Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks light up NYC’s West Side for first time in decade: ‘Somebody is rewarding us’
New York City’s skyline lit up red, white and blue for the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks — but this year, the West Side of Manhattan got the best seats in the house.
The West Side Highway between Christopher and Washington streets was filled to capacity more than two hours before the 48th annual Macy’s Fireworks display was set to begin in what marked the first time in a decade the show shone over the Hudson River.
The show was bookended with Jersey City’s display by the world-famous Fireworks by Grucci, which started downriver just five minutes behind Macy’s.
“We booked a room over at the UN Millenium, thinking that the fireworks would be on the East River, as we always remembered,” Brian Sheley, 61, who came all the way from Colorado to watch the show with his wife Deborah, told The Post.
“And after we had already committed to the room, the flight and hotel deal, we found out they were going to be on the Hudson and we wouldn’t be able to watch them from our room.”
Although initially disappointed — the couple booked the trip after decades of watching the show on TV — the blunder did little to disappoint the couple, who still managed to snag front-row seats on 29th Street.
The pair enjoyed a Circle Line Cruise tour and dinner before hunkering down along the waterfront at 4:30 p.m.
“Somebody is rewarding us,” Deborah, 57, said with a smile.
The Centennial State couple weren’t the only ones blindsided by the city’s new Fourth of July locale — which left viewers split on whether they preferred the Hudson River display over the East River.
Many people were told at the gates that they wouldn’t be permitted to bring their fold-up or lawn chairs past security checkpoints, something that was previously allowed along the East River.
Outside food, beverages, coolers, backpacks, umbrellas, packaging and animals were also banned from the event for the first time ever.
“I don’t remember reading anywhere that you couldn’t brings chairs. You can’t brings chairs, bottles. This should have been broadcasted. So many people had to throw away their chairs,” Anna, who came down from Boston for the festivities, said in frustration.
“I care about the experience. But don’t really care about the fireworks.”
Despite a plethora of new rules, city organizers seemingly neglected one vital detail: There was no section for disabled people on the Hudson.
Caroline Martinez of Westchester griped to The Post that she and her disabled friend encountered multiple difficulties despite getting to the viewing area at 2 p.m.
“They told us they had no specific instructions for any kind of disability section. And at first they would not allow me to bring in the chairs. Finally I spoke to someone higher up and convinced them that my friend cannot stand on her feet that many hours and we were allowed to bring in the chairs,” Martinez said.
“We were on our feet for four hours before we sat down. I just wanted to go home.”
The crowd was filled with families, lovers and new friends, all of whom found wonder in the annual show.
Three young Long Islanders said that the wait was long but well worth it.
For 12-year-old Ameera, the best part was watching the “countdown and the ones that come down like sparklers.”
“The fireworks looked really good. They have so many colors! I loved the colors,” Hamza, 12, agreed as a shy 11-year-old looked on.
At Pier 66 near 26th Street, David Reiter, 75, from Savannah, Georgia and Peruvian sculptor Carlo Polar, 32, enjoyed the display together after meeting during the long, long wait.
Polar developed a pain in his back from standing so long, but joked that he shouldn’t complain while standing next to the Army and Navy veteran, who had been standing since 3 p.m.
“It’s an honor to watch the fireworks with him,” Polar said.
“We’re just trying to feel patriotic. These days it feels like people aren’t so patriotic. But I love this country. And I wasn’t even born here. I love this country. And I’m grateful today.”
Polar, who lives in Queens, said he preferred the display when it was over the East River, pointing out that there are fewer trees to obstruct the views and less chaos.
The immigrant witnessed pushing, fist fights and angry people fight to get in — only to find there were no bathrooms to accommodate the 3,000 people.
Polar had a seemingly strong influence on his new friend: Reiter told The Post he would definitely make the trip to New York again “if they do the fireworks on the East Side again.”
The long lines and nagging rules did little to keep Laura and Michael Wells down. The couple flew in from Spain for a two-week vacation that was centered on their bucket list item: watching the fireworks.
“I’ve waited many years to witness the Macy’s fireworks show. It’s been on our bucket list for years and we’re finally here to see it,” Laua, 56, said, to which her husband, 60, added: ‘I’m glad we can finally say ‘we’ve seen the firework show for Fourth of July in New York.'”
