Live World Events: December 2012

Monday, 31 December 2012

New Orleans New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Webcams, Parties, Hotels

New Years parties in New Orleans live up to the partying image of this fabled city on the Mississippi River. The city is such a popular tourist attraction and is known for so many things that the NYE 2012 into 2013 New Years events in New Orleans will be only one part of the year-round party schedule. This is not to diminish New Years Eve in bayou country. It is as fun and crazy as anywhere else in the world and has a decidedly Mardi Gras feel. Many head for the Crescent City Countdown. Though Bourbon Street bars do booming business day and night, official celebrations take place in Jackson Square and as an alternative to the classic ball drop, a nine-foot fleur de lis descends at the Jax Brewery building, after which, fireworks explode over the Mississippi.

One of the biggest New Orleans New Years Eve events is the Street Party in the French Quarter. There is a fireworks display at midnight and all of the clubs and bars in the districts open early and stay open late. As you might imagine a throng of people descend upon the French Quarter to ring in the holiday and take New Years photos of the show. As such, be prepared for congestion. This is the meeting place for one of the largest New Years parties in New Orleans. Rather than attempting to take a car into the chaos, opt for public transport or a taxi. Besides the many New Years parties in New Orleans that take place in luxury hotels and restaurants, and inside bars and homes, several popular events open to the general public are a great option. The Street Party is one of the best in the city.

For another flavor of the city on the big night head down to Decatur Street in front of Jackson Square for the NOLA New Year’s Eve celebration. Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It is also the site for one of this year’s most festive celebrations. With a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River, the streets will be reminiscent of Mardi Gras: full of street performers, live music, Cajun cuisine.

Chicago New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream Webcams, Events, NYE Parties, Hotels

For 2013, Soul Asylum are set to headline Chicago's longest-running New Year's Eve party, the Rock 'N' Roll Ball.

For New Years Eve December 31 2012 there are two shows in Chicago, an earlier show perfect for families and a Midnight Spectacular. Ring in 2013 at Navy Pier! Whether you are on the South Side, in the heart of downtown, or hanging out with friends on the North Side, you won't have to go far to find a New Years Eve party in Chicago. The whole city and far reaching suburbs will be alive and well when it comes time to usher in the new year. In downtown Chicago, Navy Pier is among the top draws for tourists, and locals alike, who find the strip's eclectic nature extremely welcoming. Stretching out into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier affords visitors an amazing view back on the city's impressive skyline. Between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. on December 31, Navy Pier will be the place where many will want to celebrate the Chicago New Years Eve with the Sears Tower and all of the other celebrated Chicago skyscrapers lit up in the near distance. It makes a great backdrop for memorable New Years images. Or Bundle up and head for Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, where Midnight fireworks cast their reflections onto Lake Michigan.

The Chicago New Years event at Navy Pier generally is held at The Crystal Gardens. You might want to get your tickets now for this affair, as only around 1800 people will be allowed to attend. The music here will be geared towards the younger crowd, and you must be at least 21 years old to enter. This big time Chicago New Years Eve party will feature a DJ, a Stefani Signature Buffet, a full bar, a premium champagne midnight toast and a private terrace from which to take in the fireworks. Every year they seem to add extra bathrooms, which will surely find a welcome reception, and the party will supply guests with party favors. The atmosphere is bound to be a pretty lively one, especially upon the culmination of the countdown on the pier's ferris wheel. If you can't make it to this party, or are looking for another downtown New Years Eve party in Chicago, then you might consider the event taking place at the Chicago House of Blues. The party starts at 9 p.m. and lasts until 1 a.m. About 600 people are allowed in, so tickets will likely sell out fast. You can grab your drinks at the all night open bar and the midnight champagne toast will be followed by a breakfast buffet.

Cleveland New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, Cleveland Pops Concert, NYE Events, Webcam Streams

Cleveland is one of the top locations in Ohio for a New Years Eve party, with major events taking place including the midnight countdown and fireworks and the famous Cleveland Pops Orchestra concert in one of the finest concert spaces in the world the Severance Hall. Another big event is New Years Eve At The Agora Hookah And Rumpke at Agora Theatre & Ballroom.

Atlantic City New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, Events, Boardwalk Party NYE Webcam Stream

Atlantic City always lives up to it's reputation as the party capital of the US eastern seaboard, and New Years Eve provides the perfect opportunity for the city to demonstrate its credentials. The celebrations for 2013 will have a particular poignancy as the residents will be looking to demonstrate that their spirit hasn't been dimmed by the devastation caused by the recent Hurricane Sandy. Repairs to the iconic boardwalk will continue apace with the city hoping to be back on its feet in time for the new year.

