Preparations underway for First Night

(MyFoxBoston.com) – Boston is getting ready to ring in 2013, and this year, organizers are expanding the events for the 37th First Night in Boston.

Ice sculptors and other artists were out over the weekend getting their pieces ready to decorate several areas where the citywide arts celebration will take place.

>>First Night 2013 schedule, event map, and more

Many local bands will be on hand throughout the day and night and there's the big fireworks show over the Boston Harbor at midnight. The non-profit added more daytime entertainment to the festival in hopes of bringing more people out before night fall.
    
First Night buttons can be purchased for $18 at Shaw's, Tedeschi's, Au Bon Pain and J.P. Licks, as well as First Night locations throughout the city.

In New York, it's almost time to drop the ball. Organizers of the annual Times Square bash released confetti from eight stories up over the weekend to make sure everything goes smoothly Monday night.

More than a ton of the paper shreds will fall at midnight. Each piece includes handwritten wishes for the new year from around the world.
    
An estimated one million people are expected to pack into Times Square to ring in the new year. Many more will watch on TV.

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