Baltimore Prepares For A Spectacular New Year's Celebration
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- While the clock ticks to get a deal done on the fiscal cliff, we are also counting down to the New Year.
Final preparations continue right now at the Inner Harbor for what's going to be a spectacular show.
Derek Valcourt has more on the excitement that is building.
Months and months of preparation goes into an event like that. Some folks are starting to head down to the Inner Harbor, but it's nowhere near the crowds we are expecting to see later on Monday night as this massive New Year's Eve Spectacular gets underway.
"It's one of the better fireworks that I've seen in a long, long time," said Pam.
"We came here the day before so we can make it tonight," said Desmond.
That kind of excitement is exactly why the city hired Pyrotecnico to once again orchestrate the show.
For days crews have assembled the thousand of explosives that will light up the sky. New this year is a special tribute to the Orioles in the show's second song.
"So during that time, the Orioles' song will be playing. The Orioles' colors, the orange and black or the orange and the white, are going up at that time as well," said Pyrotecnico technician Ryan O'Neil.
As many as 100,000 people could make their way to the water's edge for the show. Others will find their own cozy spot.
"I think we are going to watch them from a roof top this year," said one resident.
Because of the huge crowds they are expecting at the Inner Harbor, city police said it's all hands on deck. No vacation was allowed for any officers Monday night. Hundreds of extra cops will be patrolling the Inner Harbor -- some in plain clothes -- and extra monitors will be closely watching all of the crime cameras in the area closely. Fencing will enclose parts of the Inner Harbor to encourage people to use crosswalks.
Crews spent the day assembling the stage at the Ampitheater where top 40 band Outbreak will start playing the hits around 9 p.m.
"Just have a plan so you know where you're going to park, where you are going to go, and when you leave you know what your plan is," said Tracy Baskerville, a spokesperson for the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.
