The 2016 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Ignites Excitement
On Monday, July 4th, thousands of spectators will claim a spot along New York City’s East River in midtown and in the South Street Seaport district; millions more will gather around their screens to tune into NBC. Their common goal will be to watch one of the most enthralling pyrotechnic displays in the world and the largest Independence Day display in America—the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, an annual event that Macy’s has sponsored since 1976.
Macy’s has long celebrated American traditions and holidays by staging large-scale public events, and this one is among the most popular and anticipated—in fact, it’s hard to imagine the July Fourth holiday without it. This year's display, the biggest show since the millenial one in 2000, is choreographed to a soaring and patriotic score performed by the United States Air Force Band and the incomparable voice of Jennifer Holliday.
The stunning shapes and colors that will light up the sky and the rousing music accompanying them are sure to spark deep sentiments. Every detail of the spectacle has been carefully designed to inspire awe and patriotism in commemoration of Independence Day and the democratic freedoms it stands for.
A Show Fit for America's 240th Birthday
Months in the making, this year’s Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks—the 40th since the store began sponsoring the event—is the result of a carefully orchestrated collaboration between an expert pyrotechnics firm, the United States Air Force Band and Jennifer Holliday. The score, to which the 25-minute show is choreographed, will feature The United States Air Force Band performing patriotic classics like “This Land is Your Land,” “God Bless America” and “Stars and Stripes Forever." With the United States Air Force Band’s Singing Sergeants lending vocal harmonies, Grammy and Tony-Award winner, Jennifer Holliday, will also perform an exhilarating rendition of the “America the Beautiful.” During the display, a bell will chime 13 times to salute the 13 original colonies on America’s 240th birthday.
Be sure to also catch performances by top stars Kenny Chesney, Meghan Trainor, 5 Seconds of Summer and Pitbull. Hosts Tamron Hall and Willie Geist will lend even more star power to the event.
Explosive Effects, Dazzling Hues
This year, the show will feature 56,000 spellbinding shells and effects shot from two locations—four barges situated between 23rd and 37th Streets in midtown Manhattan, and one double-barge situated below the Brooklyn Bridge. Some of the luminous shapes folks will see overhead: multi-colored transformation ghosts, which ignite in one color, disappear and reappear in another position in the sky having changed hues to blue jellyfish; and the popular happy faces with blinking eyes. 22 different colors will paint the sky, including gamboge, lavender and magenta. The 2016 celebration will also feature the New York debut of pyro-writing, an explosive version of skywriting created using fireworks which will spell out U.S.A. in the night sky. Talk about starting the month off with a bang!
A Mobile Special Effects Program
In addition to the effects in the sky, this year Macy’s is putting light into the hands of revelers everywhere via a partnership with the Makelight app—a new mobile special effects platform that will allow spectators' phones to synch with the awe-inspiring display and mirror the colors seen in the show as they ignite the night sky. Spectators in New York City and at home can participate by downloading the Makelight app, available free on Google Play and iTunes.
Other Ways to Experience the Music and Fireworks
Our nation’s good fortune, so hard-won, is worth celebrating in a big way. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy the Macy’s July 4th Fireworks festivities, even if you can’t make it to New York to see the event in person. You can watch the two-hour show on NBC, starting at 8 PM ET/7PM C. Or, tune in to radio station 1010 WINS-AM.
Have a great Fourth!
To learn more details about the event, access information about public viewing areas, purchase a 40th anniversary Macy's 4th of July Fireworks T-shirt and tote, and download the "America the Beautiful" track by Jennifer Holliday and The United States Air Force Band, check out this dedicated website. You can also call the Macy's Fireworks Hotline at 212-494-4495 to get information.
