Stunning Skies During Macy's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular

America's 234th birthday was celebrated with a gorgeous display of fireworks. Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular was over the Hudson River for a second year in a row, drawing thousands of people to the West Side Highway to see 40,000 shells explode in 26 minutes from six barges. And while some people were disappointed the fireworks weren't over the East River again, these photographs (above) and this video (below) show that the pyrotechnics could even be seen from Brooklyn and Queens.

Thank you to the Gothamist readers who shared their beautiful photographs and videos! And if you were curious what these fireworks look like before they are shot into the air, we got a behind-the-scenes look last week.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on July 5, 2010 9:35 AM

Comments [rss]

BillyShears

WTF is it gonna take to have them move it back to the east side? If Jersey wants fireworks they can pay for their own.

spnder

they *have* their own. There's way more fireworks in the nearby Jersey area than there were in the 5 boroughs. It was sad last night that the only shows we could see from Brooklyn were itty bits from Staten Island and the Hudson. Pathetic.

nicemarmot

I could sorta see it from my apartment. I live in a high rise in east midtown. When it was over the East River my building would throw a party on the roof, but now that you can only see the highest fireworks and occasional flashes there's really no point.

Now, I can still HEAR it just as loud as I could when it was over the East River. Don't understand quite how that works...

spnder

"And while some people were disappointed the fireworks weren't over the East River again, these photographs (above) and this video (below) show that the pyrotechnics could even be seen from Brooklyn and Queens."

You mean from williamsburg and LIC. That's a very small part of Brooklyn and Queens

Billiamsburg

And from a rooftop in that area no less. So no chance of anyone seeing it that doesnt have friends with a penthouse in dumbo.

This hudson river show is crap. unless new jersey is footing the bill too but i havent heard that they are.

Jen Chung

I believe Macy's foots the bill for the show, so it's up to them. They also work with the municipalities and security agencies, so I imagine that while NYC foots the bill with police, fire, and other personnel, NJ towns are doing the same for the crowds watching from their side of the Hudson.