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Oh say, can you see one of the biggest fireworks displays in the country from the comfort of your couch? You bet.
Macy’s
M,
is keeping its Independence Day tradition alive for a 47th straight year on Tuesday night. The Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks will blast off from barges along New York City’s East River at 9:25 p.m. Eastern. But even if you don’t live close enough to join the million-or-so spectators expected to “ooh” and “aah” from more than two miles of public viewing space along midtown Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn waterfronts, the star-spangled salute will be broadcast on the Comcast-owned
CMCSA,
NBC and its Peacock app from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern, including a pre-show with celebrity performers, including Ashanti, Ja Rule, LL CooL J and The Roots.
Related: Fourth of July: Is the stock market open?
Macy’s doesn’t disclose what it spends to throw the self-described biggest Fourth of July fireworks display in the country, considering it a gift to the nation — like its annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But industry insiders have put the price tag in the $6 million to $7 million ballpark. “This is a multimillion-dollar event,” Julie Heckman from the American Pyrotechnics Association previously told MarketWatch. “The fireworks and those barges are gonna be in the six figures, but then you’ve got the live entertainment, staging, traffic management and security costs.”
So here’s what you need to know to catch the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks this year.
Where can you watch the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks?
The show will air on NBC and NBC Live online. Cord-cutters can also stream the fireworks on Comcast’s Peacock service, or stream it live via any service with NBC access, such as Hulu+ Live TV, YouTube TV
GOOG,
Sling TV, DIRECTV or fuboTV
FUBO,
If you’ll be in the New York tri-state area and you’d like to catch the fireworks in person, you’ll be able to see the show in any area with an unobstructed view of the skyline above the East River in Midtown, between East 20th and East 42nd streets. There will also be specific public viewing areas set up with entrances at the following locations:
Manhattan
1st Ave. & E. 42nd St.
1st Ave. & E. 34th St.
1st Ave. & E. 20th St.
Queens:
Gantry Plaza State Park
Brooklyn:
Newtown Barge Park
Transmitter Park
Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Macy’s has more details on its site here, or call Macy’s Marine Hotline at 212-494-5243 for boater viewing tips.
What time do the Macy’s fireworks start?
The televised broadcast runs on NBC from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 to 7 p.m. Pacific), but check your local listings for more details.
Just how big is this fireworks display?
An eye-popping 60,000 total shells will light the skies over NYC’s East River near Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday night, synchronized to a patriotic musical score, with approximately 2,400 shells and effects firing per minute during the 25-minute showcase. The fireworks span a mile along the East River, and reach 1,000 feet into the air from the water’s edge.
What’s new at the Macy’s fireworks this year?
This year’s fireworks display features four new effects to watch out for, including one moment when shells will be bursting in air to create a mile-wide waving American flag made of red, white and blue palm and strobing crystals (as Macy’s describes them).
There will also be a sunflower ring with crackling pistil shells, Macy’s says, along with some red stop-sign-shaped effects, and a new “Ghost pyro” that will haunt viewers with four alternating hues. Expect to see shells and effects firing off in 30 different colors and shapes this year.
Who’s performing at the Macy’s fireworks display?
Macy’s has announced that artists including Ashanti, Bebe Rexha, Ja Rule, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and LL COOL J featuring DJ Z-Trip and The Roots will all perform during the festivities, although be warned that access to the performance areas are not open to the general public. To see these, you’ll want to tune into the broadcast.
What if you miss the live show?
The Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks will be broadcast again on NBC from 10 to 11 p.m. Eastern, or check your local listings.
More Fourth of July coverage on MarketWatch:
Fourth of July: Is mail still running? Will banks be open?
