See July 4 Spectacular From Long Island City, Greenpoint
The rockets’ red glare will once again fill the evening skies over Brooklyn and Queens this Fourth of July.
Macy’s and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday, Apr. 14, that this year’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show will take place on the East River. Since 2009, the Hudson River played host to the pyrotechnical spectacle, giving residents of New Jersey and Manhattan’s West Side a front-row seat of the action.
The Mayor’s office indicated the barges carrying the more than 40,000 fireworks shells and other effects will be placed near the Brooklyn Bridge and the “lower” East River adjacent to Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Long Island City. It will be the first time in 19 years that the Brooklyn Bridge is featured in the extravaganza.
Officials expect the show to draw tens of thousands of revelers to the neighborhoods’ waterfronts on Independence Day, serving as an economic boon for local businesses.
“We’re grateful to Macy’s for lighting our skyline every Fourth of July-and I’m thrilled that, after years of working with Macy’s and my colleagues to make this a reality, the fireworks will return to the East River this year,” said de Blasio, who-as a mayoral candidate last year-held an Independence Day press conference in Brooklyn calling on Macy’s to return the fireworks display to the East River.
“Now even more New Yorkers will get to take part in this extraordinary celebration, against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, the harbor and our skyline,” the mayor added.
“We are thrilled to be working with our partners in the City of New York to have the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge as our canvas and stunning backdrop for this year’s bigger-than-life display,” stated Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks.
Brooklyn and Queens borough presidents and other lawmakers were also beaming over Monday’s announcement. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams called the move “a smart economic decision that Borough Hall has long pursued, one that will stimulate businesses on our waterfront.” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz welcomed the news “on behalf of the 2.3 million people who reside in Queens” and said she looked “forward to the return of this great event to the East River.
Brining this display back to the East River will ensure millions of New Yorkers in the outer boroughs can enjoy this celebration,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez.
“I have fought alongside Mayor de Blasio since he was the public advocate to help make this a reality,” added City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “When he was public advocate, Mayor de Blasio and I met with Macy’s executives and discussed the countless benefits of bringing one of New York’s most spectacular events back to the East River, where many more New Yorkers would be able to enjoy them. I congratulate the mayor for giving this effort the last push it needed and giving thousands of more New Yorkers the opportunity to see the show.”
“The return of July 4th fireworks to the East River is welcome news for western Queens,” said State Sen. Michael Gianaris. “For too long, residents of our neighborhoods have been left out of what is not only a citywide, but a national event. Once again, the Queens waterfront will be a participant in the grandest Independence Day celebration in the United States.”
The 38th Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show will run about 25 minutes long sometime after 9 p.m. on July 4, with the entire show choreographed to music. It will be broadcast on WNBC-TV and heard on 1010 WINS radio.
Pyro Spectaculars by Souza will again create and operate the fireworks.
Further details about the fireworks display will be published in June on the show’s official website, www.macys.com/fireworks.
