President Clinton will usher in the new century and millennium on the Mall of the nation's capital tonight by switching on a spectacular firework display illuminating the Washington Monument.
The thousands of spectators will see what look like waterfalls cascading down the 555ft obelisk. They will also be able to take part in America's Millennium Gala at the Lincoln Memorial, an outdoor extravaganza which will include a specially-made Steven Spielberg film called The Unfinished Journal.
Spielberg has described his 20 minute film as "a musical and poetic celebration about why we are all here today, what are the shoulders that we stood on to achieve this moment in time and in history, and to look back over the last 100 years and say `Thank you' and then to imagine the next 100 years."
Some commercially-organised millennium events in Washington have had to be cancelled because of lack of interest. The disappointed organisers are blaming fear of Y2K glitches, which is prompting many would-be party-goers to stay at home.
The Capital Countdown 2000 Gala at the MCI basketball arena and the America's New Millennium ball at the Ronald Reagan Building near the White House were expected to attract thousands of people to see in the new century but have now been cancelled.
Hotels in the capital are also reporting a disappointing response.
Several hundred troops from the Washington National Guard will help police with crowd control and directing traffic over the weekend. The troops are being called in as a precaution in case there are Y2K problems.
Hundreds of officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are being posted at 10 regional centres spread across the US to be ready for action in case of Y2K problems.
The FEMA will be able to call on the resources of 26 other federal agencies and the Red Cross if necessary. Preparations have been made to deal with possible terrorist actions, power-cuts and even nuclear disasters.
People have been advised to stock up on drinking water, tinned food and batteries to last several days in case of Y2K problems, but there have been few if any signs of panic buying.