More than a million Times Square revelers usher in the New Year 2016

 

More than a million people crowded into New York City's Times Square under heavy security on Thursday Dec 31,2015 to celebrate the arrival of 2016 with the traditional dropping of the New Year's Eve crystal ball.

 

Throngs of people began streaming into the area early in the day, preparing to spend hours outdoors before the official festivities begin with the lighting of the ball at 6 p.m. EST.

 

 With memories of the deadly attacks in Paris and California still fresh, police took extraordinary measures to ensure security at an event that has come to define the New York experience for many visitors to the largest U.S. city.

 

Demi Lovato took to the stage in a stunning flapper-style jumpsuit and knee-high boots as New Yorkers counted down the minutes to 2016

Carrie Underwood seen here warming up before her performance in New York's Times Square in the last few hours of 2015

 

Wiz Khalifa performed See You Again on stage with Charlie Puth towards the beginning of the festive night

 British songstress Jessie J headlined the spot from 11.51pm-11.58pm, singing John Lennon's Imagine, before the ball dropped

 

Before entering Times Square, visitors had to pass through tight security checkpoints. Police were prepared to stop visitors from carrying backpacks and large bags into the area, and searched smaller bags and scanned people with metal detectors

 

More than 100 million Americans and one billion people worldwide watched the festivities on television