered to celebrate New Year's Eve. He said Las Vegas, "the greatest city in the world," is a place for people to have a good time and not to worry.

"America is coming back because what America needs is a party," he said as the clock inched closer to midnight. As he led the masses in a countdown, a roar erupted. Fireworks popped, couples kissed and dozens clinked plastic footballs filled with beer as 2009 disappeared.

Flanked by showgirls, Goodman kissed his wife, Carolyn, and waved to the crowd.

Under the canopy of lights that is the Fremont Street Experience, digital fireworks made their way across the 1,500-foot screen as real ones dazzled above the crowd.

"It was amazing, just awesome," said Robert Manjarrez, 30, an elementary school teacher from Clovis, Calif.

This was the second year in a row he had come to Fremont Street for New Year's Eve, saying he had such a good time last year he had to come back.

"Compared to last year, the whole experience was much better. Last year we couldn't really see the fireworks. This year was 10 times better."

As for what lies ahead, he echoed Goodman's sentiments.

"I just hope the economy and everything else gets better because last year was tough. This year has got to be an improvement," Manjarrez said.

For Las Vegans Jill and Joe Cuevas, 2009 was a rough year. They were eager to celebrate its demise and did so by sporting the outfits they got married in about a year ago.

In true Las Vegas fashion, the two were dressed in the Elvis-themed attire they wore Dec. 21, 2008, when they went down the aisle in a pink Cadillac at the Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel. Both were adorned with plastic wigs with lit-up "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" signs.

"Tonight we met Oscar Goodman and his wife, who told us that we look awesome. It made us feel good," 25-year-old Jill Cuevas said. "We had a rough year. We're just hoping for happiness."

Her husband chimed in: "And love." Then he kissed her.

Sally Piper, who came to Las Vegas from Mesquite with her fiancé, Mark Peterson, said she's been out of work since the town's Oasis casino closed.

But already, 2010 was full of hope — she got a job offer just before Christmas and the former cocktail waitress was ready to start work at a hospital.

"We actually came to Vegas to celebrate this year," Piper said. Fremont Street, with the fireworks, live music and rich history, was the perfect place to toast to better times. "You don't get all that on the Strip," she said.

Some came from much further away than the far reaches of Clark County: Dennis and Diana Bryson were visiting from North Pole, Alaska. It was their third trip this year to Las Vegas, this time to celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary.

"This was a spontaneous trip. We just bought tickets last week," said Diana Bryson, wearing a purple hat with "2010" emblazoned across the front.

"It was so dead in July when we were here. This is just great. This is how it should be all the time," she said, gesturing at the crowd. As for 2010, "it's got to be better — it can't get any worse."

Earlier in the evening, anticipation for the midnight festivities was at the tip of everyone's tongue.

Larry Workman, 69, and his wife, Shirley, from Orange County, Calif., hoped New Year's Eve 2009 was a repeat of 2008.

"We were here last year, right here on Fremont. We had such a great time we decided to come back and we brought eight people with us," he said.

His sister came in from North Carolina. Two friends came in from Denver, two others from Costa Mesa, Calif.; his niece, an exchange student, came in from Glasgow, Scotland.

"I thought it was kind of a neat deal with all the lights, all the people in the streets and the fireworks up above," he said.

Denise Bostic has lived in Las Vegas for more than a decade but never spent a New Year's Eve on Fremont Street — at least, not until Dec. 31, 2009. Friend Ed Arens talked her into coming downtown and celebrating the holiday, which is also his birthday.

"I have been on the Strip before but I'm way too old for that," she said with a laugh outside the Fremont Hotel & Casino.

As for the new year, Arens said he hadn't thought of a resolution, but Bostic quickly offered, "If you make them, you break them, so why bother?"

Throughout the night, tribute bands paid homage to Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen at the stages along Fremont as part of the second-annual TributePalooza.

The five-block area in front of the 10 casinos that line the street closed at 5 p.m. to those under 21 so the celebration could begin.

As Blasphemous Rumors, the Depeche Mode tribute band, got the crowd grooving, Jeremy Nelson, 27, of Palm Springs, Calif., and friend Brent Weiand, 27, of Arlington, Va., stood back, taking in the scene from in front of La Bayou casino.

Nelson, originally from Indiana, recently moved to California and the two decided to meet up in Las Vegas for the "wild party" on Fremont Street and, of course, some gambling.

"We're just here to have a good time and maybe win some money," Nelson said.

