NEW YORK – Macy’s July 4 fireworks will return to the skies of New York City this year, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday, after the pandemic prompted officials to opt for a series of more shows. small in 2020 to discourage crowds from gathering.
The announcement is the latest in a series of events marking the emergence of the country’s most populous city after more than a year of restrictions to prevent new coronavirus infections.
Last summer, organizers modified the traditional one-night extravaganza, rather than presenting short nightly fireworks displays in each of the city’s five boroughs, beginning in late June. Officials did not make any public announcements of the time and location of each show to ensure residents could not gather beforehand.
“This will be the biggest show yet,” de Blasio promised at a press conference, calling the fireworks a “tremendous sign of the rebirth of New York City.”
Once again, crowds will be allowed to gather to watch the show along the East River, which separates Manhattan from the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. The show will begin at approximately 9:25 pm ET (1:00 am GMT) on July 4, Independence Day.
New Yorkers will have the option to view the festivities in areas reserved for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Other areas will be open to unvaccinated people.
Earlier this week, the mayor announced that New York would host a mega concert in Central Park as part of a week-long celebration of the city’s reopening. The list of musical acts to be featured has yet to be announced.
In recent weeks, many US states have relaxed or lifted pandemic restrictions, citing progress in vaccinating residents against the coronavirus and a decline in cases.
Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city, will lift all capacity restrictions on Friday. Philadelphia will also remove its last two COVID-19 restrictions: the indoor mask mandate and the last 11:00 pm call for restaurants.
Report by Maria Caspani
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