Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular 2008

This year, the Macy's 4th of July fireworks show will include four barges in two locations: the traditional area between 10th and 23rd Streets and near the South Street Seaport. The show starts at approximately 9:00 pm.

Viewing Information

• EAST RIVER - Spectators can watch the Fireworks from any point in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens with unobstructed views of the sky above the East River.

  The FDR Drive will be closed for spectator viewing at 7:00 pm from Houston to 42nd Streets. Pedestrian access to the FDR Drive for viewing will be at 23rd, 38th, and 42nd Streets ONLY. Entrances to the FDR Drive are handicap accessible. In downtown Manhattan, the FDR Drive will be closed to traffic from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal entrance ramps to the Pearl Street exit ramp. Entrance is from the Pearl Street Ramp only.
  
  Pedestrians will not be allowed on the Queensboro Bridge, and Roosevelt Island is not suggested as a viewing area as it is private property. No viewing is allowed from the Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Williamsburg Bridges.




• SOUTH STREET SEAPORT - The South Street Seaport/Brooklyn location will feature one barge stationed between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan.



• WATERCRAFT VIEWING - Call the Macy's Marine Hotline at (212) 494-5243 for boater viewing and Coast Guard Safety Zone information.



• NOTE: Battery Park is not recommended as a viewing site.

Transportation Information

Please leave your car at home. There is no street parking near the viewing areas. Use public transportation and purchase round-trip fare in advance (MetroCards). MetroCards allow for free transfer to bus service. For the best route, call the MTA Transit Hotline (daily, 6:00 am - 10:00 pm) at (718) 330-1234 or visit www.mta.info/nyct and click on Trip Planner for travel information in New York City.

The FDR Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic from Broad Street to the Brooklyn Bridge and from Houston Street to 63rd Street from 3:00 pm July 4th to 1:00 am July 5th (or until clean-up is completed). Traffic entering Manhattan from the Queensboro Bridge should proceed north on 1st Avenue or south on 2nd Avenue. For additional street closures and vehicular detours in Manhattan and Brooklyn, visit the DOT Weekend Traffic Advisory page on the DOT Web site.

Staten Island Ferry service will be suspended on Friday, July 4 from 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm due to harbor closure for fireworks. The last boat from both terminals will be at 7:30 pm. The next boat will be at 10:30 pm from Whitehall and 11:00 pm from St. George. 30-minute service will be provided from 7:00 am to 7:30 pm.

Additional buses, subways, and MTA trains will be available to and from the event. Local holiday schedules will be in effect. Attendees should check for exact times. Visit the MTA Web site for more information.

The following buses, subways, and commuter trains will transport viewers to and from the Fireworks:

Subway Routes

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

• GRAND CENTRAL STATION: 5 blocks from the River at 42nd Street. Walk east to the FDR Drive, or take the Lexington Avenue subway lines 4, 5, or 6. (Lexington Avenue subway lines 4, 5, and 6--only major subway transport to the East Side). Express Stations: lines 4 and 5 stop at 42nd and 14th Street. Local Stations: line 6 stops at 42nd, 33rd, 28th, 23rd, and 14th Streets. 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, N, R, Q, W lines travel to Times Square for connection to the Shuttle to Grand Central. 7 line travels between Times Square and Flushing, stopping at Grand Central. L line travels along 14th Street in Manhattan from 8th Avenue to Brooklyn, with stops at 1st Avenue (Manhattan) and Bedford Avenue (across the East River in Brooklyn).
• PENN STATION: At 34th Street on 7th or 8th Avenue, take the M16 or M34 crosstown bus to 1st Avenue.

DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN

• GRAND CENTRAL STATION: Take the 4 or 5 subway line to Fulton Street. Walk east to South Street.
• PENN STATION: Take the A or C subway line to Broadway-Nassau. Walk east to South Street.
• SUBWAYS: 2, 3, 4 or 5 line to Fulton Street. Walk east to South Street. A or C line to Broadway-Nassau. Walk east to South Street.
• MAJOR BUS LINES: 2nd Avenue - Downtown M15.

BROOKLYN

• SUBWAYS TO BROOKLYN PROMENADE: A, C, F lines to Jay Street/Borough Hall. Walk west to the Promenade. 2, 3, 4, R lines to Borough Hall/Court Street. Walk west to the Promenade. 2, 3 lines to Clark Street. Walk west to the Promenade.

Manhattan MTA Bus Routes

Uptown/Downtown

• M1, Down Fifth Avenue/Broadway, Up Lafayette/Park Avenue/Madison
• M15, First Avenue, Uptown
• M15, Second Avenue, Downtown
• M101, M102, M103, Third Avenue, Uptown
• M101, M102, M103, Lexington Avenue, Downtown
• M6, M22, Chambers Street, Downtown
• M6, Broadway, 6th Ave
• M9, Avenue B/Water Street
• M10, Seventh Avenue, Downtown to 31st Street
• M10, Eighth Avenue, Uptown from 31st Street
• M11, Ninth Avenue, Downtown
• M11, Tenth Avenue, Uptown
• M20, Seventh Avenue, Downtown
• M20, Eighth Avenue, Uptown

Crosstown

• M8, 9th/10th Streets - Christopher Street/St. Marks Place
• M14, 14th Street
• M21, Houston Street up Avenue C to 23rd Street
• M23, 23rd Street
• M16, M34 - 34th Street
• M42, 42nd Street
• M104, Broadway to 42nd Street/United Nations
• M27, M50, 49th/50th Streets, Crosstown

The following busses serve the Brooklyn/South Street Seaport viewing areas: B25, B26, B37, B38, B41, B52, B61, B65, B69, and B75.

Additional Transportation Resources

PATH

Metro-North Railroad

Long Island Rail Road

Emergency Medical Facilities

City Emergency Medical Services and health services personnel will be positioned in the viewing area. For further assistance, contact a policeman in your viewing area.