Once again, the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show dazzles the masses in New York City
NEW YORK -- The Big Apple celebrated our country's independence Tuesday by lighting up the night sky.
The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show is always a crowd favorite and this one did not disappoint.
The sky was still a little smoky from the finale, but that wasn't the only thing in the air. There was a good energy, a feel of community.
It's no surprise so many parents who watched this same show when they were kids came back to pass on the memories to the next generation.
The party started hours earlier at Gantry State Park in Long Island City.
"Got our tag at 4 o'clock and then got the million dollar view," Alexander Vojta said.
- Photo Gallery: Macy's 4th of July fireworks show dazzles NYC skyline
Volta packed up his car with his seven kids and brought them all the way from California to the East River.
"I remember as a kid seeing the fireworks from Brooklyn once and was like, wow. Those fireworks over Manhattan are a special experience I had so I had to share it with the kids," Vojta said.
His was one of thousands of families who camped out in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan to see the Macy's fireworks show in its 47th year.
"I haven't been here in a few years now, but my kids are growing up so we decided to come," one man from Jamaica, Queens, said.
As the hours passed, the piers got more crowded with little kids.
"I'm just here to see the fireworks and have fun," 9-year-old Carter Brown said.
And there were big kids, too.
"You have a huge cast of characters that are here, as I. It's an amazing melting pot of people," said David Bogaisky of Fresh Meadows.
Families passed the time before the show with card games and some makeshift games.
"We want to feel the energy. That's the most important part, because you see all the people here. That's awesome," said Tony Gas of Long Island City.
And even though everyone was counting down to that first big pop 1,000 feet in the sky, for some reason the day didn't seem to drag.
"The kids are getting older. He has an internship this summer. He can only be out here for a week. We just take advantage of the time we've got together," Vojta said.
The Macy's crew will take Wednesday off and then they start planning next year's fireworks show on Thursday.