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There are few places more iconic to watch 4th July fireworks than in NYC. And, this being the Big Apple, it seems each year’s spectacle is larger and brighter than the year before.
The NYC 4th of July festivities for 2023 fit with tradition: the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks show will launch 60,000 total shells 1,000 feet into the air, with approximately 2,400 shells and effects (in 30 different colors and shapes) decorating the sky every minute. New effects for this year’s show include a mile-wide waving flag, and a “ghost pyro” that will boast four alternating hues. Musical guests for the nation’s largest Independence Day celebration will include Ashanti, Bebe Rexha, LL COOL J featuring DJ Z-Trip & The Roots, as well as The U.S. Army Field Band.
Whether you're visiting from afar, or a resident who decided to stick around this year, we've got the latest on this year's show. Read on for everything you need to know about the 4th of July fireworks in NYC 2023—including our favorite places to watch the dazzling pyrotechnics, from Manhattan observation decks to waterfront parks in Brooklyn. This city doesn't do anything on a small scale, and the scheduled firework shows are hardly an exception.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Where are the 4th of July fireworks in NYC?
This year, the city's main fireworks will launch from barges stationed along the East River in Midtown Manhattan.
What time are the 4th of July fireworks?
The official broadcast of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on NBC and Peacock will start at 8 p.m. EST, with the fireworks themselves set to launch at approximately 9 p.m. The fireworks show will last for 25 minutes.
Where can you not see the fireworks?
Because of the bends in the East River, you won’t be able to see the display from every waterfront point. The following spots will have a very obstructed or nonexistent view: Bushwick Inlet Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, Grand Ferry Park, Domino Park, Hunter’s Point South Park, Roosevelt Island, and the East 34th Street Ferry Landing.
Official viewing points
There will be seven, elevated public viewing areas for the New York City fireworks. In Manhattan, they are located at First Avenue and East 42nd Street, First Avenue and East 34th Street (ADA access is available here), and First Avenue and East 20th Street. On the other side of the river, you can watch from Queens in Gantry Plaza State Park, and in Brooklyn from Newtown Barge Park, Transmitter Park, and Marsha P. Johnson State Park.
The viewing points are first come, first served, and locations will close to new spectators as they reach capacity. So, if you have your heart set on one specific spot, get there as early as you can.
East 34th Street heliport
If you’d rather not jostle for a spot at one of the official viewing points on the river, but you do want to be in the center of the action, there is another option: the Front Row Fireworks’ celebration at the Midtown Heliport. Purchasing a ticket to this party not only gets you a prime spot for the fireworks display, but also includes live DJ performances, balloon artists, face painters, and jumbo-size versions of board games like chess and Jenga.
Observation decks
For a proper bird’s eye view of the show, grab tickets to a Fourth of July party at one of New York City’s sky-high observation decks. One World Observatory will be hosting an all-inclusive 4th of July experience, with a party on the 100th floor complete with Independence Day decor and a cash bar; the Hudson Yards Edge’s event gives partygoers private access to their indoor and outdoor viewing areas 1,131 feet in the air, plus a live DJ and barbecue; and the Empire State Building will host their annual event on their 86th floor open-air deck, complemented with an open bar, live DJs, and hors d’oeuvres by executive chef Morgan Jarrett.
Hotel parties
Properties near the East River are also taking advantage of their location to throw some glittering fetes. The William Vale in Williamsburg is throwing a 4th of July Party at Westlight, their buzzy rooftop bar, with specialty cocktails, bottle service, and live music starting at 5 p.m.; the Roof at Park South at Park South Hotel will go big on grub, with food stations prepared by James Beard-nominated chef Bryce Shuman (and high-top tables to get a better view of the fireworks). And finally, Slate Rooftop on top of The Pod Brooklyn Hotel is hosting their first-ever 4th of July event, with live music, a photo booth, and loads of frozen drinks to cool you off when the night gets steamy.
East River cruises
If watching from the riverbank just isn’t close enough for you, many of the ships that sail the East River will be throwing special evening events for the holiday. City Cruises will run three different dinner cruises that night, including one on the glass-enclosed Bateaux, complete with a live acoustic band and singer. Circle Line, which is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, is also launching a special fireworks cruise. Their four-and-a-half-hour journey makes a pitstop for photos at the Statue of Liberty and includes an open bar and food buffet. And if you’re looking for a bigger vessel, iBoatNYC is throwing their annual 4th of July Fireworks Yacht Cruise on their 4-story Hornblower Infinity Yacht. The four-hour cruise swings you by iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Ellis Island, and includes a premium open bar and dinner buffet.
About the author: New York City-based Juliet Izon regularly covers the city's latest and greatest for Condé Nast Traveler, including our annual guide to the best places to watch 4th of July fireworks in NYC.
