Macy's hosts spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show in New York City
The Macy's Fourth of July fireworks in NYC featured new effects and a tribute to Tina Turner
NEW YORK (WABC) -- The New York City night sky gleamed in bright, mesmerizing colors for the spectacular Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks show on Tuesday night.
More than 60,000 shells exploded during the dazzling display over the East River for this year's "pyrotechnic salute to America."
The festivities began with live music at sundown followed by the 25-minute fireworks show synchronized to a spectacular score.
On both sides of the river, spectators young and old stood in awe.
"It felt amazing, it was like boom, boom, boom, boom, everything was going off at once, it was a great feeling, the lighting was good, the performance, everything was good," one spectator said.
This year's celebration honored trailblazers, including a signature moment that featured "The Best" by the late Tina Turner as thousands of golden-hued shells created a dramatic cascade effect stretching for more than a mile across the East River.
Other songs included stunning renditions of American classics like 'My Girl' and 'Get Ready' by The Temptations, 'Stop! In the Name of Love' by The Supremes and 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.'
Additional highlights included performances by country star Brett Young with Amanda Shaw and the Harlem School of the Arts Dorothy Maynor Singers, as well as R&B artist Jazmine Sullivan.
And for the first time ever, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks featured an inspiring light display just before the fireworks.
"In partnership with the City of New York, we were excited to surprise our spectators with the first-ever live drone show in NYC ahead of the start of the iconic Macy's 4th of July Fireworks," said Will Coss, Executive Producer of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. "Millions of Americans had a front row seat as 500 drone lights extended the musical performance stage, created awe inspiring shapes above the East River and introduced the first seconds of the nation's biggest Independence Day celebration."
The fireworks show was capped off, appropriately, with a rendition of 'New York, New York.'
RELATED: More fireworks celebrations happening in New York City and the Tri-State area
The evening went off without a hitch, thanks in part to the diligent efforts of the NYPD.
Ahead of the fireworks show, Eddie Caban invited Eyewitness News reporter Josh Einiger to join him for his first helicopter ride as the NYPD's new interim police commissioner.
Together they surveyed security preparations while flying over the East River.
"It's amazing when you're up here," Caban said. "We're sitting here, get to see the greatest show on earth."
Keeping things safe Tuesday night was a massive undertaking, with everything from airborne radiation sensors to ground-based explosive detection, but Caban said the department hasn't taken it eye off the rest of the city, where gun crime is still a concern
On any given normal day, the NYPD has one helicopter in the sky circling the city ready to respond to anything that might happen. On Tuesday night, they had six, and they weren't just focusing on the East River. They fanned out over all five boroughs, and were ready to respond with an eye in the sky on anything that could happen.
"In my role as acting police commissioner, right now public safety is a shared responsibility," Caban said. "If you see something say something, if something doesn't look right tell a uniformed officer or call 911."
Independence Day celebrations, including the fireworks in New York City, are "attractive targets for attacks," but there was no known threat, according to an NYPD assessment obtained by ABC News.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
