Fireworks Light Skies Over Hudson As New York Celebrates July 4

New York City's Fourth of July fireworks along the Hudson River lit the sky with a kaleidoscope of fiery colors shooting 1,000 feet into the air.

It was the nation's biggest fireworks display, with more than 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploding over a mile-and-a-half of the river. That's the length of 25 city blocks.

The extravaganza was moved back to Manhattan's West Side for the first time since the 9/11 terror attacks.

Tens of thousands of people lined both sides of river to watch.

Among the spectators were Jamalat Bayoumy and his wife, Mosad Mohamad -- food vendors who normally work opposite the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum by the river. They lost about $1,000 in business when police asked to shut down because of the swelling crowds.

"This is very nice," Bayoumy says, "but we're losing money in America." But his wife added: "America is free. We have green cards and we dream to become Americans."

• • • • • • • • • Fireworks over Manhattan

The fireworks were only one part of the Independence Day festivities.

On Brooklyn's Coney Island, the elephants rested after eating 505 hot dog buns in six minutes Friday, winning a competition against three humans who downed 143 buns. It was a sideshow to an iconic Fourth of July event -- Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, won Saturday afternoon by Joey Chestnut, who chomped down a record 68 dogs.

The day began with the Statue of Liberty's crown opening to the public for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001. At about 9 a.m., the first huddled masses huffed and puffed their way up the 354 cramped steps to take in the spectacular view of Manhattan.

While the recession forced many communities to scale down, or even cancel, their fireworks, "we're a country of survivors and fighters, and we try to make things work," said Gary Souza, whose family-owned, California-based company is staging the New York display as well as hundreds of others across the country -- including the nation's capital.

Manhattan's six-lane West Side Highway was closed to traffic so pedestrians could view the fireworks. Across the river, Frank Sinatra's hometown of Hoboken, N.J., had one of the best views, facing the heart of the barge lineup in the Hudson against the Manhattan skyline for "one of the biggest and best shows we've ever put together," said Souza.

Comments

[LondonTownNY]

10:36 PM on 07/05/2009

Movement of the 4th of July Fireworks to the West Side of Manhattan was a slap in the face to those in Queens and Brooklyn. This is why this year I chose not to watch the fireworks in person. Fireworks in NY should be done in a way that the most citizens of New York City could actually watch the fireworks from their local community. I was very disappointed by the choice to move the fireworks from the East River to the Hudson River.

[Peter007]

08:23 AM on 07/05/2009

I went to the show on the East River about 8 years ago. The police put all spectators in cattle pens and moved them around like detainees.
I vowed never to go again. Are they still treating people like cattle this year?

[reluctantcougar]

07:59 AM on 07/05/2009

Hey, sorry Bronx......but I can see the Bronx from my window (in Jersey)!

[reluctantcougar]

07:50 AM on 07/05/2009

What a phenomenal view from Jersey! Didn't realize Brooklyn and Queens didn't share the same view.

[Balzac]

12:17 AM on 07/05/2009

It was pretty nice. I ended up viewing from the West Side Highway instead of Hoboken. I didn't want to deal with the extra commute. The sounds were as nice as the visuals.

[lorinyc]

11:47 PM on 07/04/2009

Boo! Macy's hates Brooklyn. And Queens. We're part of NYC, too! So glad Jersey got a great view....

[sbrown80]

12:39 AM on 07/05/2009

Lol! Imagine how the Bronx feels.

[NYC07]

12:59 AM on 07/05/2009

This was to celebrate the 400 anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson, so the fireworks were on the Hudson and not the East River. Incase you hadn't noticed the East River which borders Brooklyn and Queens doesn't bear Hudson's name

[jdcool]

09:44 AM on 07/05/2009

Yes, we are aware of the anniversary, but the fireworks are usually split up, with a few barges down by the Statue of Liberty. It was a little sad on the day of the re-opening of the crown, to see Lady Liberty in the dark.

[Jenai]

11:23 PM on 07/04/2009

I was on the Hudson tonight. It was awesome. There were thousands of people but everyone was calm and enjoying the scene. I felt like a kid again...and I felt patriotic too. There were so many people from everywhere. I heard lots of different languages being spoken. There is a lot wrong with our country but there is also a spirit that isn't and I felt that tonight.

[wonketteRAWKS]

09:24 PM on 07/04/2009

Ahhh...Freedom, who needs it? FISA, permanent detention, mandates here, mandates there, buying elections, supporting nations who have atrocious human rights laws, 2nd class citizens for GLBTs....ahh, America!

[HekmabaJuzimax]

05:30 PM on 07/04/2009

Things Never To Post:

Your Name
Where You'll Be
Where You Hang Out
Name Of Family Members Or Pets
Their Mental Status Or Lack Thereof

I hope this helps! Cheers, and Happy Fourth To Youse!

[HekmabaJuzimax]

05:23 PM on 07/04/2009

Due to low clouds today, only toxic waste factory employees will be able to see the show.

[beautykilledbeast]

01:04 PM on 07/04/2009

So New Jersey is getting ready for the crush. Why does everything that happens anymore cause a panic?

[Balzac]

04:21 PM on 07/03/2009

I think I'll be in Hoboken for this.

[Fred Sullivan]

12:07 PM on 07/03/2009

We are definitely going to watch the fireworks on the Hudson probably by Stuyvesant at Rockafeller park. We don't want to be right under them since Madeline will be startled by loud noise. We normally would be at pier 66 John Krevy's.