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Final Preparations Being Made For Downtown Fireworks Show

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Crews are making their final preparations for the EQT Flashes of Freedom fireworks show in Pittsburgh.

An estimated 500,000 people will pack downtown Pittsburgh for the show.

Pyrotecnico from New Castle is putting on the patriotic display this evening. They have been recognized as having one of the top 10 shows in the country.

This year's show will be choreographed to music with the theme of "Celebrate America."

More than 3,000 fireworks will be shot into the air from barges parked on the Ohio River near the West End Bridge. The barges will be moved  closer to the Point before showtime. When the show begins, be ready for new and innovative displays and lots of colors.

"There's red, white and blue shells for different parts of the sound track," Derek Weber said. "There's a lot of different things you haven't seen before."

It's all being presented by the EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta. This year, the regatta won't be held until the first weekend in August. Tonight's show is a gift to the city from the regatta.

There will be events going on all around town and the North Shore throughout the day, but the fireworks show begins at 9:35 p.m.

"We have a little something for everybody, we have music on our stage all day, kids activities, lot of food everything culminates at 9:35 for the Flashes of Freedom fireworks," said Darcy Kucenic.

The Fort Pitt Museum kicked off today's events in Point State Park by raising a 36-foot, 13-star American flag.

It's the same size and star pattern that originally flew over Fort Pitt more than 200 years ago.

Throughout the day, there will be historical ceremonies, including musket firings and performances by a fife and drum corps.

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