Top parties are always in plentiful supply, and this year's key events include Mary J. Blige performing at Caesars Palace, Wale at the famous and always popular Showboat House of Blues, The Goo Goo Dolls live on stage, also at Caesars and Gladys Knight bringing some class and star quality to proceedings at the Tropicana.

For the spectacular midnight fireworks, the party crowd leaves the casinos and traditionally heads for the Boardwalk, where the festivities will continue well into the night. The most popular way to get around Atlantic City is on the 4-mile long Boardwalk (the oldest in the United States), as eight of the eleven casinos are on the Boardwalk. While one's feet are the most popular way of navigating the boards, there are also old-fashioned rolling chairs that can be hired. These shaded surreys are rolled up and down the length of the Boardwalk by experienced guides.

Taxicabs are plentiful throughout the city. The easiest way to get a cab is to call a local service, go to a a taxi queue outside of any casino, or visit drop-off points at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The maximum cost for a taxi ride within city limits for up to five passengers is $13, not including tip. One can also travel between the casinos along Pacific Avenue, which runs parallel to the Boardwalk 1 block inland, aboard the Atlantic City Jitney, a fleet of minibuses that run 24 hours a day; the fare is $2.25 The baby-blue and upcoming green versions also run to the Marina section of the city, where the Trump Marina, Borgata, Water Club and Harrah's casinos are located.

Top attractions to look out for include The Water Show at The Pier Shops at Caesars, Atlantic City Aquarium at the Ocean Life Center, Absecon Lighthouse and the plethora of Atlantic City Shows - Atlantic City has grown to be one of the north east's main stops for all large concerts and tours, with Boardwalk Hall being a great place to see a live show.

Key West New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream Webcams, Florida Keys NYE Parties

The Florida Keys always attract large numbers of visitors on New Years Eve with the promise of warm weather and clear skies providing the option to see in the New Year on the beach, and watch the midnight fireworks outdoors without needing to worry about wearing a coat! One of the most spectacular displays, the Islamorada fireworks are displayed over the Atlantic Ocean and can be seen from shore.

Elsewhere on The Keys, Southernmost City on Key West celebrates New Year's Eve with a conch shell drop at Sloppy Joe's Bar, the famous and controversial "wench" drop at Schooner Wharf Bar, and red high heel drop with drag queen Sushi at Bourbon Street Pub/New Orleans House. Key West's Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is an everyday affair that combines the natural beauty of Florida's sunsets with a carnival-type celebration.

Miami New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Webcams, Parties, Hotels

Downtown Miami plays host to the biggest and most spectacular display of fireworks on the water in South Florida as 2012 makes way for the New Year 2012. Yachts from all over Miami anchor around the fireworks platform while surrounded by the ever expanding and brightly lit skyline of Downtown Miami and Brickell in the near background. New Year’s Eve in Miami Beach will be a dazzling spectacle of fireworks, music and magic attracting people from all over the world who are determined to celebrate in a city where the weather, the people and the party spots are always hot. Kick off the day in Coconut Grove with the whimsical 30th annual King Mango Strut Parade, a parody of traditional holiday parades that serves to spoof on the year’s major news and players.

For the largest free New Year’s party in south Florida, head to Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. There you’ll be joined by around 250,000 others to witness the ascent of the 35-ft smiley-faced neon icon ‘Big Orange’, as it creeps up the side of the Intercontinental Hotel over a six hour period, followed by a massive fireworks display over Biscayne Bay. Bayfront Park is a 32-acre (13 ha) public, urban park in Downtown Miami, Florida on Biscayne Bay.

The Bayfront Park Amphitheater has a seating capacity of 10,000 people: 2,672 fixed benches and 7,328 in the lawn. The Tina Hills Pavilion is an open air pavilion with a seating capacity of 1,000 people: 200 fixed seats and 800 in the lawn. Bayfront Park is bordered on the north by Bayside Marketplace and the American Airlines Arena, on the south by Chopin Plaza, on the west by Biscayne Boulevard and on the east by Biscayne Bay. Bayfront Park is host to many large events such as the New Year's ball drop, Christmas celebrations, concerts, the Bayfront Park Amphitheater, the Tina Hills Pavilion, as well as boat tours around Biscayne Bay.

