We’ve all heard about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but do you know about the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks?  Me either!  But they happen.  The fireworks display made its debut on the Hudson River in 1958 but then moved to the East River in 1976.  It remained there as a tradition up until last year when it returned to the Hudson River for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson.  So, the fireworks display will be at the Hudson River once again this year.

The fireworks show begins at 9:20 pm on July 4th and runs for 26-minutes.  The display will be set off from six barges positioned between 24th and 50th Streets on the Hudson River. It will feature more than 40,000 shells exploding at a rate of more than 1,500 per minute.  These fireworks reach the incredible heights of 1,000 feet in the air!  This year, Macy’s has increased the amount of shells that can reach heights of 1,000 feet in the sky, this way millions more spectators will be able to see the show from greater distances.  The theme of the Macy’s fireworks show for 2010 is “American Harmony”.  The musical score will feature vocal harmony in a capella, gospel, barbershop quartets and choral ensembles from The New York Pops orchestra, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and some of America’s top vocal groups.  To me that sounds so American!
There are all sorts of place to go to watch the fireworks.  Here are a few that you might want to check out:
  • The Westside Highway
  • New Jersey – Check out the Hudson River Promedade from the New Jersey side
  • NY Waterway Tours – Cruises around the Hudson River are $75 a person
  • Circle Line Cruise – Their July 4th cruise tickets are $79
  • Hudson Terrace – The Terrace rooftop packages start at $150
  • The Flight Deck of the USS Intrepid – tickets are $100 per person
  • Pier 83 – The have a barbeque that costs $79

But if you don’t live in the New York area, try tuning into NBC to catch the festivities while hosting your own party. They will be broadcasting live on Norwegian Cruise Lines  with live performances by the likes of Justin Bieber, Enrique Iglasias and the cast of Twilight.