You may have already heard the New Year's Eve ball drop is off for this year.

Norm Alvis of Edaddywarbucks.com, which co-sponsored the drop last year along with Paragary Restaurant Group, asked both the city and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership to pay a third of the estimated $100,000 for a ball drop. Neither agreed, so the event was canceled.

One celebration that might compare to the spectacle of last year's celebration, which drew an estimated crowd of 12,000 to 20,000 people, is a city-sponsored event in Old Sacramento.

Organized by the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, the celebration will feature live music, food and drink vendors and perhaps most importantly, a fireworks display at 9 p.m. and midnight. Internationally renowned company Pyrotechnique By Grucci planned the $40,000 "Sky Spectacular," choreographed to music and featuring computer-assisted launching from West Sacramento.

One unique vantage point for the fireworks display is the Empress Hornblower cruise boat.

The free event begins at 6 p.m. near Rio City Cafe. A tent will hold live music by rock'n'roll singer-songwriter Todd Morgan and Jimi Hendrix-tribute band Ralph Woodson Experience. Radio Disney Rockin' Road Crew will also provide a variety of individual and group performances.

Entertainment continues in the streets of Old Sacramento.

Clemon Charles, a pop and rock artist will play from 6 to 10 p.m. on the corner of Second and J streets. Allie Marcel and Friends will play blues-rock on the corner of Front and J streets from 8 p.m. to midnight, and Autumn Sky will sing pop-folk on Front Street in front of the train ticket booth at 8 and 10 p.m. The Obsidian Butterfly Fire Dance and Performing Arts group will perform on the corner of Front and K streets from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Vendors will be selling warm drinks including coffee, tea and hot chocolate as well as snack foods like kettle corn, hot dogs and pretzels, until about 12:30 a.m. Restaurants in Old Sacramento will also be open and selling food.

"(Previous years), we've had anywhere between 30,000 and 50,000 people," said Mike Testa, The Convention and Visitors Bureau's vice president of communications and public affairs. "Our attendance might be higher because of the economy (since) people are looking for value and it's a family event."

Luckily, a break in rainfall is predicted Thursday night and into the wee hours of the new year. It's not expected to return until about 4 a.m. New Year's Day, give or take a few hours.

There will also be plenty of portable toilets, Sac PD officers and private security, Testa said.

Visit nyesacramento.com for the full entertainment schedule. Visit sacramentopress.com/tag/newyearseve for more New Year's Eve events.

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