Nyc free Summer 2005 Events nyc street Fairs, Festivals & Feasts Museum Mile Festival

Macy's 4th of July Fireworks

Viewing Information

Monday July 4 2005  9:20P

Information 212-494-4495 | Macy's 4th of July Press Release

Boating Info 212-494-5243 | Transit Info 718-330-1234

Broadcast Television WNBC Ch 4 | Radio 1010 WINS AM

New York City's 4th of July Fireworks is one of Macy's great gifts to the people of NYC. To mark the country's birthday the 2004 fireworks will take place at three locations this year: 

• 
  along the East River between 23rd and 42nd Streets
  
• 
  at South Street Seaport
  
• 
  between the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
  

Schedule

East River

Be sure to go before you go. There are no public facilities provided on the FDR Drive and the crowds make it impossible to hop over to 1st Avenue to pick up something with which to quench your thirst. Once you are on the Drive you are there for the duration; be sure to make a rest stop beforehand and to pack along a couple of bottles of water. If it's convenient, bring folding chairs and a small cooler. Public access to the FDR will be at 23rd, 38th and 42nd Streets. Access to many blocks around the area is restricted, so be sure to give yourself enough time to get a good spot, try to arrive about 7:00P

Pedestrian access to the FDR for the Midtown part of the show is at 23rd Street, 38th Street and 42nd Street only

Our favorite location to view the fireworks is on the FDR Drive at 34th Street. You have barges to the left of you, barges to the right of you, barges in front of you. The shells burst right over your head; you feel the BOOOOM! way down in your stomach. The best way to get to this location is not the 34th Street entrance -- though many people assume so, there isn't any! Instead, leave early and use the 38th Street entrance to the FDR. From Grand Central walk east towards the River along 42nd Street. Keep to the right! You want to use the on ramp that starts at 38th Street, not the ramp that runs along the South side of the United Nations, this does not provide access all the way through. Crowd control measures change from year-to-year and specific street openings and access points might change. If you can't get to where you want to go don't try to buck the crowd; go with the flow and make the best of the situation

Once on top of the FDR drive at 38th Street you'll hit a pretty big crowd -- people get lazy and tend to stop at the first available spot -- if you make it through, you'll find that the crowd thins appreciably and the FDR is almost empty when you hit 34th Street. Don't hurry after the show, you are not going to get anywhere quickly. Relax and wait until the crowd thins enough to stroll off the Drive

In Queens the best bet is in the Hunter's Point - Borden Avenue areas. Try to sneak in as close to the shore as possible, preferably down towards 54th and 55th Avenues (Don't trespass!). And Don't Drive! If you arrive early and happen to find a parking space, please believe us -- through hard-learned experience -- that it will take you at least an hour to get out of the area after the show is over

In Brooklyn try to get near the old pier areas between Kent and Eagle Streets in Greenpoint. Even better, try for a spot in the small park at the head of Newton Creek

South Street

Pedestrian access to the FDR is from Pearl Street only

In Brooklyn, we'd probably just head for the Esplanade or try for a spot down along Furman Street

Statue of Liberty