Baltimore New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, NYE Events, Webcam Stream, Parties, Hotels

The New Year's Eve Spectacular is Baltimore's iconic New Year event, and the party to welcome in 2013 promises to be as energetic as ever. The midnight fireworks display is centred on the city's Inner Harbour, and is preceded by live music and entertainment at the famous Inner Harbor Amphitheater. Away from the fireworks, the biggest crowds will be heading to the Big Night Baltimore party, held annually at The Sheraton hotel in Baltimore City Center. For fans of popular culture, NYE 2013 also sees a performance by Louis C.K at the Baltimore Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Toronto New Years Eve Fireworks 2013 Live Stream, NYE Webcams, Parties, Hotels

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America. Toronto is at the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and is part of a densely populated region in Southern Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe.

New Years parties in Toronto are spread out throughout the city and are celebrated in a host of different ways. Toronto Canada is a diverse city that has adopted the varied cultural traditions of the many different groups of people that call it home, and so Toronto New Years events are as varied as the groups who live there. Whether you choose to attend a 2012-2013 Toronto New Years Eve party with the general public or at an intimate restaurant or luxury hotel, there is an option for everyone.

Nathan Phillips Square has perhaps the biggest Toronto New Years Eve party. This gala event includes a number of stages where renowned international pop acts perform to help ring in the New Year in grand fashion. Masses of people crowd Nathan Phillips Square for this alcohol-free event. If you like to have a glass of champagne in your hand as you celebrate New Years Eve then this may not be the ideal event for you.

Alexandria First Night 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, New Years Eve Parties, Events, Hotels

New Years Eve parties in Washington DC are some of the best on the East Coast. Of course when people think of New Years celebrations, Times Square in New York City inevitably jumps into their minds. However, there are plenty of other top-notch celebrations that go on around the country, and Washington DC is one of the best. Celebrating New Years in Washington DC provides the added bonus of seeing spectacular fireworks launched over top of the United States's most significant national monuments. The sight of fireworks blasted into the sky with the Lincoln Memorial, U.S. Capitol Building, or the Washington Monument in the background is amazing. People at DC New Years parties get a sense of patriotism as they see the backdrop for this unique fireworks display.

A little further afield, many people head to Alexandria for the fireworks display. First Night Alexandria is a family oriented, non-alcohol New Year's Eve celebration held on December 31 at dozens of venues throughout historic Old Town Alexandria.

First Night Boston 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, New Years Eve Webcams, arties, NYE Events

Boston is one of over 60 US cities nationwide to celebrate First Night, a non-alcohol family-friendly New Year's Celebration, generally featuring performing artists, community events, parades, and fireworks displays to celebrate the New Year. First Night in Boston is the country’s oldest and largest New Year’s Eve celebration of local arts. The day-long, family-friendly event provides an alcohol-free outlet for all ages, complete with music, dance, ice sculptures, fireworks, and more to welcome the start of the New Year of 2013. First Night’s traditional activities include a Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center, a Grand Procession down Boylston Street, colossal ice sculptures that dot the city’s landscape, and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.

First Night 2013 in Beantown will feature hundreds of artists in exhibitions and performances throughout more than 35 locations throughout Boston, including the Arlington Street Church, Museum of Science, Copley Square, the Improv Asylum, and many more. A 12-minute display will light up the Boston sky at midnight. For best viewing, make your way to Boston Harbor, or to the Boston Common ball field for a front-row seat.

The city of Boston knows how to ring in the New Year with a bang, and as the downtown club district comes alive at night, the hottest clubs in the city celebrate with their own Boston New Years events. With the amount of outdoor festivities and fireworks happening in and around the city, the best nightclubs host their own Boston New Years celebrations. No matter what you're looking for this New Years Eve, Boston has it. The Boston club scene is continually becoming one of the hottest places to party in the New England area, drawing many visitors to the city during the holiday season.

New York New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Times Square Webcams, NYC Parties, Hotels

Times Square is the site of the annual New Year's Eve ball drop. On December 31, 1907, a ball signifying New Year's Day was first dropped at Times Square, and the Square has held the main New Year's celebration in New York City ever since. On that night, hundreds of thousands of people congregate to watch the Waterford Crystal ball being lowered on a pole atop the building (though not to the street, as is a common misconception), marking the new year. Rapper Jay Z, Chris Martin and his band Coldplay will welcome the New Year onstage at the Barclays Center in New York.

New York is famous for it's lavish New Year's parties, and 2012 will be no different, with events including Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Big Apple Circus, Jersey Boys, New York Philharmonic - New Years Eve Bernstein and Gershwin at Avery Fisher Hall, Avicci at Pier 94, Armin Van Buuren with an NYE show at Pier 36 and many more. Phish will be playing at Madison Square Garden in New York from December 28th-31st.

Rio de Janeiro New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Webcams, Parties, Hotels

In Brazil's Rio de Janeiro the Ano Novo celebration, also known in Brazilian Portuguese by the French word Reveillon, is one of Brazil's main holidays, and officially marks the beginning of the summer holidays, that usually end by Carnival (analogous to Memorial Day and Labor Day in the United States).

