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Pittsburgh Gearing Up For First Night Celebration

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Crews have been busy preparing and blocking off streets in the Cultural District for First Night.

It all starts with a bang for the kids at 6 p.m. with fireworks to kick off Highmark's First Night celebration with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

One of the highlights of the New Year's Eve celebration is the giant ball that's raised every year -- called "The Future of Pittsburgh."

"We consider this to be our open house for the Cultural District," Janis Burley Wilson said.

For Janis, the last day of 2015 is a long one to make sure things go smoothly tonight.

"It's great weather we have predicted for us. We expect to have 30 to 40,000 people come Downtown and celebrate the New Year with us," she said.

But, even if you don't want to stay outdoors the entire time there's events going on all throughout the Cultural District indoors too.

From dance, theater, fire shows and ice sculptures the sights won't disappoint.

"The city is on the rise and the ball really represents that with the future of Pittsburgh, we're waiting for great things to happen in 2016 and so the ball rises as the excitement rises and we celebrate together," Janis said.

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Speaking of that ball, "The Future of Pittsburgh" was tested this morning to make sure the 1,000 pound ball of light sparkles and flickers as the clock strikes midnight.

"We come down we get it set up early make sure everything's tested and the show goes off perfectly," Mike Williams said.

The good news for Miller and everyone else is that things appear to be in working order.

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