‘It’s good to be back’
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks return bigger and better than ever
COURIER LIFE, JULY 9-15, 2021 15
BY GABRIELLE HOLTERMANN
New Yorkers were all
smiles as the nation’s largest
Independence Day celebration
— the Macy’s Fourth of
July Fireworks — returned in
spectacular fashion after organizers
had to scale back last
year’s show with small pop-up
events to avoid crowd gatherings
amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fi reworks extravaganza,
which was launched
from fi ve barges along the
East River, was the biggest the
city had ever seen, with 65,000
shells and effects illuminating
the iconic New York City
Skyline.
While Manhattanites enjoyed
the dazzling display
over the East River from public
viewing areas on 23rd,
34th, and 42nd Streets above
the FDR Drive, Brooklynites
were drawn to Domino Park,
Marsha P. Johnson State Park,
and Bushwick Inlet Park in
Williamsburg.
Hundreds of spectators,
mostly unmasked, fi lled Bushwick
Inlet Park with coolers
and blankets in tow. Many had
arrived hours before the show
kicked off at 9:25 pm to score a
coveted spot close to the East
River waterfront.
For Lyzt Campos, the July
4 celebration was a family affair.
She drove in from Connecticut
and met up with her
family, who had been holding
a spot in the park since 2 pm.
She was excited to be in Brooklyn
and experience the July 4
fi reworks since many towns
in the neighboring state had
to postpone the display due to
inclement weather.
“It’s like a special family
reunion. And we haven’t seen
each other for a long time,”
Lyzt Campos said.
Shoyeb Khan was visiting
from Providence, Rhode
Island, with his wife and inlaws.
It was their fi rst trip after
the COVID-19 pandemic
and their fi rst time in New
York City.
“It’s very exciting just to
see the crowds and the vibe of
the city and the fi reworks. It’s
crazy,” Khan said. “We don’t
have this in Rhode Island, and
I hope it’s going to be very exciting.”
A spectator named David
enjoyed the impressive pyrotechnics
(Above) Spectators wait for the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks to begin
in Bushwick Inlet Park in Williamsburg (Below) Fireworks light up the sky
on the Fourth of July. Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
with his parents Diane
and Paul, who were visiting
from Michigan to celebrate
Independence Day.
“It’s good to be back,” he
said about the elaborate celebration,
which was a salute to
the unwavering spirit of New
York and the nations during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
For his mom Diane, the Macy’s
Fourth of July Fireworks
were one more item to scratch
of her bucket list.
“It was awesome. I liked
the Empire State Building
fi reworks in the background,”
she said.
Selly, who was at the park
with a large group of family
and friends, shared that it
was very emotional to attend
such a larger gathering after
COVID-19.
“It’s amazing to see that we
are back,” Selly said.
It’s very exciting just
to see ... the vibe
of the city and the
fireworks.