The biggest celebration in the area was the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks show. The 25-minute display lit up the sky over the East River, and with the Brooklyn Bridge as the backdrop, it was truly a spectacular sight witnessed by hundreds of thousands of spectators.

The Brooklyn Bridge, it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. We’re still trying to figure out the words to describe it.”

See how New Yorkers celebrated July Fourth this year, from Macy's Fireworks show to Nathan's famous hot dog eating contest.