The celebrations will span six blocks and include an indoor cafe, marshmallow roasting and ice skating at Gage Park. It all starts with midway rides at 2:30 p.m. and ends with a grand finale outside the Rose Theatre with a laser show and fireworks, and a special countdown to 2009.

To get close to the headline entertainment and the laser light show/countdown, special wristbands must be worn. They are free, but should be picked up in advance. They are available at several locations in the days leading up to the event, and on the night of the event while supplies last.

David Usher takes to the stage in front of the Rose Theatre at 9:10 p.m., with Our Lady Peace next at 10:30 p.m. followed by the countdown to midnight.

There is a lot more on the menu, though, as the City of Brampton stages the largest New Year's Eve event it has ever presented- most of it free.

A 30-foot Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round and two trackless trains will offer rides, but tickets will cost $2 each, or three for $5, with ticket sales starting at 2:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m.

For the first time, a cafe will be set up in the city hall atrium with food prepared by Juice&Java House. There will be wraps, sandwiches, soups, chili, pastries and cakes, the Brampton Jazz Trio will provide the entertainment, and it is being billed as a warm spot to take a break and rest.

There will also be three Brampton Transit buses on hand to warm up in, a craft station, vendors, stilt walkers, clowns, magicians, jugglers, skate rentals at The Shoe Clinic (905-451-1455), and the Brampton Downtown Development Corporation's free marshmallow roast over controlled bonfires.

An early fireworks display will light up the sky above city hall.

There is a full lineup scheduled for the Bell Canada Children's Stage:

- 6 p.m. Miss Spider

- 6:20 p.m. Bananas in Pyjamas (with a chance to meet the Bananas in Pyjamas and the Fairly OddParents at 7:30 p.m.)

- 6:40 p.m. Care Bears (with a chance to meet the Care Bears at 8:10 p.m.)

- 7 p.m. Snoopy (with a chance to meet Snoopy at 8:40 p.m.)

- 7:30 p.m. Clowns Petunia&Chester (with a chance to meet the clowns at 8:40 p.m.)

- 8 p.m. Care Bears

- 9:10 p.m. Madame Buskerfly

- 9:50 p.m. Greg Tarlin

The wristbands can be picked up with proof of residency any time between now and Dec. 30 at: the Rose Theatre Brampton, Lester B. Pearson Theatre, South Fletcher's SportsPlex, Terry Miller Recreation Centre, Earnscliffe Recreation Centre, Chris Gibson Recreation Centre or Cassie Campbell Community Centre.

On the day of the event, the wrist bands will only be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. After 6 p.m., they can be picked up at the intersection of Main Street and Queen Street, while supplies last.

HOW TO GET THERE

Parking will be limited in the downtown, and streets will be closed, so residents are encouraged to ride one of four free Brampton Transit shuttle buses to and from the event. They leave every 30 minutes from the Bramalea Transit Centre, Shoppers World Terminal and Heart Lake Terminal starting at 5:30 p.m. and from the Flower City Community Campus starting at 5:45 p.m. Residents are also encouraged to carpool, with free carpool parking lots set up near the downtown at the GO Transit lots (Church, Railroad and Main Streets), the YMCA, Central Public School, Church Street parking lot, Duggan Park and Memorial Arena. All Brampton Transit routes will offer free rides starting at 7:30 p.m. with extended hours on several routes.

Parking at city hall and Market Square will cost $20 per car, and there will be no parking at Nelson Square, George Street, at the legion or at Rosalea's upper deck.