All eyes will be on Times Square tonight where hundreds of thousands will be huddled in the cold to watch the ball drop and ring in 2010.

This year, the ball features 2,600 Waterford Crystals, lit up with LED lights. The crystals were designed with an interlocking ribbon pattern woven into a Celtic knot called "Let There Be Courage.”

"That kind of entertainment and the World Wide Web cast and the ball, some things are the same and some things are different," said Tim Tompkins of the Times Square Alliance. "The ball has got 32,000 Phillips LED crystals shining light for everybody. We also have people writing their wishes on confetti, which will be dropped at midnight, so we're thrilled about that too."

Today's snow is set to turn into rain by tonight's festivities. Forecasters predict temperatures will be in the mid-30s tonight. Yet revelers told NY1 today that the weather doesn't really matter.

"We have, like, probably 21 layers on between the two of us, that's what we counted, so we're bundled up pretty well," said one partygoer.

"You are entertained, so it's not like you're standing there and you don't like it. There's constant entertainment going on," said another. "It's too many people standing there to be cold."

To help usher in the New Year, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be joined by students from 12 city public highs schools, which were ranked among the 100 best in America.

The New York City Police Department has already locked down a portion of the area. Security equipment such as radiation and biological detectors are being put in place.

Those who are heading to Times Square are reminded that no backpacks or large bags will be permitted. Alcoholic beverages are also banned and anyone who leaves the area before the ball drop will not be allowed back in.

Those who do not plan on spending the evening should avoid the area all together, especially those who are driving. There is also no parking from 33rd to 59th Streets between Sixth and Eighth Avenues.

When the party's over, the cleanup starts, and the Sanitation Department says it's ready to work.

The agency estimates there will be more than 40 tons of party hats, noisemakers, confetti, and streamers left after the celebration is over. It says they're prepared with nearly 150 sanitation workers armed with dozens of mechanical sweepers, trucks and leaf blowers to help clear everything out for New Year's Day.

"We generally have the place cleaned up early in the morning,” said Bernard Sullivan of the DOS. “There might be some tidying up on the side streets that continues through the morning, and we have people in place to go right through tomorrow to make sure everything is in tip-top shape."

The DOS says last New Year's Eve they cleaned up 39 tons of waste at a cost of nearly $54,000.

And although there have been no specific threats against the state, Governor David Paterson is beefing up security at transportation hubs today as a New Year's Eve precaution.

Paterson is directing at least 80 extra National Guard members to provide security at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports.

The guard will also patrol ground transportation hubs -- including Penn Station and the PATH terminal.

Travelers are still being urged to give themselves plenty of travel time to get to their destinations.

As New York gets ready for the celebrations tonight, people around the world are already ringing in the New Year.

In Australia, more than one-million people gathered for the famous Sydney Harbor fireworks show.

And a little bit earlier, New Zealand also ushered in the New Year with its own fireworks display over the Sky Tower in Auckland.

Thousands also gathered at Hong Kong's harbor front to watch fireworks.

And South Koreans rang in the New Year with the striking of a bell in Seoul.