He said this year was his first time celebrating the holiday in Las Vegas. He usually spends the holiday at a local bar, he said.

"He drove over, I flew in — we were just thinking Vegas would be something different this year," Weiand said. He added that he had doubled his money since he'd gotten to town.

While the New Year's Eve celebrations are a big deal in Las Vegas, they're rivaled by those in New York City.

Jodie Wright and her boyfriend, Mike Lopez, hail from the Big Apple, where partiers have been ringing in the new year at Times Square for more than 100 years. As the sun was setting on the last day of 2009, the two said they had high expectations for their evening of revelry under the glow of Las Vegas' neon lights.

Despite the history of their hometown, both said they were expecting their evening in downtown Las Vegas to be more enjoyable than New York.

"I did Times Square in 2001 — we were in a hotel overlooking it. But unless you're really down there, it's not great," Lopez said. "And in Times Square, you're stuffed together. You can't move. It's terrible."

Wright said she was looking forward to a more relaxed atmosphere.

"I'm expecting it not to be as packed as Times Square, which makes me happy," she said. "We picked celebrating here over New York because fireworks are fireworks wherever you go, but we think this will be a little more lively and more festive."

As the day progressed, dozens of people streamed through an area near the Neonopolis, where a booth was set up to sell wristbands. The wristbands, which went on sale at 10 a.m., cost $10 for those with a Nevada identification card and $20 for out-of-state revelers.

Wristbands were also available at gates leading to the Fremont Street Experience.

New Year's Eve is the only day a ticket is required for entry into the Fremont Street Experience. Last year, the 30,000 tickets available were gone by about 11:15 p.m., said Fremont Street Experience marketing director Thomas Bruny. This year, capacity was increased to 35,000, he said.

The event didn't sell out but Bruny said attendance was "great," estimating that numbers were similar to last year.

Booths selling 2010-themed garb, like novelty sunglasses, hats, beads and T-shirts, were set up throughout the area. Before the festivities kicked off, near one of the booths was Brajesh Piwanji, 24. Pinwanji said he didn't drink, but that wouldn't stop him from having an enjoyable evening.

"I'm expecting fun and a lot of fun things to do," he said. Piwanji, who lives in San Jose, Calif., recently moved from India. This was his first New Year's Eve in the United States.

Not everyone milling around Fremont Street on Thursday planned to stay 'til the clock struck 12. Before the area was closed off, plenty of families with strollers were spotted taking in the sights.

Although the celebration technically drew to a close in the early morning hours Friday, the entertainment was to continue through the weekend. The musical acts pick up again Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8 p.m. with free "Rock 'N' Recovery" concerts.

It was an interesting New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.  According to reports, 82 people where charged with DUIs on New Year's Eve, another 57 on miscellanous charges and 2 were charged with felonies.  I guess when it comes to celebrations, revelers in Las Vegas seem to think that over-the-top is the only way to go.

From the R-J:

Trooper Chelita Rojas said the department had every trooper from its Southern Command, plus some from its Northern Command, on valley freeways making traffic stops.

"There were a lot more officers on the road able to pull people over," Rojas said.

Las Vegas police also had all of its 3,241 officers working on New Year's Eve. Some were operating DUI checkpoints, but the department did not release the number of people arrested.

But it was a relatively peaceful celebration for the Las Vegas Valley. Law enforcement agencies reported no slayings or fatal accidents on New Year's Eve or the morning after.

In the Reno area, authorities arrested 27 people for driving under the influence on New Year's Eve, down slightly from last year.

But the number of people taken into protective custody for intoxication was up to 32, compared with 26 last year.

Additionally, the Washoe County Jail reported five arrests were made for domestic battery. In all, 84 people were booked into jail over a 12-hour period beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday.

In Las Vegas, about 315,000 people from out of town rang in the New Year on the Strip and downtown -- the largest such party west of the Mississippi, according to tourism officials. That's an 8 percent jump from the year before.

In downtown Las Vegas, officials gave out 5,000 more wrist bands to people than last year to watch the various tribute bands under the Fremont Street Experience.

Along the Strip on New Year's Eve, the crowd was still streaming in at 11:30 p.m., with hundreds of people walking over the Flamingo Road overpass at Interstate 15. They were greeted by a rocking performance by a group playing bongos between Caesars Palace and Bellagio.

Some visitors came to forget their troubles, some to see off a 2009 that has been tough on many, and yet others came for, well, different reasons.

