Learn more about the Citroën, vintage French cars that will fill the streets of NYC this weekend for Bastille Day celebrations!
Gain exclusive access to one of NYC's oldest historic homes, currently closed for restoration!
Enjoy a spectacular night of entertainment at The Green-Wood Cemetery!
From the best places to view the fireworks to some alternative ways to celebrate, check out the best 4th of July events in NYC!
Whether you want to watch a dazzling fireworks display, fire up the grill, or find an alternative way to celebrate Independence Day in New York City, we have you covered. Dive into the history of this holiday by examining revolutionary artifacts or talking to costumed history interpreters, find a new perspective for the fireworks display, watch a fresh champ be crowned at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest, and find more ways to celebrate in the city!
You can only barbecue in Central Park three days out of the year: Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the 4th of July. Be sure to check the park’s website and follow all the rules! You’ll need to bring your own grill (no propane) and can only use it in certain areas. It’s suggested you find a spot north of 96th Street, particularly near Harlem Meer or Great Hill, where there is flat ground and you can set up at a safe distance from trees.
Explore one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs during the quieter holiday weekend and uncover surprising features like hidden tennis courts, a swanky speakeasy, remnants of a lost movie theater, and more! As you walk through the stunning landmark, you will trace the evolution of the building from its opening through its near demolition to today.
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks return to the East River and the Brooklyn Bridge this year, and you can get a free ticket to see them from the best vantage points in NYC. The New York City Mayor's Office is offering free tickets to view the fireworks at designated spots in both Brooklyn and Manhattan. Designated viewing areas will be set aside in Brooklyn Bridge Park and at the South Street Seaport Piers 16 and 17. Tickets will be available on a first-come-first-served basis starting at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1. Book your tickets online here!
While those two areas are reserved for ticket holders only, there are various other spots in the city where you can watch the show for free, such as on certain elevated portions of the FDR. Head to the Macy’s website here to find a map of the best spots.
Untapped New York traveled to a secret location to watch the crew prep thousands of fireworks for the big night, check out our photos here!
You can gaze up at the fireworks from the ground, take in the show while cruising New York City’s waterways on a boat, or watch from above while partying at the highest points in the city! Summit at One Vanderbilt, The Empire State Building, and The Edge at Hudson Yards will all host exclusive 4th of July fireworks viewing events with drinks, music, and a unique vantage point to enjoy the show.
Rather stay home and watch from your couch? The fireworks will stream live on NBC and Peacock.
The Macy’s fireworks display isn’t the only sparkling show in town. Coney Island will launch fireworks at 9:45 pm on Friday night. Spectators can watch the colorful sparks light up the sky alongside the electric glow of the amusement park rides from anywhere along the Riegelmann Boardwalk. The best spots to watch from are between West 10th Street and West 23rd Street.
Follow the route of the Tenth Annual Independence Day Celebration and Parade hosted by the Lower Manhattan Historical Society on Thursday morning! Festivities begin with a Flag Raising Ceremony at 9:55 am at Castle Clinton. The parade marches on toward the South Street Seaport.
After the parade, head to the Fraunces Tavern Museum, one of the oldest buildings in Manhattan. Admission is just $1 all day and you can check out their latest exhibit, Path to Liberty: The Emergence of a Nation, as well as afternoon talks that are part of the It Happened Here series featuring a variety of historians.
Celebrate the 4th of July the old-fashioned way at Staten Island’s Historic Richmond Town Independence Day Celebration. Costumed interpreters dressed as founding fathers and mothers will roam the grounds of this living history village and host special events inside historic structures like the carpenter’s shop, tin shop, basket maker’s house, and native encampment. Visitors will get to sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence, enjoy demonstrations of 19th-century fireworks, indulge in snacks and beverages, listen to patriotic music, and more.
Longtime champion Joey Chestnut returns this year to compete for the Mustard Belt at Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island. The first recorded hot dog eating contest took place at Nathan’s Famous flagship in 1972. Since then, contestants have scarfed down more than 1,509 dogs. Contest festivities start at 11 am and typically last until 1 pm. The event is free and open to the public, but expect large crowds. To avoid them, you can stay home and watch the coverage on ESPN2. While in Coney Island, check out some other classic eateries!
Many immigrants started their new lives in America at Ellis Island. For some, passing through this immigration station during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, their dreams of living in the land of freedom and opportunity were halted by illness. They were treated in a 29-building hospital complex on the lesser-traveled south side of the island.
Over this 4th of July weekend, you can uncover their stories as you step inside the abandoned hospital complex on a hard hat tour led by a Save Ellis Island docent. You’ll gain access to rooms such as the laundry facilities, autopsy theater, and contagious disease wards, spaces that have been closed off for decades, with the guidance of a Save Ellis Island docent.
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