HTN: New Year's Downtown

Downtown Buffalo's New Year's Eve ball drop and fireworks display organizers are expecting "at least" 40-thousand people to attend. A tribute to the University of Buffalo football team, who are playing in the January 3rd International Bowl in Toronto, will be on tap, along with the usual midnight fireworks display to ring in the new year. Metro Rail will run an extra two hours on New Year's Eve to accommodate First Night Buffalo at the Convention Center, and the ball drop in Roosevelt Square. The last outbound train leaves the Erie Canal Harbor Station at 2 am Thursday morning, New Year's Day. Inbound Rail service will stop about 20 minutes before the midnight ball drop.

HTN: First Night Tickets on Sale

The countdown to First Night began Wednesday morning, when details about the 20th annual event were announced. The Buffalo Convention Center will host drug-and-alcohol-free First Night on December 31st from 5 to 10 p.m. New to the lineup are performances by the New England Trampoline Company and the PUSH Physical Theatre. Ticketsto all rides, games, and attractions, are on sale now for eight dollars at all local Wegmans markets, and will be ten dollars at the door. Children two and under are free. Fernbach, Main Place Mall, and Turner ramps will provide free parking.