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Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids is jammed moments before the ball dropped to usher in the new year (Dec. 31, 2010)

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An estimated 30,000 people jammed into Rosa Parks Circle for the third annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop (Dec. 31, 2010)

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We The Kings rocked at Rosa Parks Circle to ring in the new year in front of an estimated 30,000 people (Dec. 31, 2010)

Rosa Parks on New Year's Eve_20101231232423_JPG

An estimated 30,000 people jammed into Rosa Parks Circle for the third annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop (Dec. 31, 2010)

Rosa Parks on New Year's Eve_20101231232423_JPG

An estimated 30,000 people jammed into Rosa Parks Circle for the third annual New Year's Eve Ball Drop (Dec. 31, 2010)

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Preparations are underway at Rosa Parks Circle for the New Year's Eve Ball Drop. (Dec. 31, 2010)

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Kaci Battaglia, in a screen grab from her video with Ludacris, "Body Shots" ( courtesy photo , Nov. 23, 2010)

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The ball drops in Rosa Parks Circle at midnight (Dec. 31, 2009).

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Good Charlotte inaugurated Universal CityWalk's new state-of-the-art outdoor concert stage with a free "Plugged In" performance as part of CityWalk's promise to deliver "Always Unexpected" entertainment. (undated)

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New Year partiers fill Rosa Parks

An estimated 30,000+ jam downtown GR

Updated: Saturday, 01 Jan 2011, 7:43 AM EST
Published : Friday, 31 Dec 2010, 2:02 PM EST

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An estimated 30,000+ ignored reports of rain to jam into downtown Grand Rapids for the third annual Ball Drop at Rosa Parks Circle.

Unseasonably warm temperatures and rain may have made it feel more like Spring than New Year's Eve, but a large crowd turned out for a New Year's Eve celebration.

Kaci Battaglia began the entertainment portion of the program at 5:30 p.m, followed by Frankie Ballard. Runner Runner played for about an hour, and Good Charlotte took the stage near the scheduled time of 8:15 p.m.

We The Kings took the stage around 11 p.m., with a short break for the ball drop and an encore after the new year.

Organizers began prepping the stage at Rosa Parks Circle early Friday morning.

Earlier in the week, HOT-FM spokeswoman Ellen Tailor said the show would go on. "Rain boots are in style," she said.

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  • Storm Team 8 Forecast

Hot Sunday

Ample sunshine today with temps topping out in the mid 80s, and it will be a little humid.

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