New York City’s main Fourth of July fireworks event is making a grand return to the Hudson River after ten years of the celebration being held at the East River, bringing waves of excitement for residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the bodies of water.
Some residents who live by the East River are far from upset to see the fireworks move across the city, as they will no longer be in such close proximity to the noise and crowds.
“Selfishly, as a resident, it’s kinds of nice to not have the fireworks this year,” said Alex H., 34, who’s lived in Long Island City, Queens, for five years. “I have to walk around with a copy of my lease on my phone that day just to get around.”
The Macy’s Fourth of July show was moved to the East River nearly a decade ago, as city officials argued more New Yorkers would be able to see them there, though years later not everybody in range of the area is so fond of the noisy sparks.
Macy’s says the “display will feature thousands of shells and an array of effects from barges positioned along the Hudson River with multiple viewing opportunities in Manhattan between West 14th and West 34th Streets and in New Jersey.”
The company has not disclosed the exact reason why they made the decision to relocate the show.
“Many factors contribute to the choice of the location,” said Will Coss, the show’s executive producer, in a statement. “Show design, size and scale of the pyrotechnics used, safety requirements, and accessible public viewing locations and more.”
The July 4th fireworks display has switched between the two rivers multiple times since it first became an annual tradition at the time of the American Bicentennial in 1976.
Following a considerable period of the event being at the East River, the show moved to the Hudson in 2009 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s arrival and settlement in the region in 1609. Five years later, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the show would be returning to the East River so it could be more visible.
This year, residents of Manhattan’s West Side and New Jersey will have the pleasure–or burden–depending on their feelings toward the pyrotechnics and the flocks of crowds it brings, of having views of the fireworks back over the Hudson to celebrate the country’s 248th independence day.