Brazilians traditionally have a copious meal with family or friends at home, in restaurants or private clubs, and consume alcoholic beverages. They usually dress in white, to bring good luck into the new year. Fireworks and eating grapes or lentils are some of the customs associated with the holiday. The beach at Copacabana (in Portuguese: Praia de Copacabana) in Rio de Janeiro is regarded as the location of one of the best fireworks displays in the world at New Year.

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Dublin New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Parties, Webcams, Hotels

A New Year’s Eve festival in Dublin on 31 December 2012 and 1 January 2013 will mark the official start of The Gathering Ireland 2013. There will be fireworks over Georgian Dublin, a torch-lit procession and a concert.

Dublin is a great city to visit any time of the year, but it’s a magical place at Christmas and the New Year. Many Dubliners will ring in the New Year 2012 to the sound of the Christchurch Bells which will be heard ringing throughout the entire city at midnight. This is a big tradition in Dublin city centre where hundreds of people flock to Christchurch Cathedral to hear the tolling of these famous bells.

Other New Year's events include The Lord Mayors New Years Day Parade. This fun and entertaining parade hosts some fantastic marching bands from home and abroad. The parade starts off on Parnell Street (just north of O’Connell St,), makes its way up through Dublin’s main thoroughfare O' Connell Street where all the acts stop and perform for Dublin’s Lord Mayor.

Edinburgh New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream NYE Webcams, Hogmanay Street Party, Concert

Edinburgh's 2013 Hogmanay celebrations will be headlined by Simple Minds with their front man Jim Kerr - one of Scotland's most successful ever bands.

Hogmanay in Edinburgh for New Years Eve 2012 into New Year 2013 features the usual high octane street party. A new addition this year is the chance to see in 2013 in style at the The Keilidh, the outdoor ceilidh experience set within an exclusive area of the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. There is also the famous Concert in the Gardens, a music event set beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, welcoming the New Year with a headline music artist, (to be announced) very special guests and the famous Edinburgh's Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks.

Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is, however, normally only the start of a celebration which lasts through the night until the morning of New Year's Day (1 January) or, in some cases, 2 January which is a Scottish Bank Holiday.

London New Years Eve Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Webcams, Events, Parties, Hotels

For many years, revellers celebrating the start of a New Year have gathered on Trafalgar square, despite a lack of civic celebrations being arranged for them. The lack of official events in the square was partly because the authorities were concerned that actively encouraging more partygoers would cause overcrowding.

Since 2005, a firework display centred on London Eye and the South Bank of the Thames near the Square has given spectators a fitting start to the New Year.

Munich New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, Bavaria NYE Events, Hotels, Webcam Streams

Silvester or New years Eve in Munich is a major event, with locals and visitors alike heading uot to enjoy the street parties and watch the firework displays. Popular locations to watch the fireworks include Englischer Garten, close to the Monopteros, the Bayerischer Hof and Tollwood. Many Munich residents gather around the Friedensengel peace angel to get a unique view from the hill looking down on Prinzregentenstrasse. The spot's popularity, however, can often mean overwhelming crowds. From the top of Olympiaberg, spectators will not miss a single firecracker with a wide panoramic view.

Another good reason to spend New Year in Munich is the Tollwood New Year's Eve Party on the Theresienwiese. A whole host of DJs and live bands accompany the traditional midnight waltzing. The Olympic Park is also very popular on New Year's Eve. The Marienplatz in Munich is still the heart of the fireworks- and party-lovers who want to celebrate in central Munich’s old town. Only a few places in Munich let you be “closer” to the fireworks.

New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, Events, Parties, NYE Hotels, Webcam Streams

New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, Events, Parties, NYE Hotels, Webcam Streams

As we look to bring in the New Year and welcome 2013, here are some of the world's best locations to be this New Year's Eve, with live streams of the firework displays and top music performances, you can have a great time even if you can't make it there in person!

With locations including New York, London, Paris, Milan, Edinburgh, Dublin, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Sydney, Phuket, Boston, Chicago, Barcalona, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Berlin, Dubai, the list goes on and on, you can celebrate New Year over and over again with the time zones... keep the champagne flowing.

You can also keep up to date with some of the celebs out this new year like Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, PSY etc

Where ever your are and what ever you decide to do, have a wonderful New Year.

