Thousands begin gathering ahead of Times Square's 2018 party

NEW YORK – New Yorkers, celebrity entertainers and tourists from around the world will pack into Times Square on Sunday for what's expected to be a flashy but frigid start to the new year.

Revelers began lining up well before noon, hours ahead of when the city will mark the start of 2018 with a glittering crystal ball drop, a burst of more than a ton of confetti and midnight fireworks.

It could be one of the coldest celebrations on record, held under tight security after a year that saw several fatal attacks on large crowds, including one in Times Square itself last spring.