No. 10: It's big -- the "block" covers about 4 million square feet of downtown Tempe and Tempe Beach Park.
No. 9: It lasts a long time. The party starts at 4 p.m. Monday, December 31, and ends at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 1 -- the equivalent of a workday, and probably more fun.
No. 8: There's plenty to eat and drink. Food courts are spread throughout the area, and you've got to give block party organizers two green thumbs up for the five beer and margarita gardens.
No. 7: Kids are welcome. Not in the beer and margarita gardens, but everywhere else. Tempe Beach Park will be turned into a veritable family playground, with carnival rides, a kids' stage and family activities galore.
No. 6: It has a parade: The third annual Mill Avenue Parade features team marching bands and cheer squads from the Fiesta Bowl.
No. 5: It has an outdoor movie theater. New this year, Harkins will be screening two features al fresco.
No. 4: It has an extreme sports area. This new feature includes an Army rock-climbing wall where you can be all that you can be -- or at least as high as you can climb.
No. 3: Music, music, music. More than 30 bands will play on eight stages beginning at 4 p.m., leading up to performances by headliners Bryan Adams and country group Diamond Rio.
No. 2: Fireworks. A five- to eight-minute show at 10 p.m. over Tempe Town Lake.
And No. 1: More fireworks. A bigger and better 12- to 15-minute extravaganza at midnight, also over the lake. They couldn't have done that with a pesky hotel there!
