CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds flocked to Memorial Stadium in Elizabeth Tuesday night to watch Charlotte's biggest fireworks show, "Star Spangled Spectacular."
[LINK: Where to watch fireworks in the area]
Channel 9 reporter Mark Barber got a first look at the preparations earlier in the day to pull off the biggest fireworks show in Charlotte.
It was the first time in five years that the city held their fireworks event at Memorial Stadium.
The fireworks were shot off the roof of a nearby parking deck on CPCC's campus.
Because so many other fireworks shows are happening Wednesday, the city decided to host its show Tuesday so there would be enough police and firefighters to work the event.
The fireworks show marked the kickoff celebration for the city's upcoming 250th birthday.
Officials told Channel 9 the fireworks can climb more than 1,000 feet in the air -- higher than the fireworks in any other show.
"A lot of other locations you can't shoot the size of the show we have here,” said event coordinator Robert Krumbine. “Just the size of the shells. Shows that are taking place in uptown use a 2- to 3-inch shell. We're using 5- to 6-inch shells."
The free, 20-minute show started at 9:30 p.m., but did not go off without a hitch.
The Fire Marshal said a malfunction resulted in some fireworks going off after the show ended. Some people couldn't access their vehicles for about 15 minutes until everything was finished.
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