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Milan New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Webcams, Parties, Hotels

La Festa di San Silvestro is celebrated December 31 on New Year's Eve. Huge midnight fireworks displays celebrate the coming of the new year. Most towns have public displays in a central square but private parties will also include firecrackers or sparklers, too, and will continue for a long time. Dancing is also popular and many towns have public music and dancing before the fireworks. Rome, Milan, Bologna, Palermo and Naples put on huge popular outdoor shows with pop and rock bands. These events can sometimes be seen on television, too.

A great way to spend the New Year in Milan is at the Piazza Castello and the Piazza del Duomo. With the gorgeous cathedral as the backdrop, people come here to dance and enjoy live music with friends. The celebration lasts all night and fireworks are set off as people wish each other a Happy New Year. This is perhaps the largest of all the New Years parties in Milan. There is also a fireworks display and celebration that takes place at Castello Sforzesco.

Vienna New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Concerts, Events, Hotels

In Austria, New Year's Eve is usually celebrated with friends and family. At exactly midnight, all radio and television programmes operated by ORF broadcast the sound of the Pummerin (bell of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna), and right after that the "Donauwalzer" ("The Blue Danube") by Johann Strauss II is played, which many people dance to at parties or on the street. Large crowds gather on the streets of Vienna, where the municipal government organises a series of stages from which bands and orchestras play music. Fireworks are set off both by ordinary people and the municipal governments.

Istanbul New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream Webcams, NYE Events Parties, Hotels

If you plan to spend New Year's Eve 2012 to welcome in the New Year 2013 in Istanbul there are many choices for activities to join for new years eve night. Many people choose to join on the many popular Istanbul New Years Eve Bosphorus Dinner Cruises, where you have the ideal vantage point to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks after the traditional countdown midnight. Celebrations usually last until dawn and many people use the day off on January 1 to relax and visit friends and relatives.

Istanbul has thirty-nine districts administered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (MMI). The district of Fatih, which includes the neighborhood and former district of Eminönü, is among the most central of these, residing on the historic peninsula south of the Golden Horn. The district corresponds to what was until the Ottoman conquest the whole of the city, across from which stood the Genoese citadel of Galata in the late Byzantine era. Those Genoese fortifications were largely demolished in the 19th century, leaving only the Galata Tower, to make way for northward expansion of the city. Galata is now a part of the Beyoğlu district, which forms Istanbul's commercial and entertainment center and includes İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square.

Sea transport is vital for Istanbul, as the city is practically surrounded by sea on all sides: the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Many Istanbul people live on the Asian side of the city but work on the European side (or vice-versa) and the city's famous commuter ferries form the backbone of the daily transition between the two parts of the city, even more so than the two suspension bridges that span the Bosphorus. The commuter ferries, along with the high speed catamaran Seabus (Deniz Otobüsü), also form the main connection between the city and the Princes' Islands.

There are many night clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music in the city. The night clubs, restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer. The areas around Istiklal Avenue, Nişantaşı, Bebek and Kadıköy offer all sorts of cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs as well as art galleries, theaters and cinemas. Babylon and Nu Pera in Beyoğlu are popular night clubs both in the summer and in the winter.

Barcelona New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, NYE Parties, Webcams Stream, Events, Hotels

In recent years Barcelona has been the place to be for the best New Years Eve parties - the options are vast from beach parties, street celebrations, clubbing and fine dining. At midnight to mark the end of 2012 and beginning of 2013 the church bells ring 12 times and with each chime you are supposed to eat a grape – at best on one of Barcelona's many places. This will bring you luck for the new year.

If you want to celebrate outside, you could go to Plaza Catalunya which is mostly crowded. People countdown and celebrate the beginning of the New Year and a lot of foreigners go here too. Alternatively, instead of checking out the fireworks Barcelona, you can check out Torre Agbar. This futuristic building will be lit with a special light show welcoming 2013.

Paris New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Webcams, Parties, Hotels

New Years Eve in Paris to mark the end of 2012 and start of 2012\3 will be marked by a spectacular light show centred on the Eiffel Tower. This replaces the more traditional pyrocechnic fireworks display. As well as this there will also be the usual festivities and street party on the Champs Elysees. The French call New Year's Eve "la Saint-Sylvestre". It is usually celebrated with a feast called le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre (also called Cap d'Any in Northern Catalonia). This feast customarily includes special dishes like foie gras , seafood such as oysters and drinks like champagne. The celebration can be a simple, intimate dinner with friends and family or a much fancier ball (une soirée dansante).

On le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day), friends and family exchange New Year's resolutions kisses and wishes, the main ones being "Bonne Année", Bonheur, Sante, Amour, Argent ("Good Year", Happiness, Health, Love and Money). Some people eat desserts made of ice cream. As well as the famous fireworks, there is a large parade that takes place for two days around New Years. The parade starts in nearby Chantilly and ends near the Trocadero (under the Eiffel Tower) on January 1. The parade includes thousands of performers, singers, dancers, and street entertainers that wind their way through the streets of Paris.

