"Ice cold! Very cold!" Folks out on Water Street brave below zero wind chills on New Year's Eve!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A very, very COLD New Year's Eve in Milwaukee, as temperatures were expected to be below zero all night. This New Year's Eve was shaping up to be one of the coldest in recent years, but still -- bar owners were hopeful folks would brave the elements to celebrate on one of the biggest drinking nights of the year.

"Ice cold! Very cold!" Michael Hallgren said.

Folks were trying to stay warm while out on Water Street on Wednesday, December 31st.

"I think Wisconsinites love New Year's Eve, and unless it`s a blizzard with feet of snow piling up, not much stops people from going out and enjoying their favorite watering hole," Wes Shaver with McGillycuddy's said.

Shaver is the marketing director for McGillycuddy's and the nearby Red Rock Saloon. Heading into New Year's Eve, Shaver says he sold 300 tickets for McGillycuddy's annual bash.

"It is one of the highest revenue nights for us. It also takes the most hours, preparation and staff to execute it correctly," Shaver said.

But all the fun isn't enough to get everyone out to the party!

"Considering last year was really cold, I just was planning on staying in the whole time anyway.  Nice and warm," Hallgren said.

New Year's Eve 2013 was actually colder than New Year's Eve 2014, but not compared to what we've seen recently. According to the FOX6 Weather Experts, in 2010, the daytime high on this date was 54 degrees. It has dropped steadily to 44, 33 and down to 10 degrees last year!

A FOX6 News crew in downtown Milwaukee on New Year's Eve found a guy wearing SHORTS!

"I work indoors!  Plus, I`m from Wisconsin.  For me, this is normal.  Until we get to negative five. Then I`ll wear pants," Evan Burgos said.

If you're planning on heading out to Water Street on New Year's Eve, keep in mind, law enforcement officials will be out in force -- looking for drunk drivers, and working to keep everyone safe.