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Final Preps Underway For The City's 4th Of July Celebration

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The city's Fourth of July celebration is one of the biggest events of the year, but there is still a lot of preparation before show time.

Police have increased patrols, deploying officers to monitor traffic, ensure safety and enforce the rules. They will be cracking down on anyone caught with open containers of alcohol, driving drunk or setting off fireworks.

"You may see them on foot, on bicycles and in motorized vehicles. We will also have plain clothes and unseen officers deployed across the area," said Col. Melissa Hyatt, chief of patrol, Baltimore City Police Department.

And since no Independence Day is complete without fireworks, it's all hands on deck for Pyrotecnico. The pyrotechnic company is putting on the colorful display at the Inner Harbor.

"It's a lot of work for us all that lead up to a 20 minute show, but the cheers at the end from the crowd down at the Inner Harbor gets pretty loud, so that's something we enjoy," said Mike Mugford, pyrotechnician.

The massive Fourth of July crowd can also mean big business for nearby restaurants.

"Pretty busy. We get a lot of people coming from the county, from Pennsylvania, who just want to come down to the Inner Harbor and enjoy the fireworks," said Kaitlin Buckley, associate general manager, B&O American Brasserie.

RELATED: With Rain Expected, Some Fireworks Displays Already Postponed

There will be some temporary road closures around the Inner Harbor and Fells Point this weekend, so keep that in mind for your visit.

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