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CHARLOTTE--Thousands of people are expected in uptown Charlotte for the 4th of July festivities and city officials are making safety their top priority.

The July 4th Spectacular kicks off in uptown at 4 p.m. and it's one of many events taking place in the area to celebrate Independence Day.

Charlotte's city manager declared the 4th of July celebration an "extraordinary event," which gives police additional powers to search and arrest.

It also restricts some of the things that people can bring into designated areas.

CMPD Deputy Chief Harold Medlock says that distinction is intended to keep citizens and law enforcement safe during large events like festivals and protests.

“Our staffing is always based on past occurrences and what we anticipate as problems and then the number of people. Our staffing really doesn't tie to an extraordinary event, it's really based off of past experiences, what we expect and information we have as to the kind of crowd we will have attending the event.”

Law enforcement aren't the only ones prepping for safety, health officials are warning people that we are still in the thick of this heat wave and people should stay hydrated throughout the day.

If you are looking for something to do on this 4th of July, visit: The 4th on 14