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New York City
For the first time in 10 years, the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show will launch from barges on the Hudson River instead of the East River. That means the more than 60,000 shells fired between West 14th and West 34th streets in Manhattan will be visible from vantage points in New Jersey (good locations include Hoboken and Jersey City). The party begins in the Big Apple at 8 p.m., with performances from Tanner Adell, Luis Fonsi, The War and Treaty, and Lainey Wilson. A 25-minute fireworks show will start at 9:25 and promises a “never before seen” firework that features a silver cascading burst, creating a sky-filling kaleidoscope that alternates between red and blue. The concert and fireworks air live on NBC and Peacock at 8 p.m. ET (with an encore at 10 p.m. ET).
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Washington, D.C.
The National Mall is always stunning at night, but when fireworks burst in reds, pinks and blues above the stately white memorials and monuments, the views are, well, monumental. The evening begins with the annual A Capitol Fourth concert, held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, with music from Smokey Robinson, Sheila E., the National Symphony Orchestra and more. The fireworks kick off at 9:09 p.m., accompanied by the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets. A Capital Fourth will air on most PBS stations at 8 p.m. ET (with a repeat at 9:30) and will be streamed on pbs.org, the PBS app and the PBS YouTube channel.
Orlando, Florida
Fireworks are a nightly occurrence at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot, but for the nation’s birthday, the shows are bigger and more star-spangled. On July 3 and 4, Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky will illuminate Magic Kingdom Park while a simultaneous show occurs over the nearby Seven Seas Lagoon. The start time for both nights is 9:20 p.m. At Epcot, visitors can enjoy two July 4 fireworks shows: the nightly Luminous The Symphony of Us — which includes fountains, music and lights — at 9 p.m., followed by the patriotic-themed The Heartbeat of Freedom. Epcot will also be illuminated in red, white and blue at night to celebrate the holiday.
Boston
True to its legacy as the birthplace of the American Revolution, Boston has two major fireworks displays: one on July 2, the other on July 4. The 15-minute Boston Harborfest show will start at 9:15 p.m. on July 2 over the city’s inner harbor. On Independence Day, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will feature performances by Darlene Love, Broadway star Kelli O’Hara, The Mavericks and the Singing Sergeants from the U.S. Air Force Band. Of course, the Boston Pops orchestra will also perform favorites such as Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as fireworks explode over the Charles River. The concert starts at 8 p.m., and the fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m.