Top places to head in the city on New Years Eve include Arc de Triomphe monument at the center of the Place de l'Étoile, Centre Georges-Pompidou, hosting the Paris Museum of Modern Art, The Eiffel Tower, Flame of Liberty, The Grand Palais, Montmartre, Notre Dame de Paris and the Parc de la Villette, hosting the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie.

Berlin New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Parties, Webcams, Hotels

To celebrate NYE 2012-2013 Berlin is throwing what the locals like to call the world’s largest New Years Eve open air party. Live bands, DJs, the famous countdown to midnight and the huge fireworks display will once again attract hundreds of thousands of guests from all over the world to the Brandenburg Gate. The party mile runs from the Brandenburg Gate along Strasse des 17. Juni up to the Victory Column (Siegessäule). A two-kilometre-long party with show stages, international stars and stage acts, special highlights, laser and light shows. Last year around one million people joined in the party and more are expected this year. The big club party this year is Odyssee 2013, a New Years Eve electronic music and arts festival held at The old Kindl brewery Neukölln.

A laser show and fireworks will be fired to add to the celebrations taking place as the ball drops confirming midnight and the start to a New Year which promises to be eventful.

Abu Dhabi New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live, Events, Parties, Coldplay Concert NYE Webcam Streams

Traditionally Muslim Arabs do not celebrate new year according to the Gregorian calendar, but with a large expat community in the

United Arab Emirates

, Abu Dhabi, as well as Dubai, tends to make the exception with a series of spectacular fireworks displays. The major hotels and restaurants often hold gala dinner parties and celebrate with firework displays. Top hotels in Abu Dhabi include the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa, Fairmont Bab al Bahr, Desert Islands Resort and Spa, Al Raha Beach Hotel, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel, Park Hyatt Abu DhabiHotel and Villas, Beach Rotana Hotel And Towers, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, The Yas Hotel and Kempinski Emirates Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi.

Moscow New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream Red Square, Webcams, NYE Events, Hotels

Red Square is the site of the main new Year's Eve celebrations for residents of Moscow and across Russia, with a massive and spectacular fireworks display taking place at midnight and associated events throughout the day.

The buildings surrounding the Square are all significant in some respect. Lenin's Mausoleum, for example, contains the embalmed body of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union. Nearby to the south is the elaborate brightly-domed Saint Basil's Cathedral and the palaces and cathedrals of the Kremlin.

Auckland New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Events, Sky Tower Parties, Hotels

Legendary New Zealand funk rockers Supergroove will be performing live at SKYCITY this New Year’s Eve! They will be supported by Greg Churchill and Timmy Schumacher.

Auckland will welcome 2013 fireworks displays at two coordinated pyrotechnic displays, one from Sky City's Sky Tower and another from two barges anchored on the Waitemata Harbour. Vantage points include Mount Eden, Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, Orakei, Mt Victoria, Devonport. Gates at these vantage points will be closed to vehicles but people can walk into the parks to see the fireworks.

For pre-fireworks dining options, Auckland has a huge variety of bars, takeways and restaurants offering a range of cuisines from pretty much anywhere in the world. Places to try our for your New Years Eve dinner include White at The Hilton, offering a set menu at $165 per person, Kermadec Fine Dining Restaurant, Peter Gordon's Dine or Clooney, where house specialities such as Ostrich Carpaccio, roasted duck breast, or a scrumptious snapper fillet can be yours for only $130 per person.

If you're looking for somewhere to stay after the party then the local hotels to tend to be a little pricey throughout the holiday period, but if you have the budget then popular hotels include the iconic SKYCITY Grand Hotel, The Langham Hotel, Manor House Hotel or Hotel DeBrett. Most of these locations will also be hosting their own parties too, so that's always worth checking out before you commit to a separate restaurant - might help you to save a few dollars on the taxi fares home.

Bangkok New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, Events, NYE Party, Hotels

New Years Eve celebrations in Bangkok are always massive, and 2013 looks to be no exception. There are often public countdowns at the major shopping centers. All hotels and restaurants will offer special meals for NYE, sometimes with live entertainment, and of course massive spectacular fireworks displays along the river. The biggest of countdown event in Bangkok happens in front of CentralWorld Square. CentralWorld is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand It is the third largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana. With several hundred thousand revellers expected to attend. For some lively nightlife before the fireworks, the clubs and bars at RCA, Silom or Khao San Road will be heaving with party crowds.

