Macy’s Fourth of July celebration will return to the Hudson River for the first time in more than a decade, and millions of spectators are expected to flock to Manhattan’s West Side for the 25-minute fireworks show.
The show will start at around 9:25 p.m. on Thursday. Members of the public can watch free of charge from spots along Hudson River and areas of New Jersey. Other fireworks shows will take place on Staten Island, in Coney Island, in Westchester County and at Jones Beach on Long Island.
Where can I watch?
The Macy’s fireworks will be launched from barges positioned on the river between West 14th and West 34th Streets. The best spots to watch from will be in Manhattan along the West Side Highway between those streets, or across the river near the New Jersey waterfront in Hoboken, Weehawken and Jersey City.
There are five places where the public can enter the West Side Highway to watch the show. Three are on Washington Street, at Christopher, West 11th and West 12th Streets. Two are on 11th Avenue, at West 29th and West 40th Streets. Police will let people into the viewing area on a first-come-first-served basis until it reaches capacity.
The Hudson River Park has changed significantly since the fireworks show was last hosted there in 2013, said Robert Atterbury, a vice president of the Hudson River Park Trust.
“Our long, skinny configuration, sandwiched between the water and the roadway, poses extra challenges particularly when there is crowding,” Mr. Atterbury said in a statement.
A lucky 10,000 people claimed spots offered by the city to watch the fireworks with a clear view. Around a million people tried to claim tickets when they became available last Wednesday, crashing the website. By the following day, all the tickets were claimed.
In Hoboken, N.J., spectators can watch at no cost at Elysian, Stevens, Pier A and Maxwell Place Parks. Bars, hotels and restaurants in both New Jersey and Manhattan are hosting parties with views of the fireworks, with tickets ranging between $40 for a “partial viewing party” at the Virgin hotel and $550 to watch from the Empire State Building observation deck.
What should I know before I go?
A number of items including backpacks, electronic cigarettes, lawn chairs and picnic blankets will not be permitted in the viewing area.
Road closures will snarl traffic near viewing sites, so the authorities recommend taking public transportation.
What will I see?
This year’s show will feature 60,000 shells ignited from five barges on a mile-long stretch of the Hudson, organizers said. Macy’s commissioned a custom firework for the show that will explode in a burst of red, white and blue, according to Will Coss, the executive producer of the event.
The West Side location gave organizers more latitude to set off bigger fireworks, since the Hudson is wider than the East River.
For the second year, a drone light show will accompany the fireworks, according to Mr. Coss. Further details, he said, will be reserved as a surprise for viewers Thursday night.
How can I watch at home?
The celebration will be aired on NBC and will stream on Peacock. Programming starts at 8 p.m. in all time zones, and it will include musical performances by Luis Fonsi, Lainey Wilson, Tanner Adell and other artists. The music will also air on the radio station 1010 WINS.
Where else can I watch?
The Macy’s show moved from the Hudson to the East River in 2014 at the urging of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Brooklynite, who said it would be visible to more New Yorkers there. Brooklyn and Queens won’t be great places to watch the Macy’s show this year, but the boroughs’ residents still have plenty of options to enjoy festivities Thursday night.
Coney Island will host its annual fireworks show in the south of the borough. It’s set to start at 10 p.m. and will last for 15 minutes. The fireworks can be seen from any part of the Coney Island boardwalk, and they will be launched from the pier at West 19th Street, according to Cindy Vourderis, a spokeswoman for the Alliance for Coney Island.
Several spots in Westchester will host fireworks shows. In Mamaroneck, fireworks will cap off a day of festivities at a carnival hosted by the fire department. Rye Playland will begin a show of its own at 9 p.m.
To the east of New York City, Jones Beach is advertising a fireworks display inspired by “Barbie, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift” that will start at 9:30 p.m. The show is free, but parking will cost $10.
The fireworks on the Hudson and in Coney Island might be faintly visible from parts of Staten Island. But for those hoping for a better view, Empire Outlets will also host its annual celebration, with fireworks set to start after 9 p.m.
Jersey City will host its annual celebration on the waterfront. Programming will start at noon and will feature live music from the rappers Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean and Funk Flex as well as fireworks in the evening.