New York, Ray Kelly, the New Year Eve 2011 Celebration,

As has happened more than a century as the age ticks into history, a large crowd will gather on Friday night in Times Square in New York for the old and new with the descent of a ball icon.
The glittering crystal ball begins its descent of 70 feet, at precisely 11:59 pm ET on the songs of the year-end revelers counting down the final seconds of 2010, according to the official website of the event. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Salvador A. Giunta is press a button to start the ball around the year 2011.
Weighing 11,875 pounds, with a diameter of 12 feet, the area is covered with 2,668 sparkling crystals triangular and is powered by 32,256 LED lights. By mixing elements of red, blue, green and white, the system of the ball of light is capable of producing a kaleidoscopic range of 16 million tones and colors, and billions of patterns, the event's website he says.
Every New Year's giant component number "2-0-1-1" will stand 7 feet high and the numbers to use a total of 9 453 watt LED bulbs. As in the past three years, the numbers were designed to be more energy efficient, as Duracell establish a laboratory in which visitors mounted on stationary bikes to provide the energy stored in batteries to light the numbers on the ball Friday night.
More than one ton of confetti will be released at midnight, with individual personal wishes written in over 25 languages, a tradition for the past three years.

Times Square has been one of the most popular New Year's parties since 1904, although the year-end ball made its inaugural fall by the flagpole at One Times Square in 1907. That first ball, constructed of iron and wood, contained one hundred bulbs and was designed by Jacob Starr, a young immigrant metalworker.
The ball end of the year has fallen beams and every year since with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943, when America was embroiled in World War II and New York throughout the city observed a "dim-out" to reduce energy costs.
According to Police Commissioner of New York, Ray Kelly, the New Year celebration, as in recent years, is a product of hard work and planning by many people.
"Do not always assume," said Kelly. "The situation changes a bit, have some sort of master plan, but always add to it or modify it. - Do not want to get caught in a rut where you just make a plan off the shelf"
As in previous years, security will be tight. Times Square will be closed to traffic at approximately 3 pm on Friday. Backpacks and alcohol are prohibited at the event and partygoers can expect an increased police presence in place, the statement of the police in New York.
"It's a complex, large and you know you always breathe a sigh of relief when it's over," said Kelly.