4th of July Fireworks in the USA
There’s only one thing America loves more than America: fireworks. Many cities compete for the honor of having the best 4th of July fireworks in the USA, but we can’t choose a favorite—here are 11 of the biggest and most spectacular celebrations, plus tips on how to get the best view for all of them this Independence Day. And remember to let Guruescape.com book your next vacation destination.
New York City
Image Courtesy of Macy’s
40th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
Macy’s massive show is the biggest display in the country, using 50,000 effects in a 25-minute extravaganza that’s viewed live by 3 million people annually. This year, the pyrotechnics will be launched from Brooklyn Bridge and four additional barges in the East River between East 23rd and East 37th Streets. This year’s pre-show performers include Kenny Chesney and Meghan Trainor.
Where to watch: Set up shop anywhere with open views of the East River: In Manhattan, the South Street Seaport or along FDR Drive; in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge Park or the Brooklyn Heights Promenade; and in Queens, along the waterfront in Long Island City.
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Washington D.C.
Image Courtesy of Getty
National Mall Independence Day Celebration
It doesn’t get more patriotic than the Fourth of July in our nation’s capital. Watch fireworks burst over the reflecting pool in front of the Washington Monument. Show up early to nab a grassy spot on the National Mall—we recommend bringing a picnic and making a day of it. The pyrotechnics are concentrated in a small part of the sky for maximum effect, and the show lasts for 17 minutes.
Where to watch: If you can get into the National Mall, try for a seat on the steps of the Lincoln or the Jefferson Memorials. Otherwise, scope out a place in East or West Potomac Park, just south of the Mall.
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Boston, Mass
Image Courtesy of Yoon Byun
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
This historic American city’s show is renowned for its accompaniment—live music performed by the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra, culminating in Tchaikovsky’s resounding 1812 Overture, which features—yes—real cannon fire. The fireworks are nothing to sneeze at, either—an impressive array of pyrotechnics are shot from seven barges in the Charles River.
Where to watch: Home base is the DCR Hatch Shell, an outdoor band shell where the Pops perform along the Charles. You can also get killer views from the Harvard and Longfellow Bridges, or from anywhere along the three-mile Esplanade.
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Dallas, TX
Image Courteous of Scott Slocum
Kaboom Town
Though this Dallas suburb is only home to 19,000 residents, a staggering 500,000 swell the town come Independence Day. That’s thanks to its epic, 30-minute-long display on July 3, which uses 3,500 pounds of fireworks. Before the bangs, check out an airshow put on by the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, featuring aerobatics and pyrotechnics.
Where to watch: The show can be seen from pretty much anywhere in town, but Addison Circle Park is where the action happens. You can also watch a live broadcast of the show at the ’burb’s many
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Atlantic City, NJ
Image Courtesy of Rusty Kennedy for Atlantic City Alliance
DO Atlantic City 4th of July Fireworks
You’ll have two chances to see the light up in Jersey’s famed resort town. The first show happens on July 3, with fireworks erupting from two barges along the Boardwalk; the second, on July 4 proper, will be set up on a platform in the Marina District. Both last 15 minutes and kick off with a reading from the Declaration of Independence. A.C. is always packed in the summer, but 250,000 spectators flock to the city to catch this spectacular.
Where to watch: Grab a spot on the Boardwalk or any of the city’s many beaches, or watch from the carousel at Steel Pier. Most of the major casino-hotels also have viewing areas.
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Philadelphia, PA
Image Courtesy of Welcome America, Inc.
The City of Brotherly Love pulls out all the stops for its weeklong Fourth of July celebration—as well it should, considering the Declaration of Independence was signed here. It all culminates in the largest free concert in the country—the Philly 4th of July Jam—and a 15-minute, more than 15,000-shell fireworks display viewed by more than 500,000 gawkers. This year’s live-music lineup includes Tony Award winning (and Philly-born) Hamilton star Leslie Odom, Jr., plus Leon Bridges.
Where to watch: Prime viewing for both events is Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where both the fireworks and the concert will go down against the backdrop of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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Saint Louis, MO
Image Courtesy of Getty
Fair Saint Louis
The 1,371-acre Forest Park, site of the 1904 World’s Fair, is the setting for “America’s Biggest Birthday Party” for the third year running. Fair St. Louis will release 15,000 pounds of fireworks over three nights (July 2–4). Concerts and exhibitions over the course of the fest include performances by Lee Brice, George Clinton, and Flo Rida.
Where to watch: Fireworks will be shot from the northwest quadrant of the park, north of Lagoon Drive. The best vantage point is Art Hill, the site of the Saint Louis Art Museum. Even closer to the action is the Grand Basin, which is also the site of the Budweiser Main Stage.
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Lake Tahoe
Image Courtesy of Kurtis Rix
Lake Tahoe
The reflections cast by fireworks in the crystal-clear water of Lake Tahoe, with the Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop, makes this one of the most visually arresting shows in the country. Around 125,000 visitors head to the California–Nevada border to see this 25-minute display.
Where to watch: The fireworks are visible all over town and around the lake, but try spots along the south shore including El Dorado Beach, Nevada Beach, and Timber Cove Marina. The intrepid can even watch from the summit of Mount Tallac. But nothing beats being out on the water for the show; book a spot aboard paddlewheel boats The Tahoe Queen or M.S. Dixie II.
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San Francisco, CA
Image Courtesy of Pier 39
July 4th Celebration at the Pier in San Francisco
San Francisco Bay is the setting for this dramatic spectacle, which incorporates 10,000 effects over 25 minutes and attracts hundreds of thousands of viewers. Fireworks launch from barges in the water and off the Municipal Pier, north of Pier 39 in the Fisherman’s Wharf district. Show up earlier in the evening to jam out to a performance from ’80s cover band Tainted Love.
Where to watch: Pier 39 is the epicenter, and will get you up close to the show. Anywhere else on Fisherman’s Wharf is a solid bet as well. If you want to get a vista (and avoid the mobs), climb the hill to Coit Tower in Pioneer Park.
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San Diego, CA 
Image Courtesy of Getty
Big Bay Boom San Diego
San Diego may be most well known for the spectacular fireworks fail of 2012, where an entire 18-minute fireworks display accidentally exploded in a matter of 15 seconds. But, with possibly the loudest display four years in the past, the Big Bay Boom continues to draw more and more people to watch fireworks launch off four barges in the bay.
Where to watch: The Big Bay Boom’s four barges are spread throughout the bay, so the fireworks can be seen from various locations including Shelter Island, Harbor Island, North Embarcadero, Marina District, Seaport Village/South Embarcadero and Coronado Ferry Landing. But, the best way to see the fireworks is actually on the water, where boaters gather around the barges to get a front row seat to the action.
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Nashville, TN
Image Courtesy of Getty
Music City July 4th: Let Freedom Sing! Nashville, TN
Nashville goes all out for the 4th of July, with a full day of free music (including country and country-ish artists like Sheryl Crow and Maddie & Tae) and fireworks choreographed to a live set from the Nashville Symphony. The event draws in nearly 200,000 people each year to downtown Music City. Last year, the city allegedly set off more fireworks than New York City, putting it in the running for the most over-the-top fireworks displays in the country.
Where to watch: If you want to “Soak Up the Sun” with Sheryl Crow before the show, head downtown to the Jack Daniels Mainstage. Or, park yourself anywhere along Broadway or in Riverfront Park. For lighter crowds, look for a spot on the east side of the Cumberland.
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Original article can be found at http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-07-03/the-10-biggest-fireworks-displays-in-the-us . Source of image is given credit below the image itself.
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