Just one year after switching to the West side, 4th of July fireworks in NYC—officially the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks—are returning to the East River. (This news arrives to the delight of Brooklynites everywhere! Sorry New Jersey—hope it was nice while it lasted.)
The Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks display is the largest in the United States. The iconic annual extravaganza is right up there in New York holiday lore with the New Year’s Eve Times Square Ball Drop and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. According to Macy’s, this year’s 11 new fireworks effects include “crackling crown jellyfish, atomic rings, yellow and green sunbursts, strobing lemon cascades,” and “comet fans.” There will also be 30 new colors and 80,000 shells. Before blast off, there will be a star-studded cast of performers who will play at Pier 17, including the Jonas Brothers, Ava Max, Keke Palmer, Lenny Kravitz, Eric Church, and Trisha Yearwood.
Alex Erdekian
Alex Erdekian is a contributor at Condé Nast Traveler and former editor. She’s Editor-in-Chief of The Brooklyn Review and teaches at Brooklyn College. Her travel journalism has led her to Florence’s underground street art scene, Nantucket potato chip entrepreneurs, and the surf town of Sayulita, Mexico—but there’s nowhere she loves writing about as much as New York.
Read on for more information and the best places to catch the brilliant display, from 360-degree rooftop terraces, to river cruises in the center of the action.
Where are the 4th of July fireworks in NYC?
The fireworks are blasting off from the Brooklyn Bridge in addition to four barges on the lower East River in Seaport, marking their return to the East side after just one year.
What time are the 4th of July fireworks in NYC?
The 4th of July fireworks display in NYC will begin at 9:25 p.m., according to NYC311.
Where can you not see the fireworks?
Because the fireworks are returning to the East River, the West Side and Jersey will not have ideal views (the views there were optimal last year, when the display occurred over the Hudson River). Continue to check for word from Macy’s, as well, on where not to go.
Official viewing points
Official public viewing locations have yet to be announced by Macy’s or the city, but stay tuned for news from the retailer in the coming days about where to watch, including ADA accessible points. Macy’s advises spectators not to bring chairs, umbrellas, blankets, or large bags and backpacks to official public viewpoints. You’ll want to nab a spot very, very early if you go this route. Additionally, for select prime locations, the City of New York announced that it will be offering a lottery for free public viewing tickets; there’s no news as of yet as to when further details will be announced.
Loosely speaking, prime viewing neighborhoods include the Seaport District, Dumbo, and Brooklyn Heights.
In 2023, the most recent year the fireworks were blasted from the East side, there were seven official public viewing locations, overseen by the NYPD and closed when they reached capacity. In Manhattan: 1st Avenue and East 42nd Street, 1st Avenue and East 34th Street, and 1st Avenue and East 20th Street. In Queens: Gantry Plaza State Park. In Brooklyn: Newtown Barge Park in Greenpoint, Transmitter Park in Greenpoint, and Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Williamsburg.