July 4, 2010 in NYC: where to see fireworks, other events
Update: See NewYorkology’s July 4, 2011 Macy’s fireworks guide with viewing locations, the barge map, webcams and lineup featuring a flyover, blimp race, and musical performances.
On Sunday night, the 34th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will light up the skies above the Hudson River around 9:20 p.m. for a 26-minute show featuring more than 40,000 shells including red, white and blue comet bursts, a cascading Silver Wall, a red-and-green mile of sparkle, color changing ghost shells, and a new aqua-colored Jellyfish with silver tentacles.
More than 1,500 shells will explode per minute at heights up to 1,000 feet in the air. They’ll be fired from fired six barges on the Hudson River positioned between 24th and 50th Streets, with the prime Manhattan west-side viewing locations from 23rd to 59th Streets. (Specific viewing locations listed below.)
The fireworks will be timed to music that will be simulcast on radio station 1010 WINS. The score — from “Stars & Stripes Forever” and “God Bless America” to “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “When The Saints Go Marchin’ In” — will be performed live by the New York Pops Orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Straight No Chaser, Broadway Inspirational Voices, U.S. Army Soldier’s Chorus and United We Sing. They’ll be on the newly christened Norwegian Epic, docked at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.
Update: Before sunset, a plane will tow a 30-by-60 foot American flag along the Hudson at 6 p.m. Later, F-15 fighter jets and police helicopters will fly along the Hudson sometime between 7:30 and 8 p.m., NY1 reports.
If you want to pay extra for views from up high or on some of the piers or boats, advance reservations are often required (especially if you need to cross crowd-control police lines on Sunday night to reach your venue.)
Where to watch the fireworks on July 4, 2010:
West Side Highway between 23rd and 59th streets
Some side streets between 11th and 12th avenues
Pier 54 and Pier 84 (limited access from 44th Street)
To reach the most western points, you’ll need to pass through access points. The NYPD requests that spectators refrain from bringing backpacks/containers or other large bags as all will be screened for security purposes, according to Macy’s. The access points:
24th Street
26th through 30th streets
34th Street
40th through 44th streets
47th street
49th through 52nd streets
54th street
56th through 57th streets
Macy’s advises there will be no fireworks viewing from the East River, Battery Park, Battery Park City or the Hudson River Park Promenade from Houston to 59th streets.
Premium viewing locations:
For $100, you can get a ticket to Pier 66 Maritime pier and the Cornell tugboat docked on the Hudson.
Pier 66 also has $175 tickets that get you on the veranda with open bar and food.
Seastreak (which departs from the New Jersey Highlands) has $70 tickets.
The red, white and blueEmpire State Building, which is usually open until 2 a.m., will close at 7 p.m. For $125, you can buy a ticket to the 86th floor observatory for a fireworks viewing party from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with snacks and soft drinks.
OnJuly4th.com is a clearinghouse of ticketed Fourth of July parties, including the Queen of Hearts boat and Jason’s Riverside Grill at Chelsea Piers.
Other Chelsea Piers tenants offer fireworks viewing packages including the golf club and bowling lanes.
The rooftop Highbar on West 48th Street will be open for the night for $40 with a full bar, and serve hot dogs and hamburgers on the outdoor barbecue from 5 to 6 p.m.
Rooftop bar 230 Fifth is still taking reservations for bottle-service tables.
The View revolving restaurant atop the Marriott Marquis in Times Square offers a dessert buffet for $24; a full buffet for $42; or just a $10 cover charge after 8 p.m. for its first-come, first-served seats.
The Top of the Rock Observation Deck will operate with normal rates and hours, (the last elevator goes up at 11 p.m.,) but the skyscraper’s website advises: “Guests should be aware that Top of the Rock does not offer unobstructed views of any fireworks displays in New York or New Jersey.”
Other July 4 events:
A Thomas Jefferson copy of the Declaration of Independence is on view at the main branch of the New York Public Library from 1 to 5 p.m.
Rosanne Cash will play a free 2 p.m. concert on Governors Island. Other Governors Island events include a free She and Him concert (doors open at 4 p.m.;) and a ticketed Victor Calderone event from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Free Nathan’s Famous hot-dog eating contest from noon to 1 p.m. at Coney Island, with a pre-show from 10 a.m. with the Motown band, Xclusive with Sonni Deyv.
Of note: On Friday afternoon, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz issued this statement: “We applaud Macy’s July 4th fireworks every year, and last summer they were moved to the Hudson to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage. Well now this anniversary has passed, and Macy’s should bring the extravaganza back to its traditional, rightful location—the East River—where it helps boost our city’s economy, bringing viewers out to the restaurants and riverfront nightspots of Brooklyn and New York City. This should be our priority—not providing viewing pleasure to residents in New Jersey and excluding a large part of New York City, especially Brooklyn.”
Video credit: Amy Langfield/NewYorkology. 2009 Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks from the deck of the USS Intrepid.
Note: This story will be updated through the weekend with more events and information.
