Two million revellers are expected to crowd the streets around Times Square to ring in the new Millennium and New York City officials are preparing for the best and worst of times.
When the multi-coloured confetti rains down on the crowds and the famous Waterford Crystal ball drops over One Times Square to mark the strike of midnight, the New York Police Department will be putting an elaborate security plan into action.
With most large American cities gearing up for huge New Year celebrations, concerns have been heightened over possible terrorism attacks and bomb threats. Already, officials in Seattle have decided to close down their Millennium celebrations, citing fears over possible terrorism after an Algerian national was arrested for allegedly crossing into the city from Canada with bomb-making materials.
But New York's combative Mayor Rudy Giuliani has said his city's party will go on. Always quick to play up s the city's strengths, Mr Giuliani has said that his office has no specific information on possible threats, but had planned for any possible disaster.
"From everything we can tell, the plan is a good one and the plan is going to be effective," the mayor told the New York Daily News.
As workers erect the entertainment lights and scaffolding, the police department has already gearing up their Millennium plan - code named Operation Archangel. Manhole covers and post boxes in the Times Square area have been sealed or welded shut to prevent them being used as prospective bomb sites. By Thursday much of the Midtown Manhattan section around 42nd Street will become a pedestrian only area to foil car-bombers. On Friday, as the celebrations in Manhattan start with broadcasts of the first New Year parties, most of the police department's 40,000 officers will be on call.
About 8,000 officers will on duty in Times Square with musical entertainment mingling with the buzz of six police helicopters hovering overhead. Bomb-sniffing dogs will pad among partygoers and police will be confiscating any alcohol being consumed in the streets.