Look it was cool….2

Fireworks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Illuminated ships float under a light show on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney: First to cheer

Because of its location, the Aussie capital is among the first major cities to greet the New Year. The city will synch up its pyrotechnics with colorful lighting effects on the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

==================================

Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio de Janeiro.

Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro: Beach party

Te two-and-a-half mile stretch of Copacabana Beach plays host to more than two million partygoers decked out in traditional white.

=====================================

A bonfire celebration in Reykjavík.

Reykjavík: Fantasy and flames

Icelandic law allows a firework free-for-all on New Year's Eve, making for a raucous night in the capital city. Friends and neighbors sing folk songs at roughly half-a-dozen bonfires scattered across Reykjavík. Note that on this holiday, local bars and clubs open a little after midnight.

===================================

Fireworks over the Mississippi River in New Orleans.

New Orleans: Gumbo and pigskin

As in years past, New Orleans puts its own twist on New York City's ball drop. Its spotlit gumbo pot drops from the Jax Brewery at midnight.

========================================

Las Vegas: The glittering Strip

Vegas lives up to its rep as a party town on December 31, with lunatic stunts, a massive light display, and performances by well known entertainers.

Last year on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, revelers partied under a four-block-long canopy. This year, they'll pay $20 a head to see Tribute-Palooza, a set of eight bands that imitate major acts like U2, Kiss, and Elton John. (Courtesy Las Vegas News Bureau)