New York City continues giveaway of 10K free tickets for Macy's 4th of July fireworks on Thursday
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City will continue its giveaway of 10,000 free tickets to watch this year's edition of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show on Thursday morning.
The free tickets were supposed to be available starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday at www.nycjuly4.com, but shortly after it launched the website appeared to be overwhelmed by demand.
The city said it is working with the vendor to fix the issue and another batch of tickets will be available Thursday.
Officials said more than one million people attempted to get tickets in the first five minutes.
The site will reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday "to give everyone another opportunity to select the remaining tickets on a first come, first serve basis."
"We are thrilled that over 1 million people visited our website in just 5 minutes to get tickets to the Macy's 4th of the July Fireworks," a spokesperson for the mayor said. "We are reopening the website tomorrow at 10am to give everyone another opportunity to select the remaining tickets on a first come, first serve basis. Anyone who does not get a ticket can still view the fireworks display along miles of space along the Hudson that will be open to the general public."
The tickets provide entry to viewing areas on Pier 45 and Pier 84 in Manhattan.
The fireworks show will be visible all along the West Side Highway for those who do not receive a ticket, the city said.
This year the theme is "Summer's Greatest Hits." The retailor has a dazzling 25 minute musical score planned, which was arranged and produced by Grammy-Award winner Jason Howland.
Other talents expected to join the performance, include Brandy Clark, Mickey Guyton and Amber Clark.
And before the lightshow kicks off, audiences will also be treated to performances by Tanner Adell, Luis Fonsi, The War and Treaty and Lainey Wilson.
If you're headed the show, there are specific points of entry the public should be aware of.
Entry points for the general public are:
- Christopher Street and Washington Street
- West 11th Street and Washington Street
- West 12th Street and Washington Street
- West 29th Street and 11th Avenue
- West 40th Street and 11th Avenue
ADA accessible viewing locations will be located at Christopher Street and Washington Street and West 41st Street and 11th Avenue.
The fireworks are returning to the Hudson River this year for the first time since 2013.
Macys says the "display will feature thousands of shells and an array of effects from barges positioned along the Hudson River with multiple viewing opportunities in Manhattan between West 14th and West 34th Streets and in New Jersey."
After lighting up the East River for decades, the fireworks shifted to the Hudson River in 2009.
It was supposed to be a one-time change celebrating the 400th anniversary of the explorer Henry Hudson's arrival in these parts, but Macy's then staged the fireworks on the Hudson for four more years, through the 404th anniversary.
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