MANHATTAN, KAN. ? Television viewers from across the country will get a glimpse on New Year’s Eve of a smaller ball-drop celebration in a college town that promotes itself as the “Little Apple.”

Fox News Channel plans to broadcast portions of the event live to a national audience.

Now in its third year, the festivities are designed to mimic the televised event in Times Square in New York City. The event takes place in Aggieville, the bar district in the city, which is home to Kansas State University and has about 48,000 residents.

Last year, planners estimated 9,000 people attended the event, compared with about 4,800 who turned out for the first celebration.

Just before midnight, recently retired Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder will push the button that will trigger the descent of a red apple that is 5 feet in diameter and made of 3,000 pieces of hand-cut Plexiglas.

“The Fox folks expressed particular interest in coach Snyder,” said Kate Watson, a co-founder of the event.

The ball drop will be preceded by a laser light show, video presentations and a tribute to the military. The Fort Riley military base is about 20 miles west of Manhattan. Afterward, a fireworks display is planned.

“It’ll be a lot like the Big Apple,” Watson said.

She said city leaders have issued a proclamation designating Moro Street, which runs down the middle of Aggieville, as Broadway for the night’s festivities.

“I’m very pleased to be able to report that our celebration and ball drop will be a lot more family-friendly than the one in New York,” Watson said. “We’ll have everyone from grandmothers to grandchildren in the crowd.”

Earlier in the day, a streetcar-style trolley will transport shoppers to businesses participating in a “Shop ’til the Drop” sale that spans Aggieville, downtown Manhattan and outlying shopping areas.