NYC 4th of July Fireworks to Return to East River After Moving to Hudson in 2009

The Macy's 4th of July fireworks show will return to the East River this year, after moving to the Hudson in 2009.

 

De Blasio said he is thrilled that after years of working with Macy's and others to make it a reality, the fireworks would return to the East River "where so many New Yorkers will be able to enjoy them again." 

 

There will be three large barges in the water, and a fourth barge will be the Brooklyn Bridge, said Amy Kule, executive producer of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. 

 

"It's going to be a beautiful show, all brand new," she said. 

 

The move means thousands of people from Brooklyn, Queens and the East Side will once again get a front-row view of the show.

 

"The idea that we won't have to slog all the way through midtown, that you could actually just watch from here, that would be really cool," said Long Island City resident Matt Setlass. 

 

Hassan Ouef, owner of the Riverview Restaurant along the Long Island City waterfront, says businesses took a hit when the dazzling display was moved to the Hudson River in 2009 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage up the river.

 

"People were complaining because when they did it for the other side, it was really for New Jersey, not for New York," he said. 

 

New Jersey residents will now have to make alternate plans, and they're not happy about it. 

 

"I think that's awful," said Brian Schoenborn of Hoboken. "I think it takes some of the fun and excitement from the people of Jersey City and greater New York."

 

But de Blasio says he's hoping residents of the Garden State will travel over and give the city an economic boom.

 

"Folks from New Jersey will be more than welcome to join us on that special day, and they'll be welcome to spend their money while they're here," he said. 

 

He added that the move isn't permanent, and that the show will rotate between the Hudson and East rivers in the future.