July 4 fireworks at New York City
The July 4 fireworks at New York City is a test of patience. For the best viewing spots, your wait is likely going to be in hours, and you will need to be comfortable in large crowds. Local subway stations may be packed for quite some time after the event and getting on a train will be an arduous task. It is truly a time commitment.
Fireworks for Independence Day on July 4, 2018 at Gantry Plaza State Park started at around 9:40PM. As with most things in NYC, it is such a test of patience. The choice spots closest to the barges were all gone by the time we arrived at 5PM. There was heavy security, and the three of us were ushered into our zone with a wrist band. Move out of the zone, and we forfeit our chance to come back. By 6PM, the place was so filled it was hard to move without stepping on someone. It was a brutal 4+ hour wait, but the fireworks did make up for it somewhat.
I had initially proposed getting here at 2PM to Pankaja & Hemmant to scope out the place and picking the best spot & I could see both of their faces overspread with a look of unqualified horror. One of them reacted as if they were next to a Mad Hatter, and the other threatened to walk out of the plan altogether. We settled on something else we all three liked instead – hunting for good Ramen in the city before heading back to the park at 5PM.
This is my second fireworks at NYC. In earlier years, the fireworks display used to be centered around Brooklyn Bridge. Way back in 2008, when I was up here visiting my cousin, we ended up doing the fireworks as well at Brooklyn Bridge park. Brooklyn Bridge park seemed to be a much better venue compared to Gantry Plaza – it seemed bigger, and more spread out. It was also the year NYC did a $15.5 million Public Arts project with Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, and Brooklyn Bridge was the venue for the installation of a massive waterfall from June through October 2008.
So, is a July 4 fireworks display in New York City worth the wait? Heck yes! The fireworks are truly spectacular & the crescendo at the last 5 minutes is an adrenaline rush. It is definitely worth doing once.