The biggest celebrations will be held in the Slovenian capital with major concerts at four different squares in Ljubljana's centre.

To take care of security during New Year's Eve celebrations, the City of Ljubljana will engage 97 members of security staff, 20 police officers, four ambulance wagons and a fire brigade.

Last year, no police intervention was required at open-air festivities in Ljubljana, but the emergency ward of the Ljubljana UKC hospital usually has increased workload in the night shift and the first day of the year, with many injuries stemming from the use of alcohol or fire crackers and fireworks.

City buses will offer rides all night to get people into the city centre for the festivities and back home after the concerts.

Other cities and towns around Slovenia holding outdoor celebrations include Maribor, Celje, Ptuj, Velenje, Murska Sobota, Koper, Nova Gorica and Ajdovščina.

Programmes for children are organised around the country in the afternoon and early evening hours, including events with Father Frost, the last of Slovenia's three December present-bringers (the other two being Saint Nicholas on 6 December and Santa Claus on Christmas).

On New Year's Day, the bravest of the brave will take the traditional New Year's swim on the main beach of Portorož.