Chi-Town Rising Tonight

Tonight marks a new celebration in Chicago that includes a 70-foot star rising 360 feet up a downtown hotel tower. Get ready for Chi-Town Rising tonight. Here are the details.

According to WREX TV -13, "TV host and actor Mario Lopez will host the inaugural Chi-Town Rising event on Thursday night. The celebration is privately funded and promoters say they expect about 20,000 mostly paid attendees. Arena Partners initially hoped it would draw about 100,000 people for live music and a countdown but the event was scaled back last month due to crowd control concerns".

Chi-Town Rising will feature performances by headliners Chicago and American Authors.

AT midnight, instead of "dropping" things like other cities, Chicago will have a star that will rise up the west tower of the Hyatt Regency Chicago. It signals the growing and beginning of a new year, instead of a 'downward' object.

With a host like Mario Lopez, you know the world will be watching. More than 40 NBC affiliates from Dallas to Minneapolis will air a live broadcast of the countdown and share a little piece of Chicago to the world.

Happy New Year.