Finding a great vantage point to watch the fireworks can be an issue in a city of the sheer scale of Bangkok, so it's definitely worth giving some thought to spending the evening at one of the restaurants or hotels that have a roof garden to offer an ideal viewing platform. most popular options include Red Sky at Centara Grand, Vertigo at Banyan Tree Bangkok, Nest Rooftop Lounge or Sirocco at Lebua at State Tower, all of which are offering luxurious set menus and parties.

Bangkok has a huge and almost bewildering range of hotels and guest houses offering a bed for the night, and although New Years Eve does tend to attract a price premium you shouldn't have too many problems finding somewhere to stay to pretty much any budget. The InterContinental Bangkok is always a popular choice, as is the Hansar Bangkok.

Other popular NYE locations in Bangkok include Sanam Luang, Bed Supperclub, The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and The Deck by The River, where the major fireworks over the Chao Phraya can be viewed. Other cities along the Chao Phraya include Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut Prakan, listed from north to south. These cities are among the most historically significant and densely populated settlements of Thailand precisely because of their access to the waterway, with Bangkok alone having a population of over 12 million. Further afield in Thailand, beach locations such as Pattaya, Koh Samui and Phuket are always popular with visitors at New Years Eve.

Hong Kong New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream Webcams, Events, NYE Parties, Hotels

Hong Kong New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream Webcams, Events, NYE Parties, Hotels

In Hong Kong on New Years Eve, the people usually get together in Central, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui to celebrate and to look at thenight lights along the harbor. The Times Square shopping mall in Hong Kong also holds their own send-off to the ball drop held at TimesSquare in New York City. The celebration had been extended to other districts such as Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Mong Kok and Kwun Tong by district-wide celebration activities.

From Year 2008, for the last 60 seconds before entering the next year (23:59:00), 60-sec numerical countdown by LED lights with pyrotechnic display effects on the facade of Two International Finance Centre was launched, followed by special firework display of A Symphony of Lights. On New Year’s Day in Hong Kong there’s a Technicolor night parade, while stellar fireworks and holiday horse races are slated for Day 2 and 3 respectively.

For 2013, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will mount its most extravagant, most dazzling display ever with the launch of the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations on December 31 moments before midnight. To ensure global audiences can share in the excitement of spectators in Hong Kong, the HKTB will provide satellite feed of the entire event for use by television broadcasters worldwide.

This year, the HKTB will add new visual effects to its already dazzling pyrotechnics, including numeric patterns for the countdown. The combination of colourful patterns and movements atop Hong Kong's iconic skyscrapers will symbolise a soaring dragon, set to light up the spectacular, world-famous Victoria Harbour.

Tokyo New Years Eve 2013 Fireworks Live Stream, NYE Webcams, Parties, Events, Hotels

In Japan, New Year's Eve is a preparation day to welcome Toshigami, the New Year's god. Therefore, traditionally, people clean their home and prepare Kadomatsu and/or Shimenawa to welcome the god before New Year's Eve.

Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight. This tradition is called joya no kane which means "bell rings on new year eve's night." The rings represent 108 elements of bonō, defilements, or Kilesa in Sanskrit, which is said people have in their mind. The bells are rung to repent 108 of the bonnō.

A popular TV show on New Year's Eve in Japan is Red and White Year-end Song Festival. Kōhaku Uta Gassen is a 60-year-old tradition involving a singing contest between male and female teams of celebrity singers.

Many people celebrate at New Years parties in Tokyo in locations all around this bustling city. Places like Disneyland in Tokyo have spectacular celebrations that draw throngs of people to enjoy the rides, shows, and other entertainment, and of course the fireworks display, it's the source of some of the best New Years images you'll ever see. New Years Tokyo style can also mean having a big party, and many are thrown around the city. There are countdown parties like the massive one at Universal Studios in Osaka as well as the Huis Ten Bosch countdown party.

You could also choose to watch the fireworks at Ikebukuro Sunshine City. People gather here at this tallest observatory in Tokyo watch fireworks and countdown to the New Years 2012 on New Years Eve. The next day the observatory opens at 5:30 a.m. should you so desire to make your first wish for the new year be one with an inspirational vista of Tokyo as your backdrop. The famous Tokyo Tower also hosts a massive party that is open to the general public. Fireworks are shot off at midnight and a limited number (only 80 people) get to watch the sunrise from the observatory deck of the tower, which is actually taller than the Eiffel Tower after which it is modeled.

