NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)- After 16 years of being part of the New Year’s Eve extravaganza in Jackson Square, this will be the last for the New Year’s baby atop Jax Brewery.

News with a Twist Reporter Kenny Lopez tells us what’s in store for this baby’s final year!

“The New Year’s Eve baby was born in 2000, and he was created by the Barth Brothers.  He’s been wonderful all these years,”  Debbie Bresler of the Crescent City Countdown Club said.

The Crescent City Countdown Club puts on the big New Year’s fireworks show, and fleur de lis drop, with the baby included.  This will be the baby’s last year because the toddler’s constantly in need of a baby-sitter.

“After Hurricane Katrina, this baby made out of paper mache was found floating in a den.  He’s been patched up and repaired over and over again.  Because its made out of paper mache, it is very easy for moisture to get into our baby,” she said.

For this baby’s final hoorah, it underwent a makeover!

“Over the weekend, two artiest, Mary Rogers and Kathy McKinney spent 14 hours repairing and painting the baby,”  Bresler said.

Next year with this baby no longer being part of the annual fleur de lis drop on top of the condos at Jax Brewery, they plan on having a contest for someone to create the new baby to be used in years to come.  They hope the new baby will be made out of much stronger material like fiberglass.

“We know we’re going to find this baby a new home, wherever we take it will be inside.  This is not an outdoor baby.  He’s a beloved symbol of New Year’s Eve in New Orleans.

The Crescent City Countdown Club’s New Year’s Eve festivities are free and open to the public.  Every year it is the major attraction on New Year’s Eve.  The fireworks and fleur de lis drop are presented by Chevron and several other sponsors.