NEW YORK ( CNN ) -- New York celebrates the centennial of its most famous New Year 's tradition Monday , as organizers of the Times Square ball drop have given the crystal globe an environmental makeover . Technicians prepare the New York Times Square ball Thursday for the event 's 100th anniversary . This year the 1,415-pound ball has been outfitted with more than 9,500 energy-efficient light-emitting diodes that will illuminate the ball 's more than 600 crystals . The LEDs will use the same amount of electricity as about 10 toasters , say event officials . That 's a dramatic overhaul from 1907 's first Times Square ball , which was made from iron and wood and was covered with about 100 light bulbs . Watch the computer-controlled ball » . New York police estimate about a million people will crowd Times Square to watch the ball drop from a flagpole atop the One Times Square building at midnight . Another billion people worldwide are expected to watch the spectacle on video , said Tom Chiodo , a spokesman for the Times Square Alliance . Of those viewers , 100 million will be in the United States , he said . New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be joined by Iraq war veteran Karolina Wierzchowska , who was also a Ground Zero guard worker and a New York Police Academy valedictorian -- to push the button for the ball drop at 11:59 p.m . Weather forecasts indicate clear skies for the celebration , with temperatures in the 40s -- a mild departure from inclement weather gripping much of the Northeast . In an effort to help people stay warm , New York City sanitation workers will be passing out `` goody bags '' from the Times Square Alliance that will include mittens and hats , said Chiodo . The event will include musical performances from Hannah Montana , the Jonas Brothers , Kid Rock , Lenny Kravitz , Lifehouse , The Bravery , and alums from Fox TV 's `` American Idol , '' Carrie Underwood , Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis . Security inside Times Square will be tight and everyone should expect to have their bags searched at least three times , said New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly on CNN 's `` American Morning . '' In addition to a heavy police presence on the ground , Kelly said the NYPD 's counterterrorism unit , radiation detectors and helicopters will also be patrolling the crowds . Kelly said that once the Times Square attendees pass the entrance gates , they will not be able to leave . New York 's terrorist threat level remains at orange -- the nation 's second highest level -- as it has since the September 11 , 2001 , attacks . `` We certainly have n't let our guard down , '' Kelly said . As the ball drops , the new year will be greeted with a massive fireworks explosion , some 168 shots in the first five seconds alone , and a downpour of two tons of fireproof confetti . Some of the confetti includes New Year 's wishes that were written by visitors to the city in nearly two dozen languages . Over the past week , visitors from across the country wrote their messages on a Times Square `` Wishing Wall . '' `` I want to turn the world green and the water clean , '' one person wrote . `` Let my husband stop snoring , '' another wrote , while others were more serious : `` That my mom will get her kidney transplant '' and `` Peace in Pakistan . '' E-mail to a friend .
Times Square ball fitted with energy-saving light-emitting diodes . A million people to attend , officials say , a billion expected to watch on video . The city is also planning an elaborate fireworks display that will be broadcast live over the Internet. Hannah Montana , Kid Rock , Lenny Kravitz , Carrie Underwood . 1907 ball was made of iron and wood and covered with about 100 light bulbs .