Melbourne New Years Eve Fireworks 2013 Live Stream, Yarra Park NYE Webcams, Events, Parties

Melbourne on New Year's Eve will come alive with live music and performances, a massive lighting and projections program and, of course, fireworks. To herald the new year, the City of Melbourne is presenting two dazzling fireworks displays. The popular family precinct at Yarra Park surrounding the MCG returns from 6pm - 10pm. Waterfront City entertainment kicks off at 7pm and runs until 1am. For 2013, the city council has cancelled the 9.30pm New Year's Eve fireworks at Docklands over fears children would be overrun by party-goers entering the city. Fireworks will still be held at Yarra Park at 9.30pm.

Family Fireworks at 9.30pm, fireworks will launch into the sky above Yarra Park surrounding the MCG. Midnight Fireworks Melbourne’s midnight fireworks display will be launched from city rooftops and at Victoria Harbour, Docklands. Since the mid-1990s, Melbourne has maintained significant population and employment growth. There has been substantial international investment in the city's industries and property market. Major inner-city urban renewal has occurred in areas such as Southbank, Port Melbourne, Melbourne Docklands and more recently, South Wharf. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Melbourne sustained the highest population increase and economic growth rate of any Australian capital city in the three years ended June 2004. These factors have led to population growth and further suburban expansion through the 2000s.

Melbourne is an international cultural centre, with cultural endeavours spanning major events and festivals, drama, musicals, comedy, music, art, architecture, literature, film and television. It was the second city after Edinburgh to be named a UNESCO City of Literature and has thrice shared top position in a survey by The Economist of the world's most liveable cities on the basis of a number of attributes which include its broad cultural offerings.

The city celebrates a wide variety of annual cultural events and festivals of all types, including the Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The Australian Ballet is based in Melbourne, as is the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Melbourne is the second home of Opera Australia after it merged with "Victoria State Opera" in 1996. The Victorian Opera had its inaugural season in 2006 and operates out of various venues in Melbourne.

Sydney New Years Eve Fireworks 2013 Live Stream, NYE Theme, Webcams, Events, Hotels

Sydney New Year's Eve is an annual multi-tiered event held every New Year's Eve over Sydney Harbour, centering on the Harbour Bridge. Its main features are the two pyrotechnic displays, the 9pm Family Fireworks and the Midnight Fireworks, both of which are televised nationally by current broadcaster the Nine Network. The 2012 - 2013 Sydney New Years Eve Theme is "time to dream", the reasons given as "Australia was built upon dreams. From the dreamings of past millennia to the dreams of recent settlers. Whether day or night-time, dreams are our minds in free-flow, uninhibited and reflecting what we truly aspire to. From little babies to old people, we all dream. New Year’s Eve is when fantasy and aspirations flow. A vision for the coming year, with designs on a better life. The moonstruck and lovestruck may dream of fulfilment. The stargazers dream of the worlds beyond ours"

Each year the event takes on a new theme and is regularly viewed by more than one million people at the harbour and one billion worldwide for the televised Midnight Fireworks. For the 2010–11 event, 1.5 million and 1.1 billion watched respectively The celebrations at The Rocks and Darling Harbour, and the Harbour Bridge fireworks for 2012 promise to be some of the biggest and most spectacular yet. For NYE 2012, the creative direction was handed over to Marc Newson and Imagination Australia. They have already announced a new 'After Midnight' initiative to promote businesses that are open after Midnight on New Year's Eve.

The main feature of the event are the two fireworks shows, the "9pm Family Fireworks" and the "Midnight Fireworks". The first pyrotechnic display however is apart of the "Indigenous Smoking Ceremony" segment held at 8:00pm where white smoke is fired from four barges. At 8:40 PM, red 'Falling Angels' are fired off four barges as well as the lighting of a line of red flare pyrotechnics off the catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of the 'Acknowledgement Of Country'. The famous 9 PM Family Fireworks occur after this featuring four barges, city buildings and the catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge all synchronised to a soundtrack. Only short segments occur on the Sydney Harbour Bridge with the latest being a 'Red and White Checkerboard Waterfall'. These segments occur about three-quarters the way through the display.

Then at Midnight, the world famous Midnight Fireworks begin. Synchronised to a soundtrack,the fireworks explode off the arches, catwalk and roadway of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the city buildings and all seven Barges. The show opens with an opening sequence on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, city buildings and one barge. The majority of the show features six barges with the Sydney Harbour Bridge doing sequences of varying lengths throughout the show. The barge in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge also features occasionally during the show to synchronise with the Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks or to attract attention as the Sydney Harbour Bridge is about to do something spectacular (like Bridge Effect unveiling and Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks finale). The closing sequence of the show features the Sydney Harbour Bridge before all firing points explode in an 'all-white' finale.