Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show returns to the Hudson River

The show is the nation's largest Fourth of July celebration.

Edric Robinson

Jun 27, 2024, 11:12 PM

Updated 177 days ago

Share:

The 48th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show is approaching, and it's now back along the Hudson River.
The show is the nation's largest Fourth of July celebration.
"Bigger river, bigger show, larger shells," says Will Coss, executive producer of Macy's 4th of July Fireworks.
It’s been 10 years since the show was on the west side of New York City.
Organizers are promising a mix of classics and new, never-before-seen firework displays.
"Sixty-thousand shells and effects that will happen from approximately 9:25 p.m. to 9:50 p.m., synched to a musical score that’s going to take you through a variety of emotions—some patriotic moments, some celebratory moments," adds Coss.
This 25-minute show takes about a year to plan out. Crews are busy working on the final leg of this process. Each firework shell is positioned within racks on five barges that will be stationed from 14th Street all the way to 34th Street.
Gary Souza, show designer of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, explains one highlight of the show.
"This is a representation of a really cool shell. It will have eight transitions, these are three rings it will present—it will be a big burst of green, then these rings show up and they will chase the colors chasing around the rings," he says.
There’s also a custom red, white, and blue design. The team says they shopped around the world for fireworks, some as big as 10 inches in diameter and weighing up to 30 pounds, all synchronized to a custom computerized firing system. Plus, the drones will be back.
"The first time drones were flown in New York City was with the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks last year, and this year we’re looking to amplify that drone light show a bit more with a couple of special surprises," says Coss.
Coss also advises on the best viewing spots.
"If you intend to come down and view the fireworks in person, please do check out our website Macys.com/fireworks for a list of all the safe and secure locations," says Coss.