STORY:
Celebrate LA 2000

Citywide Celebrate LA 2000 Plans. After long delays, Los Angeles announces its lineup for New Year's Eve

After many delays, the city of Los Angeles has announced its plans for New Year's Eve community festivals with the grand finale focusing on famous landmark of a neighboring city, Hollywood and the Hollywood sign.

"New York has its Statue of Liberty, Paris has its Eiffel Tower, Cairo has its Pyramids-Los Angeles' world symbol is our very own Hollywood sign" said Mayor Richard Riordan in a press release. "After two years of planning, we are delighted to unveil our Celebrate LA 2000 plans which are designed to capture the culture, spirit and energy that thrives throughout Los Angeles," said Riordan.

The New Year's Eve festivities will culminate with the lighting of the Hollywood Sign with a laser/light sky show. Plans call for the Hollywood sign finale to begin at 11:30pm with a megaprojection of images on to the sign followed a mile-long projection cloud "screen" above the sign, upon which laser animation, graphics, aerial displays and moving patterns are projected.

Borrowing a touch from the film industry, lightning machines will illuminate sign with intense, strobing white light followed by a digital countdown with lasers and skydivers descending with banners in synchronicity as the city countdowns to 2000.

Because of Los Angeles' rich cultural diversity and size, the Cultural Affairs Department has selected five locations for the public to experience a fun, memorable and extraordinary New Years with family and friends.  Angelenos will enjoy the ultimate street fair with live entertainment, children's workshops, art displays and food in an alcohol-free environment.  Ralphs/Food 4 Less will distribute free passes at its stores to ensure easy access.  Los Angeles will be unified in spirit and in real life as each location is linked via giant video screens for all to experience other regional celebrations. The five festival locations are:  

 -- San Fernando Valley Spectacular-Van Nuys Airport

 -- The Alameda-Civic Center

 -- One Wonderful Night-Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza

 -- The Global Village-Grand Avenue at California Plaza, featuring "Tomorrow is Here"

 -- Welcome to the Future-San Pedro

Each location will feature its own original theme and reflect that area's cultural heritage.  Entertainment will feature local groups including "2000 On Parade," a performance of groups of 2000 people including 2000 gospel singers at Crenshaw, 2000 line dancers in Van Nuys, 2000 drummers at San Pedro, 2000 folk dancers at Alameda, and 2000 marching band members on Grand Avenue.

Along with local entertainment, each location will experience, via video, part of the Staples Center concert featuring the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne.  Each festival begins at 12:00 noon on December 31st with OPUS 21, followed by a Sky Parade featuring sky-writing, sky-diving, huge banners and other surprises, leading up to a midnight celebration with lights, fireworks, special effects and an incredible sky show similar to the one that will be held at the HOLLYWOOD sign. Festivals end at 1:00 a.m.  There will also be a "Children's Millennium" at 9:00 p.m. (12:00 midnight EST) for those families with small children with bedtime concerns.

 The Cultural Affairs Department has also organized OPUS 21 a spiritual component including religious sounds from all houses of worship.  It begins at 12:00 noon with a synchronized sounding of bells, shofars and other religious horns, cymbals and chanting.  The musical event will occur again at 4:00 p.m. (Greenwich, England Mean Time Midnight), at 9:00 p.m. (Midnight EST) and finally at midnight.

There will also be a big benefit celebration called "Made in Hollywood" at Paramount Studios on New Year's Eve.  Guests will enjoy entertainment by Frank Sinatra Jr. and his Orchestra and food by world-renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck.

Source: City of Los Angeles press release

DATE: 10/1/99

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