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Celebrations

Nothing reflects a city like the way it parties. In crowded New York, millions will pack into Times Square. In sprawling Los Angeles, we have Celebrate L.A. 2000, five parties so far apart that they’ll have to be linked by satellite.

At the “Global Village” on Grand Avenue in downtown L.A., the centerpiece of the evening is the rock opera “Tomorrow Is Here” by French compose Marc Cerrone, following performances by El Vez and Ozomatli. Ozomatli then heads south to the “Gateway to the Future” party at San Pedro Harbor. At “The Alameda” party, at the plaza by Olvera Street, performers include Canned Heat and Los Lobos. The “San Fernando Valley Spectacular” at the Van Nuys Airport features the Watts Prophets, Indigo Swing, Alabina and B.J. Thomas. The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza party, “One Wonderful Night,” includes performances by the Lulu Washington Contemporary Dance Theatre, Bobby Rodriguez, and Lisa Haley and Zydekats.

All the locales have a few things in common: a parade at 3 p.m., a children’s event around 8:30 p.m., and projection of the lighting of the Hollywood sign on giant video monitors starting at 11:30 p.m.

No matter where you are, you should be able to see this: Planes will write “Happy New Year Los Angeles” in different languages all across the sky.

* Celebrate L.A. 2000, at Grand Avenue between 1st and 5th streets, Plaza Olvera, San Pedro Harbor, the Van Nuys Airport and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza starting at noon. Free tickets available at Ralph’s and Food 4 Less supermarkets and all City of Los Angeles public Libraries. (213) 485-ARTS or https://www.lacelebrate2000.org.

1, 8 & 11pm

Family

With holiday themes, magic tricks, comedy, a mini-museum tour and a special performance schedule, Steve Meltzer’s family-friendly puppet revue, “Puppetolio,” rings in the New Year. Meltzer will be joined by puppet pals Fred, Calvin, Karen and stage manager Nigel.

* “Puppetolio,” Santa Monica Puppet and Magic Center, 1255 2nd St., Santa Monica. Special shows: New Year’s Eve, 1, 8 and 11 p.m. Also playing regular schedule, including New Year’s Day: Saturdays, 1, 3 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 1 and 3 p.m. Runs indefinitely. $6.50. (310) 656-0483.

8pm

Movie/Music

If you’re a movie lover and you’re still looking for a fun (and inexpensive) way to bid adieu to the 1900s, what better way than at the Old Town Music Hall in downtown El Segundo? For a mere $10, the hall is presenting its Pre-Millennia New Year’s Eve Show, an evening of film (historic newsreels, short comedy films and a surprise feature-length movie), music (Bill Field and Bill Coffman will lead an audience sing-along on the Mighty Wurlitzer) and snacks.

* Pre-Millennia New Year’s Eve Show, Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo, 8 p.m. $10. (310) 322-2592.

8 & 10pm

Theater/Comedy

L.A. Connection Comedy Theatre’s Mad Movies Veteran All-Stars, the 1994 CableACE Award nominee for the group’s zany creation of improvised soundtracks to old movies, ring in the millennium with two different shows in “The L.A. Connection’s New Year’s Eve Celebration 2000.” On the bill: movie-dubbing clips from LAC’s library of old film classics, improv, comedy sketches, party favors and prizes.

* “The L.A. Connection’s New Year’s Eve Celebration 2000,” L.A. Connection Comedy Theatre, 13442 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 8 and 10 p.m. $15 (8 p.m. show); $20 (10 p.m. show); $30 (both shows; limited availability).

8pm

Pop Music

Looking to celebrate L.A.’s diversity? The dinner and show at the Ukrainian Culture Center features El Vez, a.k.a. the Mexican Elvis, honky-tonk renegade Neil Mooney and an act that’s billed as Silver Lake’s version of the Buena Vista Social Club, Sergio Pastora.

* El Vez, Neil Mooney, Sergio Pastora, Ukrainian Culture Center, 4315 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. $110. (213) 833-6222.

9pm

Party

Universal Studios is boasting that its Millennium Dance Party will be the largest of its kind on the West Coast. At the very least it will be one of the splashiest, with four dance areas and a lineup of high-energy live performers, including soul diva Chaka Khan, ‘80s new-wave bands Missing Persons and Berlin, and salsa singer Yari More. A red-carpet Hollywood movie premiere-type party, a masquerade ball, the world’s longest conga line and choreographed fireworks will contribute to this bodacious bash.

* Millennium Dance Party, Universal Studios, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $99; VIP Green Room pass, $250. (818) 622-3801.

10:30 pm

Pop Music

Actor-turned-troubadour Harry Dean Stanton, who is presiding over the festivities at the small blues club the Mint, brings the same sense of hard-bitten romanticism to his music as he does to his movie work. That should make him a cool companion for marking the turn of the century.

* Harry Dean Stanton, the Mint, 6010 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with Stanton’s first set at 10:30 p.m. $125 includes open bar, $225 includes dinner and open bar. (323) 954-9630.

FREEBIES

More New Year’s events:

Redondo Beach makes merry in the harbor area, with family events in Veterans Park, 4-9 p.m., and music and fireworks on the pier, 4 p.m.-1 a.m., (310) 781-2020 or 376-6911.

Olvera Street celebrates with folkloric dancers, a children’s midnight program, musicians and a laser show, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, L.A. noon-1 a.m. (213) 485-ARTS.