John J. Kim / baiduhaiMira Hurani, center, wears blinking "2016" goggles at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiNew Year's revelers walk near the University of Chicago's Gleacher Center with the Chi-Town Rising star on the Hyatt Regency Chicago shining in the background on Dec. 31 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiKate Khoury, 2, dances to DJ music with others at the the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiChildren raise glow sticks while waiting for a countdown to 6 p.m. at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiCarl Alton, 2, dances to DJ music with others at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiChildren and parents attend the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park, part of the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event, on Dec. 31, 2015.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiCarlito Olivero performs during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015, along Upper Wacker Drive in Chicago.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiA security guard takes a picture with a man dressed in a bear costume at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiDanielle Gerbie of the children's hip-hop group Dr. Cool and Pride performs at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
Ting Shen /baiduhaiChance the Rapper performs during the Reaction New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015, at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
Ting Shen / baiduhaiSkrillex performs during the Reaction New Year's Eve event on Jan. 1, 2016, at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA concertgoer watches The NuBlu Band perform during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015, in downtown Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiFireworks explode during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's celebration along Upper Wacker Drive on Jan. 1, 2016, in Chicago.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiPeople watch and hold up their phones to take pictures as the star rises on the Hyatt Regency Chicago along Upper Wacker Drive marks the beginning of a new year during the Chi-Town Rising celebration on Jan. 1, 2016.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiBystanders watch fireworks near the University of Chicago's Gleacher Center after a star on the Hyatt Regency Chicago marks the beginning of a new year during the Chi-Town Rising celebration along Upper Wacker Drive on Jan. 1, 2016, in Chicago.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiHusband and wife Tony and Kelly Lamantia, of Hoffman Estates, share a kiss at the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiChelsea Deleeuw, from left, Brooke Meldrum and Joelle Kruczek dance at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiLily Shaikhon, 8, plays with snow while attending the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiFireworks explode during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's celebration along Upper Wacker Drive on Jan. 1, 2016, in Chicago.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA couple share a kiss as they prepare for a champagne toast shortly before midnight at the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve celebration on Dec. 31, 2015, in downtown Chicago.
Ting Shen / baiduhaiChance the Rapper performs during Reaction New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015, at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiElaina Stimel, from left, Christopher Stimel and Jai Moua ring in the start of a new year at the Chi-Town Rising celebration on Jan. 1, 2016, in downtown Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiFireworks explode along Upper Wacker Drive in Chicago just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2016, during the Chi-Town Rising celebration along Upper Wacker Drive.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiPartygoers watch as the a star on the facade of the Hyatt Regency Chicago marks the beginning of a new year on Jan. 1, 2016, during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's celebration along Upper Wacker Drive.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiMartin Trejo, 21, watches Carlito Olivero perform while standing near the star during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's celebrations along Chicago's Upper Wacker Drive on Dec. 31 2015.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiConcertgoers watch Carlito Olivero perform during the Chi-Town Rising event on Dec. 31, 2015, in downtown Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiMembers of a flash mob perform shortly before midnight in Pioneer Court in downtown Chicago during New Year's Eve celebrations on Dec. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiChildren celebrate a countdown to 6 p.m. at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park, part of the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve events on Dec. 31, 2015.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA concertgoer wears 2016 glasses at the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015, in downtown Chicago.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiLina Alyassir, left, and Dina El Hawarne wear blinking "2016" goggles at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA concertgoer wears a large hat during the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA large star hangs on the Hyatt Regency Chicago for the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve event on Dec. 31, 2015.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiRevelers watch as the star hanging on the Hyatt Regency Chicago slowly ascends the hotel during the countdown to midnight at the Chi-Town Rising New Year's Eve celebration on Dec. 31, 2015, in downtown Chicago.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiA couple shares a kiss as fireworks go off over the Chicago River during the Chi-Town Rising's New Year's celebrations on Jan. 1, 2016, in downtown Chicago.
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Mira Hurani, center, wears blinking "2016" goggles at the Family Countdown Celebration in Millennium Park on Dec. 31, 2015.
ExpandBy Tony Briscoe | baiduhai
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A bevy of New Year’s Eve revelers converged on Chicago’s Riverwalk on Thursday in anticipation of the city’s inaugural countdown celebration, Chi-Town Rising.
An estimated 20,000 mostly paid attendees braved the bitter cold at several sites along the Chicago River between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive for a night of live music. The event culminated with a 70-foot star that rose 360 feet up the west tower of Hyatt Regency Chicago in celebration of the beginning of 2016.
A free music stage across the river at Pioneer Court was eliminated, but the area remained open for revelers to watch the celebration at no charge.
Even more people were expected to ring in the New Year by watching a live broadcast of the Chicago countdown, hosted by Mario Lopez, on more than 40 NBC TV affiliates from Dallas to Minneapolis.