America 250, you’re a firework.
Thousands of spectators decked out in red, white and blue gathered across the Big Apple to watch the 50th Annual Macy’s 4th of July fireworks show — a dazzling spectacle that was nothing short of a patriotic pyrotechnic miracle.
The sparkling showcase kicked off at 9:02 p.m. after being brought forward due to looming bad weather and was bigger than ever to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
REUTERS
“It’s the best firework show I have ever seen,” said 11-year-old Liam Long, who traveled with his parents, Amber and Andy and siblings, Palmer and Kolt from Ohio to see the explosive magic.
“This is the best day ever!,” 6-year-old Palmer excitedly said.
Over 85,000 shells were launched into the night sky from the barges on the Hudson and East rivers, stunning the thousands of onlookers waving American flags who had been waiting hours to catch a glimpse of the extravaganza.
The pyrotechnics display reached heights of up to 1,000 feet and was launched from over two hundred points between the main towers of the Brooklyn Bridge, where a handful of fires were seen burning during the display.
Chants of “USA, USA, USA” could be heard along the Hudson River at Battery Park in downtown Manhattan as the dazzling 30-minute spectacle lit up the night sky.
New York Fire Department veteran Dominick Crescenzo usually orchestrates the Macy’s firework spectacular from a barge on the Hudson, but this year he enjoyed the show from the sidelines in Battery Park due to an injury.
“I will really miss not being part of the working crew,” said the 57-year-old deputy chief inspector, who has worked on the firework show for over 30 years.
“But I’m recovering, so I brought my wife and son and we want to enjoy the 250th,” he said.
“I wanted to be part of it. For my family, for the legacy, for the country.”
Across the river in Brooklyn, crowds flocked to Dumbo hours ahead of the firework display to secure a prime position.
Westchester local Jagruti Tiwari, 39, arrived six hours in advance of the dazzling firework display to secure a spot without a ticket.
“We came to watch the fireworks here from White Plains,” Tiwari said. “That’s not far compared [to] people who came from other states.”
“We wanted to come see them for the 250th anniversary,” she said.
Towards the end of the 30-minute spectacle, Palmer pushed herself off the railing in Battery Park and shouted, “It’s the finale! It’s the grand finale!”
However, not everyone was as impressed by the extravaganza that was said to be bigger than ever before.
