05:54 PM PST on Thursday, December 30, 2004

By PAT MCREYNOLDS / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Pyrotechnicians on Thursday were once again feverishly working atop the Space Needle to deliver what has become the standard for New Year's Eve celebrations around the Puget Sound area.

"Each box is packed with about 200 pounds of explosives, so on the roof alone we are placing more than 2000 pounds of fireworks," said pyrotechnician, Robert Jaeger.

KING

Pyrotechnician Robert Jaeger helps place more than 2,000 pounds of fireworks on top of the Space Needle.

The fireworks of course tops off an entire night of events scheduled for the Seattle Center, including live bands, dancing, and plenty of entertainment for the kids.

"If you are tired, you don't want to spend the big bucks for one of the New Year's Eve parties, come to the Seattle Center and you have a great opportunity to have some fun for free," said Seattle Center spokesman, Perry Cooper.

But if you have an extra $12 in your pocket, there is a unique and bizarre event planned for First Night celebrations in Tacoma.

Heads were cast from the faces of 40 prominent Tacomans who helped make headlines this past year.

"This particular head is Ray Corpus, he's been in the news a lot because of the Brame scandal," said artist Lynn Di Nino.

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Heads will roll in Tacoma.

Each of the likenesses were cast with the permission of the person they depict. And at 10 p.m., they will be sent rolling down 9th Street.

"Rolling these heads down is sort of like each head is a sphere of influence and it represents in general Tacoma and we're making a clean sweep, we're getting rid of all of this bad history we've had and we're brining in the new," said Di Nino.

First night will have lots of other activities, but this is sure to be the headliner.

Of course, that's not all. Everett will hold a New Year's Eve gala at the Everett Events Center Ballroom.

Doors open at 8 p.m. with music and dancing at 9. General admission is $35.

And Olympia is staging an early event just for the kiddies. It's "Noon New Year's Eve" at the Children's Museum.

It includes brunch, crowns, face painting, Mardi Gras beads, and even a parade. The party starts at 10. Tickets are $9 per child.

If you can't make it to the big show at the Space Needle, just turn on KING 5.

Dennis bounds will be hosting "New Year's at the Needle" along with Joyce Taylor, John Curley and Rich Marriott.

It all gets underway Friday night at 11:35 right after KING 5 News at 11.