Numerous firework displays are scheduled to light up the skies in and around New York City this Independence Day, including the 47th annual Macy’s Fourth of July celebration, which will send 60,000 shells into the night sky from five barges in the East River.
While there may be a chance that the celebrations could be impacted by smoke from Canadian wildfires, which continue to affect air quality across the region, for now, several shows are still planned for Tuesday night.
The Macy’s festivities will begin at 8 p.m. with live musical performances, including by the U.S. Army Field band, followed by a 25-minute fireworks display at around 9:25 p.m.
This year’s “pyrotechnic salute to America” will feature a variety of new effects during this year’s show, and viewers can expect to see an average of 2,400 shells and effects per minute, according to event organizers.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch the show and where to catch alternative firework displays.
Where can I watch the fireworks in person?
While the Macy’s show can be viewed from any area with an unobstructed view of the skyline above the East River in Midtown, there are seven official viewing locations along the East River in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. These locations are overseen and managed by the New York City Police Department.
Once viewing locations fill up, they will be closed, and spectators will be redirected to locations along Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive.
Manhattan
1st Avenue and East 42nd Street
1st Avenue and East 34th Street (A.D.A. accessible)
1st Avenue and East 20th Street
Queens
Gantry Plaza State Park
Brooklyn
Newton Barge Park
Transmitter Park
Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Which places are not recommended for in-person viewing?
There are several locations along the East River that event organizers said to avoid, either because of closures or obstructions to views. These locations include Hunters Point South Park in Queens; Roosevelt Island and the East 34th Street Ferry Landing in Manhattan; and in Brooklyn, Bushwick Inlet Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Grand Ferry Park and Domino Park.
How can I watch at home?
The musical performances and fireworks display will be televised live on NBC and on NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, Peacock beginning at 8 p.m.
Who’s performing?
Tuesday night’s show will include performances by Ashanti, Bebe Rexha, Brett Young, Ja Rule, LL Cool J and the Roots, as well as by the U.S. Army Field Band, Sergeant First Class Kyra Dorn, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Feemster and Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick.
The fireworks display will be synchronized to an orchestral musical score conducted by Ray Chew.
What happens if it rains or if smoke persists from the wild fires?
The show will take place rain or shine. But it remains unclear whether smoke conditions will lead to cancellations.
Mayor Eric Adams said on 1010 WINS radio on Friday morning that New York City officials were unsure whether or not the city’s celebrations would be affected. A spokeswoman, Kayla Mamelak, later noted, “I don’t know of any discussion to cancel.”
A forecaster with the Weather Prediction Center said on Friday afternoon that winds from the southwest to the northeast, plus rain from the west, should clear out the skies over the next day, and that those weather patterns would persist until early July 5, meaning July 4 should be clear.
Where else can I see fireworks?
The Fourth of July fireworks at Coney Island typically start shortly after the Macy’s display concludes. The Alliance for Coney Island organizes the free event annually, and the show can be viewed from the Coney Island Boardwalk.
On Staten Island, the Empire Outlets Mall is hosting a Fourth of July Block Party starting at 3:30 p.m. and a fireworks show around 9 p.m. that can be viewed from various locations around the Staten Island Ferry terminal in the St. George neighborhood.
Jersey City’s Fourth of July street festival and fireworks display will be held on Montgomery Street and Exchange Place. Festivities will kick off at 12 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. The fireworks display is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. and can be viewed along the Hudson River in Jersey City and in parts of Downtown Hoboken.
There are also a number of ticket-only events hosted by restaurants and rooftop bars where you can watch the Big Apple’s fireworks burst overhead: In Manhattan, venues include the Elsie, SUMMIT, the Edge and Hole in the Wall Murray Hill; in Brooklyn, Harriet’s Rooftop, Bar Blondeau and Slate Rooftop; and in Queens, the Penthouse at Ravel Hotel. In Jersey City, there is the Rooftop at Exchange Place.
And if viewing by land isn’t your thing, you can watch a light display from the deck of a boat. Options include Circle Line in Manhattan, Liberty Cruises in Brooklyn and NY Waterway in Weehawken, N.J.
Christopher Maag contributed reporting.