LAS VEGAS -- After a year that saw thousands of Las Vegans lose their jobs or homes, and sometimes both, many are ready to forget 2009 ever happened.

But before the calendar turns to 2010, they’ll be going out with a bang.

Last month’s announcement that New Year’s Eve fireworks were returning to Strip casino rooftops sparked what’s become a wave of anticipation for a party that will allow Las Vegans to blow off some steam.

Survey: Will You Be On The Strip For New Year's Eve?

To help them do just that, casinos are lining up A-list performers and opening new venues to host holiday parties.

The Hard Rock Hotel announced Wednesday it would ring in the New Year with the debut of the “Vanity” nightclub, a 14,000-square-foot property inside the resort’s new tower, which features a sunken dance floor, a chandelier lit with more than 20,000 LED lights and a “ladies lounge” stocked with nail and makeup technicians.

“Vanity will cater to a person’s every whim,” said Cory McCormack, Hard Rock's managing partner of The Nightlife Group.

The club’s official grand opening, to be held Jan. 2, will be hosted by hip-hop mogul Diddy.

Those looking for more big names on New Year’s Eve can choose from a list that includes the Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent and Maroon 5.

Even actress Eva Longoria-Parker will be hosting her own party at her new nightclub, Eve, inside at the Crystals entertainment and retail district inside CityCenter.

While the fireworks are likely to entice more locals back to the Strip, those who stay at home won’t miss out on the festivities.

FOX5 will have coverage of Billboard’s New Year’s Eve Live event, hosted by Carmen Electra and featuring a Las Vegas Strip performance by “American Idol” winner Kris Allen.

The final celebration of 2009 will also cap what many tourism officials expect to be the year’s biggest month, with a combination of events and openings that should, hopefully, leave Las Vegans feeling optimistic about the coming year.

Already the “December to Remember” has played host to NASCAR’s Champions Week, the first openings of the CityCenter hotel towers and the National Finals Rodeo.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority projected the December events could draw as many as 300,000 visitors per day.

Next week the centerpiece of the CityCenter complex, ARIA, will open its doors. The massive casino-resort, which boats two 60-story glass towers, will feature several new nightclubs and bars.

And even after all the holiday hoopla has passed, there will be one more reason to cheer. This year New Year’s Eve falls on a Thursday, and what better way to start 2010 in Las Vegas than on a weekend.