The New York City skyline lit up red, white and blue for Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display, but this year the west side of Manhattan had the best seat at the show.
The West Side Highway between Christopher and Washington streets was packed more than two hours before the start of the 48th annual Macy’s Fireworks Display, the first time the display has been shown over the Hudson River in 10 years.
The show kicked off with a world-famous “Grouch’s Fireworks” display in Jersey City and concluded just five minutes downriver at Macy’s.
“I booked a room at the United Nations Millennium because I thought the fireworks would be over the East River, like I always remembered,” Brian Shelley, 61, who came all the way from Colorado to watch the fireworks with his wife, Deborah, told The Post.
“After we booked the room, flight and hotel, we found out they were on the Hudson River and we wouldn’t be able to watch the game from our room.”
Though initially disappointed (the couple had been booking their trip after watching the show on TV for decades), the fiasco hardly let them down and they managed to secure front-row seats on 29th Street.
The couple enjoyed a tour and dinner on a Circle Line Cruise, then relaxed along the waterfront at 4:30 p.m.
“Someone is giving us a treat,” Deborah, 57, said with a smile.
The Centennial couple weren’t the only ones surprised by the city’s new Fourth of July location: Viewers were divided on whether they preferred the Hudson River display over the East River one.
Many people were told at the gate that they would not be allowed to bring folding chairs or lawn chairs through security, something that was previously allowed along the East River.
Also, for the first time at the event, outside food, drinks, coolers, backpacks, umbrellas, packaging and animals are prohibited.
“I don’t remember reading anywhere that we couldn’t bring chairs. We couldn’t bring chairs and bottles. This should have been broadcast. A lot of people had to throw away their chairs,” said an annoyed Anna, who traveled from Boston for the celebration.
“The experience is important, but the fireworks don’t bother me that much.”
Despite the many new rules, city organizers appear to have ignored one important detail: There were no handicap lanes along the Hudson River.
Caroline Martinez of Westchester complained to The Post that she and a friend who has a disability encountered numerous challenges despite arriving at the viewing area at 2 p.m.
“They said there were no specific instructions regarding the disabled section. At first they didn’t allow us to bring our wheelchair. I finally spoke to the higher-ups and convinced them that my friend couldn’t stand for long periods of time, and they allowed us to bring our wheelchair,” Martinez said.
“We were standing for four hours before we sat down. We just wanted to go home.”
The audience was filled with family, loved ones and new friends, all marveling at the annual show.
Three young people from Long Island said the wait was long but well worth it.
For 12-year-old Ameera, the most fun part was watching “the countdown and the fireworks cascading like sparklers.”
“The fireworks were absolutely amazing, there were so many colours! I loved the colours,” agreed Hamza, 12, as a shy 11-year-old boy looked on.
At Pier 66 near 26th Street, David Leiter, 75, of Savannah, Georgia, and Carlo Pollard, a 32-year-old Peruvian sculptor, reunited during the long wait and enjoyed the exhibits together.
Pollard said his back hurt from standing for so long, but he joked that he shouldn’t complain while standing next to Army and Navy veterans who had been standing since 3 p.m.
“It was an honor to watch the fireworks with him,” Pollard said.
“We’re just trying to feel patriotic. I feel like people aren’t as patriotic these days. But I love this country. I wasn’t even born here. I love this country. And I’m grateful today.”
Pollah, who lives in Queens, said she preferred the time when the fireworks were set off over the East River, saying there were fewer trees blocking the view and there was less disruption.
Migrants witnessed pushing, punching and angry people fighting to get inside, only to discover there were not enough toilets to accommodate 3,000 people.
Pollard seemed to have made a strong impression on his new friend, with Reiter telling The Post that he would definitely travel to New York again “if there were fireworks on the East Side again.”
Long queues and strict rules didn’t stand in the way of Laura and Michael Wells, who flew in from Spain for a two-week holiday centred around a bucket-list item: watching the fireworks.
“We’ve been waiting for years to see the Macy’s fireworks show. It’s been on our bucket list for years and we finally got to see it,” said Lauer, 56, while her husband, 60, added: “It’s nice to finally be able to say, ‘I saw the Fourth of July fireworks show in New York.'”