Clad in traditional Scottish wear, including a green plaid kilt, 26-year-old Jackson Murray, from Scotland, said he and friends traveled across the pond because they enjoyed the hit 2009 comedy, "The Hangover," in which a group of friends wake up in their Caesars Palace hotel room not remembering anything that happened during the raucous night before.

Asked where he was staying, Jackson said, "Caesars, obviously."



Getting around town will be a tad tougher on New Year's Eve night with these closures announced:

From the Las Vegas Sun:

Getting around Las Vegas will be a little more difficult than normal Thursday night as thousands of people descend on the city to ring in the new year, closing the Strip to vehicle traffic for the night.

Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed from Sahara Avenue to Russell Road from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Beginning at 6 p.m., walkways, elevators and escalators along the boulevard will be shut down and hotels and other Strip business close their driveways.

Metro Police will beginning closing roads that connect to the strip at 6:30 p.m.

Because the Strip will be closed to allow for foot traffic, cars also will not be allowed to use the east-west arterials to go through the area, including Tropicana Avenue, Harmon Avenue and Flamingo Road.

Locals who want to get from one side of town to the other will need to use roads north of Sahara or south of Russell, or take one of the valley’s freeways.

Freeway ramps on Interstate 15 will be partially closed to only allow traffic to go west on the arterials beginning between 5 and 6 p.m.

If you want to get around the valley without driving, the Regional Transportation Commission is offering free bus service valley-wide from 6 p.m. Thursday to 9 a.m. Friday. Buses will then run on a reduced Saturday schedule for the rest of New Year’s Day.

The bus will also offer free service from the new Centennial Hills Park and Ride lot on Grand Montecito Parkway, near Durango Drive and Elkhorn Road. The buses will go from the lot to downtown Las Vegas from 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 4 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Because of the closure of the Strip, the double-decker Deuce service will only run on Las Vegas Boulevard from downtown to Sahara Avenue.

In addition, routes 105 (Martin L. King), 108 (Paradise) 116 (Koval/Industrial) and 207 (Alta/Steward) will have detours during the street’s closure.

Celebrations on the Strip officially end at 1 a.m., when cleaning crews move in to get the road reopened by 4 a.m.

The Fremont Street Experience will have restrictions as well on New Year’s Eve.

The pedestrian street will close at 5 p.m. Gates to enter a party, which costs $10 for locals and $20 for out-of-towners, open at 6 p.m.

New Years Eve also brings tighter restrictions for minors and drinkers on the Strip and in downtown.

City and county ordinances ban cans and bottles on the Strip and in downtown areas from 6 p.m. Dec 31 to 5 a.m. Jan. 1.

Metro also asks partygoers not to carry large backpacks or other bags that could carry cans or bottles.

A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under the age of 18 from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the Strip.

Don't Drink and Drive

Drunken revelers have several options for getting home safely this new year.

The Regional Transportation Commission will offer free bus rides along its regular bus routes from 6 p.m. today until 9 a.m. New Year's Day.

The Designated Drivers program makes sure both inebriated drivers and their vehicles get home safely. It's free over the New Year's Eve holiday. The program's number is 456-RIDE (7433).

And AAA Nevada will pour you into a tow truck cab and haul your vehicle home.

The ride is free for the first five miles; after that drivers must pay the company's regular towing fee, which varies.

The service is offered from 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. New Year's Day. Its number is 800-222-HELP (4357).

If none of these options appeal to you, there's always a cab.

DON'T SHOOT, EITHER

North Las Vegas police are again promising stepped-up enforcement of firearms laws to reduce celebratory gunfire meant to ring in the New Year.

It's part of the city's "What Goes Up Must Come Down" campaign.

Additional officers will be on patrol tonight, with some specifically assigned to respond to gunfire calls.

The extra officers are necessary to "reduce this reckless behavior before someone is seriously injured or killed," Police Chief Joe Forti said.

Residents should call 911 if they see someone firing a gun and can help police pinpoint the shooter's location. But refrain from reporting "possible gunfire" because those noises often turn out to be fireworks, police said.

With New Year's Eve kicking off a long-holiday weekend this year, it was announced that firework displays will return to famed Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Events and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority  announced today that the New Year’s Eve celebration known as America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2010 will include a spectacular fireworks show fired from seven rooftop locations along the Las Vegas Strip.

The firing locations (from the south, heading north) include the following resort properties:  MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island (TI), Venetian and the Stratosphere. 

