New security measures in place for Taste of Charlotte festival

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The annual Taste of Charlotte festival is underway in uptown, a three-day event that allows visitors a chance to enjoy some of Charlotte's best food.

More than 150,000 people are expected to walk the streets of uptown this weekend, and organizers have updated their security plans.

For the first time, every street leading into the event has a visual checkpoint where police officers are positioned.

"We've been working with CMPD just to make sure everyone feels safe when they're coming uptown," explained event producer Carrie Griffin, "So every section you're going to come through there is a small entry point that you'll walk through. There will be a police officer there just making eye contact with everybody. Making sure everybody coming in feels safe."

Police are asking the public to stay vigilant during these public events and notify them of any suspicious activity.

Security experts said to look for unusual behavior and also abandoned backpacks or packages.

There will also be large garbage trucks that will block unauthorized vehicles from getting too close to crowds.

There will be multiple layers of counter-terrorism security that the public will not see, from plain clothes officers to snipers and intelligence efforts.

Organizers told Channel 9 that the updated security plan was in motion even before recent “soft target" terror events in Great Britain.

“We're prepared,” said event producer Carrie Griffin. “We've been working really closely with CMPD to make sure that everyone is going to feel safe when they come uptown.”

One event-goer said she refuses to live in fear.

"I think we should keep our wits about us and definitely be aware of our surroundings but I don't think we should let this deter our enjoyment factor at all," said Whitney Coccimiglio.

Find out what security experts say you can do to better protect yourself at large events, on Eyewitness News at 5 p.m.

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