Every year for 43 years, Macy’s and New York City have collaborated to put on a spectacular fireworks show on July 4th.  Because of COVID-19, Macy’s has cancelled its usual in-person opportunities to see the fireworks and the musical performers who entertain as part of the show.  But…the show will go on.

Every night from last Monday through last evening, Macy’s has had short fireworks displays in previously unannounced locations in New York’s boroughs.  This evening, the grand finale will be a fireworks display from the Empire State Building with a live orchestra playing patriotic and pop music.  Macy’s has said the goal of the shorter (but spectacular, they say) fireworks shows are to celebrate Independence Day but in such short displays that people won’t gather, which increase the chance of spreading COVID-19.

Macy’s, the City of New York, and NBC will air a two-hour special this evening, capturing not just the fireworks but entertainment by John Legend, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady A, Amanda Gorman, the Young Peoples’ Chorus of New York, and more.  The performances have all been pre-taped, some at beautiful New York locations, with no audience.  In Hawaii, the Macy’s Fireworks show will air on Hawaii News Now’s KHNL, Channel 8, this evening at 7 p.m., in a two-hour special, and a shorter one-hour rebroadcast at 9 p.m.

Full disclosure:  the co-executive producer of the NBC show is Bill Bracken, the youngest brother of New West Broadcasting’s Sherry Bracken.  Bill and his boss, Brad Lachman, both based in Los Angeles, have been producing the NBC broadcasts of both the fireworks and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for many years.

Video and photos courtesy Macy’s.