Fireworks by Grucci of New York will again coordinate the pyrotechnic display.   Locally, Fireworks by Grucci has produced many of Las Vegas’ largest special events and grand openings, including the official Las Vegas Centennial celebration.

 In addition to designing the pyrotechnic display, Fireworks by Grucci will work directly with the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services to ensure both fire and structural safety guidelines.

“We are moving the fireworks show back to where it should be,” said LVE President Pat Christenson.  “Fireworks by Grucci, the Clark County Fire Department and Building Services and the individual resort properties have worked tirelessly since January of this year to address the fire and structural safety issues associated with firing the show from the rooftops.  Our goal each year is to design a show that is befitting of this city and provides a great backdrop for the thousands of revelers on the Strip.”

According to the LVCVA, Las Vegas hosts several hundred thousand visitors for New Year’s Eve.  

"Las Vegas continues to be the best venue in the world to ring in the New Year," said Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the LVCVA. "The fireworks will culminate an evening of celebrity-hosted events at nightclubs, special dining experiences at restaurants, live music at the Fremont Street Experience downtown and much more.  There is no other destination that offers the excitement on New Year's Eve."

The pyrotechnic show will display the letters LV along with such effects as blue comets, a golden kamuro, silver palm trees and multicolored peacock tails.

The New Year’s show, which will last 7 minutes, 11 seconds, will feature about 96,000 aerial bursts launched from the rooftops of seven casinos along the Strip.

If you are going to Las Vegas for the holiday weekend and need show tickets, click here:  Las Vegas Show Tickets

Downtown, the Fremont Street Experience party will feature "TributePalooza," a collection of classic rock acts playing the music of Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen. FSE will also have a live fireworks show. The event begins at 6 p.m. and there is a $10 charge for locals. The event was free last year.

"It's a nominal fee. It won't break anybody," Goodman said. "The priority is to have a great party."

Las Vegas' famed Fremont Street Experience is ready for a rockin' New Year's 2010 Weekend celebration with its 2nd Annual TributePalooza.  The spectacular New Year's Eve includes live concerts by eight of the world's best tribute bands, a 2009 year-in-review show on the Viva Vision screen, followed by a countdown to midnight with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and then Fireworks by Grucci under the canopy choreographed to virtual fireworks on Viva Vision.

TributePalooza bands will deliver performances emulating classic favorites Aerosmith, Depeche Mode, Guns N' Roses, INXS, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, U2 and Van Halen.  Plus, there will be a live stage show, Jimi Hendrix and the Psychedelic Ride.

New Year's Eve is the only day of the year with ticketed admission to Fremont Street Experience. Wristbands are $10 for locals with valid Nevada ID and $20 for out-of-state visitors.  Fremont Street Experience is restricted to persons 21 and over on New Year’s Eve.  Wristbands can be purchased in advance by calling 702-678-5600.

The street will be packed with action while the giant Viva Vision screen dazzles with a light-and-sound extravaganza 90 feet above the street.  The five blocks of the fabulous Fremont Street Experience, home to 10 legendary casinos, will be transformed into the biggest private party in Las Vegas, with upwards of 30,000 people in attendance.

Revelers are invited to celebrate the dawn of a new decade in true Las Vegas fashion at the city’s one-stop outdoor entertainment venue.  The night will be filled with music as the eight ultimate tribute bands will provide continuous live concerts on both 1st Street and 3rd Street stages from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m.  The performance schedule is as follows:
 
6 - 7:15 p.m.
INXS-IVE (INXS) – 1st Street Stage                                                            
The Joshua Tree (U2) – 3rd Street Stage                                    
 
7:30 - 8:45 p.m.
Blasphemous Rumours (Depeche Mode) – 1st Street Stage                        
Fan Halen (Van Halen) – 3rd Street Stage                        

9:15 - 10:30 p.m.
No Duh (No Doubt) – 1st Street Stage
Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin) – 3rd Street Stage            

10:00 -11:15 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.
Jimi Hendrix and the Psychedelic Ride Main Street Stage            

11,11:45 p.m. and 12:15-1 a.m.
Aeromyth (Aerosmith) 1st Street Stage
Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses) – 3rd Street Stage
 
The New Year's Eve celebration at the Fremont Street Experience brings crowds of partygoers to Downtown Las Vegas every year and has become a tradition for visitors and locals alike.  Fremont Street Experience continues the 2010 launch party throughout the holiday weekend with Rock `N Recovery free concerts on Friday, January 1 and Saturday, January 2. 

About 250,000 people are expected to be on the Strip, with more than 30,000 downtown.