Chicago area venues prepare for New Year's celebrations

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Preparations are under way around the city of Chicago for events to help ring in the New Year.

ROOF on theWit was closed for New Year's Eve preparations this Tuesday morning as decorators gave the room and enclosed roof flourishes for the festivities.

Beatriz Jara, Event Manager for ROOF on theWit, expects 250 people for their New Year's Eve party. Champagne is chilling and kitchen preps start tomorrow for their guests.

"It's been months in the making so we want it to be absolutely perfect," Jara says. "The energy is different than every other night. They really get to see what the city is about."

Navy Pier will host thousands of New Year's revelers. Organizers will have extra staff and security on hand for the celebrations: private parties and public fireworks at midnight.

"We want to make sure everyone has a safe, fun New Year's," says Nick Shields.

In the summer, Navy Pier often has to shut down the pier for fireworks because it reaches capacity, but that is less of a problem in the winter. If you want to watch the fireworks at Navy Pier for New Year's, just make sure you're bundled up against the cold winter weather.

Security may not be an issue for the Bubble Bash at the DuPage Children's Museum, but there will be cleanup required after a countdown the noon instead of midnight.

"Staying up that late, until midnight, is not realistic for our chief audience," says Marcia McRae of the Children's Museum. "But they want to be part of the New Year's celebration, and be part of that cycle."

The museum will be closed for this private event at which super powers rule.

"It's a super-powered event for all super powered family members."

Instead of champagne, the museum's celebration will feature lemonade.