New Year’s Eve: Las Vegas blings it on

Las Vegas is always hopping but this New Year’s Eve celebration promises delights to satisfy even the most jaded of Bacchanalians. Everyone is throwing on their bling and headed to the biggest, most extravagant party, party (this is so big, we had to repeat it twice) in the world.

Las Vegas is the only city that celebrates New Year’s for six straight days, culminating in the epic extravaganza that is New Years Eve. From the amazing Grucci fireworks display which will launch 88,000 pyrotecnics in just over eight minutes, to the parties in nearly every casino and club; to the performances by artists known the world over, Las Vegas is the place to be. And if estimates are correct, more than 330,000 people will be front and center on the Strip to welcome the New Year.

For the avant-garde, there is the Downtown Countdown 2014 on Fremont Street, where cool combines with ziplines.

The nine-hour NYE marathon begins at 6 p.m.on the 31^st and continues into the wee hours of the morning with music by Papa Roach, Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Loverboy, Blues Traveler, Adelitas Way, and some superb local bands blasting from a 550,000 watt sound system. The cost of this mega party is a measly $40 a pop.

Mayor Carolyn Goodman will lead the midnight countdown at the Viva Vision screen, a light show and canopy that soars 90 feet above the ground, 5 football fields in length with 12 million LED modules. As the minutes tick off, a synchronized blast of light will flash from each of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino’s 10 floors.

When We Say Fireworks We Mean It

Then, all hell breaks loose. The bombastic pyrotechnics will launch from seven resort rooftops with an exhilarating sequence starting at the Venetian and transitioning to Treasure Island, Caesar’s Palace, Planet Hollywood, The Aria and the MGM Grand. They should be able to see it from the space station and hear it too, since the choreographed fireworks’ display will be set to pounding music by Pitbull and Christina Aguilera’s “Feel this Moment” and Mariah Carey singing the old standard “Auld Lang Syne”.

A tribute to Sinatra and Robyn Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” as well as hit songs from Poison, Flo Rida and JS16’s “ Stomp the Beat” will follow.

Live Acts

Britney Spears kicks off the opening weekend of her new show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, with an impressive setlist. Tickets are available December 27, 28, 30 at 9 p.m. and at 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Cheap tickets are sold out but you can still buy the Platinum Tickets.

Celine Dion at Caesar’s Palace is so good, we don’t even know where to begin. She will be appearing at The Colosseum. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets start at $55.

Maroon 5 will be appearing at Mandalay Bay with two shows scheduled at the Events Center, December 30 and 31. A Great Big World and Rozzi Crane are special guests. Performances are scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices start at $99.50.

Bruno Mars is at The Cosmopolitan on December 29 and 31. The tickets are sold out but the concert will be shown live on Cosmo’s digital marquee, so don’t feel sad. You can still see it.

Clubbing

Nine-time Grammy Award winner, John Legend, will be ushering in the New Year at Aria’s Haze Nightclub. There will be an open bar from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and a “surprise” scheduled for the midnight countdown. It’s bound to be an amazing event.

Lil John is headlining at Wynn Las Vegas if you want to show off your bling at the Tryst Nightclub. You can guarantee that the “King of Crunk” will rock it. And for you Twerkers out there, you can show off your style at Surrender Nightclub where the fabulous Diplo will be spinning.

Hakkasan Nightclub at the MGM is hosting a spectacular New Year’s Eve party featuring Calvin Harris with Fergie DJ/Burns. It’s a great chance to hear his new remix.

Paris Hilton will be hosting at the exclusive Hyde Bellagio. Hors d’oeuvres will be served from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m with a hosted bar until midnight and the traditional champagne toast. So if you want to hobnob with the fancy people, it will cost you $250.

Bugsy’s Sequel

Want to celebrate New Year’s like our favorite mobsters? Pack your tux or Roaring Twenties fringy dress (it’s formal) and head for the Mob Museum for their “Boulevard Empire” party. Live entertainment, open bar and all three floors of the museum will be open for your gangster fantasies. General admission is $99 and VIP tickets $149.

NYE Tips

The strip will be limited to pedestrian traffic after 6 p.m. so be prepared to hoof it. There will be a large presence of Las Vegas’ finest for your protection. Don’t be afraid to ask directions from them. They are there to help. Although we know you may be tempted, keep in mind alcoholic beverages are not allowed outside the casinos and bars and spending New Year’s Eve in the hoosgow is no fun, even in Las Vegas.