New York: What to Do This Fourth of July Weekend

by sailo on June 16, 2016 with No Comments

To see

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Display

Macy's Fireworks Display on East River — Image: Jason Decrow, Associated Press

Now in its 40th year, Macy’s Fireworks Display promises a spectacular view of the lit-up New York sky.

Time: around 9:20 pm, though weather factors may lead to delay

Location: East River (look out for our next guide on the best spot to view Macy’s Fireworks Display)

Cost: free, if you come early and stake a spot near Brooklyn Bridge; or varies, if you decide to view it from a boat or from a rooftop bar/restaurant. There are quite a few cruises for viewing fireworks on July 4th, but for a relaxing and personal experience, consider renting a boat instead. NYC boat rental can be hard to navigate, so contact us if you are unsure!

Movies

Independence Day: Resurgence

Its predecessor, Independence Day, redefines the event movie genre. This year, Independence Day comes back on a much more massive scale–watch the imminent global catastrophe and man’s battle for survival on this Fourth of July weekend!

Release date: June 23, 2016

The Purge: Election Year

Against the backdrop of this year Presidential Election race, the heart-stopping thrills promised by The Purge: Election Year seems fitting.

Release date: July 1, 2016

To do

Fourth of July BBQ at Brooklyn Grange

July Fourth Celebration at Brooklyn Grange — Image: Shantanu Starick, timeout.com

Head to Brooklyn Grange’s rooftop locations at either Brooklyn Navy Yard or Long Island City, Queens to enjoy all-you-can-eat Southern BBQ, beer, live music, all with a view of the beautiful Fireworks Display later past 9 pm.

Time: 7-11pm at Brooklyn Navy Yard, 7-10 pm at Long Island City, Queens

Cost: $75 (sold out for the Brooklyn Navy Yard location)

Walking Tours

In the first article of our Fourth of July blog series, we briefly outlined the history of Independence Day. If you want to gain a better appreciation of this historical day, we recommend taking a walking tour organized by the Fraunces Tavern Museum: the ever popular Annual Nighttime Revolutionary War New York, and its condensed version A Toast to History: Independence Eve.

Time:

Annual Nighttime Revolutionary War New York: 4-7 am, July 4, 2016

A Toast to History: Independence Eve: 7-8:30 pm, July 1, 2016

Cost: $20/general ticket

Location: Financial District, Manhattan

To go

Wanting to escape the heat and the crowds of the city during this Independence Day Weekend? We recommend nearby locations such as Oyster Bay, The Hamptons, Fire Island, or Montauk. You can either take a day trip, or stay overnight. Reunite with nature, relax on a beach–recharge yourself before getting back to hectic New York post-July 4th.

In case you want to spend more time on the water, the Sailo team offers a variety of boats at most of these locations. For more information, check out our general guides for things to do in Oyster Bay and attractions by boat in The Hamptons.

Below is the Shining Star, one of our very popular sailboats rentals in Oyster Bay area.