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Las Vegas Welcomes 2009 with Top Entertainers, Mega-DJ’s and Non-Stop Parties

While New York City drops a ball and Paris lights up a tower, one destination gives New Year’s Eve partygoers the opportunity to celebrate the New Year around the world. Revelers can toast the New Year in Monte Carlo, Rome, Egypt, Venice and a dozen other exotic locales all on the same night, within the same time zone. Complete with fireworks and the biggest parties with the hottest celebrities, only one city in the world ushers in 2009 like this — Las Vegas.

The destination’s annual celebration, “America’s Party: Las Vegas New Year 2009,” encompasses activities throughout the entire city, culminating in a spectacular fireworks show at midnight. Downtown’s Fremont Street Experience will kick off the festivities with 14 hours of live music featuring the world’s best tribute bands paying homage to Aerosmith, Billy Joel, The Eagles, David Bowie, KISS, The Rolling Stones, U2 and Queen. At midnight a spectacular fireworks show, coordinated with a musical soundtrack, will launch from eight ground locations along Las Vegas Blvd. from Mandalay Bay, Luxor, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island/Mirage, Las Vegas Convention Center, Stratosphere and Fremont Street Experience.

Las Vegas wouldn’t be called the “Entertainment Capital of the World” if it didn’t live up to its name on New Year’s Eve. Three-time Grammy Award- winning artist, Fergie, performs live at The Venetian and The Palazzo before heading to LAVO nightclub to take on duties as celebrity host. At the Playboy Club in the Palms, Detroit bad boy, Kid Rock, will host and DJ the 2009 New Year’s Eve celebration following his live performance at the Pearl Concert Theater while AKON rocks the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Pop-sensation Pink will turn up the heat at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, while Rain Nightclub at the Palms welcomes European mega-DJ Paul Oakenfold, who will spin his Perfecto Las Vegas into the wee hours.

For partygoers looking for a celebrity scene, Las Vegas nightclubs offer the perfect start to 2009. The Kardashian Sisters will host a party at LAX inside Luxor, while Carmen Electra hosts the annual bash at Tao inside The Venetian. In addition to the street party outside, Las Vegas Blvd. morphs into a celebrity block party within Strip nightclubs. Usher celebrates all night at The Bank in Bellagio, while Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Pete Wentz party at PURE next door in Caesars Palace. Just on the other side of Caesars, JET at The Mirage rings in the New Year with New Kids on the Block, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood, while hit reality-stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt host festivities at Christian Audigier at TI. The newest nightclub to hit Las Vegas, XS at Encore, is sure to please New Year’s crowds with 40,000 square feet of party space.

Resident shows and headliners will also get in the celebratory spirit by offering special New Year’s Eve packages that include: priority seating, accommodations, tasting menus and VIP entrance to clubs and lounges. Caesars Palace is hosting a “Divine New Year’s Eve” with Bette Midler, while the six resident shows from Cirque du Soleil offer packages to meet a variety of price points.

The fun doesn’t stop once you leave The Strip, News Year’s Eve is truly a holiday celebrated across the entire destination. Lowes Lake Las Vegas and MonteLago Village Resort are each offering special packages, which include accommodations, dinner and entrance to their holiday bashes. The MonteLago Village Resort will also feature a fireworks extravaganza.

With thousands of revelers descending upon The Strip for New Year’s Eve, the Las Vegas Monorail will be the only form of public transportation available because Las Vegas Blvd. will be closed to traffic. The Monorail offers visitors a convenient option to and from the city’s hottest spots safely, quickly and efficiently. On New Year’s Eve, the system will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m.

From the hottest clubs to the most popular DJ’s and celebrities, only Las Vegas can party around the clock.