Great New Year's Eve Celebrations

As the Christmas lights start to fade and the holiday season is coming to an end, there's still one final bash to send out 2013 and welcome 2014. From riotous street parties and fireworks extravaganzas, to marching bands and torchlight processions, here are some of the best New Year's Eve parties from around the world.

New York City
Few places rival the atmosphere of New Year's Eve in New York City, home to one of the night's most memorable events -- the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop. A custom dating back to 1907, the iconic ball, a 12-foot glittering sphere weighing 11,875 pounds, is dropped each year at the turn of midnight from a flagpole on top of One Times Square, as the square is blitzed with one ton of shimmering confetti.

One of the world's most electric New Year's Eve parties, Times Square draws in over a million revelers to countdown the seconds to the New Year, as well as being broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world.

Paris
Paris lives up to its "city of lights" nickname come New Year's Eve, with fireworks dazzling the city streets and thousands of party-goers hitting the streets, bars and clubs to see in the Nouvelle Anné. In the heart of the city, the Eiffel Tower forms the centerpiece for a spectacular lightshow and fireworks display, and the surrounding Champs-Elysees area comes alive with a massive street party. Expect handfuls of popping papillotes (chocolates that set off like firecrackers when opened), lots of obligatory cheek kissing and gallons of France's most popular export, Champagne.

London
One of the last capitals in Europe to see in the New Year, London pulls out all the stops for the biggest party of the year. Over 250,000 people cram along the boats and banks of the River Thames and its surrounding bars and restaurants for a prime view of the night's events. As the epic countdown begins and Big Ben strikes midnight, the city erupts in a dramatic 10-minute lightshow and firework display, set to a backdrop of the towering London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster.

Las Vegas
Nowhere on earth does nightlife like Las Vegas, and the biggest celebration of the year sees over 300,000 people descend on the party capital. The famed Las Vegas Strip is car-free and firework-friendly throughout the night, with live bands, pyrotechnic displays and laser-shows turning the area into a giant street party. Bars and nightclubs all over town will be turning up the volume (and the ticket prices) for some mammoth celebrations and famous music acts will be hitting the stage.  Whether you're gambling away the past year's savings, smooching beneath Bellagio's famous dancing fountains or partying into the early hours in a haze of champagne cocktails, Vegas does its hard-partying reputation proud over the New Year.

Sydney
One of the world's first cities to celebrate the New Year, Sydney's fantastical New Year's Eve lightshow is renowned around the globe. The towering Sydney Harbour Bridge is the centerpiece for celebrations with two fireworks displays set off from river barges and rooftops, and elaborate pyrotechnic displays setting Sydney Harbour and the iconic Opera House on fire. The evening of entertainment includes aerial acrobatics, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking ceremony (said to cleanse the evil spirits of the past year) and an Acknowledgement of Country presentation, culminating in the magnificent Harbour of Light ParadeTM, a mass flotilla of illuminated boats choreographed throughout the harbor.

No matter were you celebrate. We here at Rawhide Travel and Tours wish you a Happy New Year.

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