The 48th edition of the Macy's 4th of July fireworks in New York City returned to the Hudson River for the first time since 2013, and it didn't disappoint.
A choreographed dance of drones was the opening act, painting the sky with the colors and shapes of celebration.
Then, 60,000 shells of popping pyrotechnics went to work, bursting over the Hudson, delighting an audience brimming with pride.
Gathering on the West Side of Manhattan this year, under tight NYPD security, was a little different than the last 10 years on the East River.
NYPD officials said that moving from the East River to the Hudson River made patrolling the streets less complicated.
"Just in terms of the East Side versus the West Side, policing is never easy. We always have challenges. But if you look at the East Side, we're talking about two different roadways. You have the FDR, which is elevated, and then also the regular, just the regular street level. So on the West Side, we are not dealing with that. We are dealing with just a straight-level road, which, of course, will be a little easier." said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey.
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Hudson River Park was closed for private parties, so this year, most public access to the center of the action was limited to the West Side Highway. It wasn't quite the waterfront where Mir Aripov was hoping to get to celebrate his first July Fourth as a U.S. citizen.
"It feels incredible, to be honest. That's why I want to get in close, as much as I can close to the river so I can watch the fireworks and enjoy it," Aripov said.
People lined up on 10th and 11th avenues to get access to those public viewing areas if they didn't have a ticket to a party or access to a friend with a rooftop view. And they made the most of an hours long wait, knowing it would be worth it.
"It feels really special because we're from a small town so this is like exciting to see everybody come together as a community, and there's really nothing like this where we're from," said Ria Das, who was visiting from Arizona.
The rain managed to hold off until the last few minutes of the show.
Of course, having it over the Hudson meant prime viewing in New Jersey too, and gave Macy's more room for bigger fireworks shells to blast off from the barges.
It'll be a tough act to follow if it moves back east again.
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