Macy's 4th of July Fireworks: What to Expect from the Show

At an unmarked location in the Mojave Desert, a small group gathered to test out new fireworks for the Macy's Fourth of July show in New York City.

The mid-June test near Lucerne Valley is one of the final stages of the nearly yearlong planning process for the nation's largest fireworks show.

As the summer sun finally set, the control desk began the countdown: three… two… one. Fire.

Boom.

A single firework lit up the sky.

A chorus of “wows” followed as it slowly dissipated.

Then another. And another. And another. No two were alike: some larger, some multi-coloured, others that split into smaller fireworks as they exploded. The team continued for more than an hour.

The goal of the test is to time the fireworks correctly, said Will Coss, executive producer of Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. In a test Monday night in the desert, the team tested more than 200 new projectiles, a small taste of what's to come on Independence Day, Coss added.

Gary Souza, pyrotechnic designer for Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, said about 30 percent of the fireworks they were testing had never been seen in the United States.

Gary, along with his brother Jim, represent the fourth generation of the 100-year-old family business. The fifth and sixth generations of the family were also present at the test.

Souza and Macy's have been working together for decades; the teams are “on the same page,” Coss said.

“It's really become a friendship,” said Jim, the company's president and CEO.

Souza's team spends the entire year meeting with pyrotechnics manufacturers from around the world.

“It's not a cliché that we start a year early,” Jim said. “We'll watch this show, or even tonight, it's a test. So I'm looking at this and what works and what doesn't work. [and getting] go back to the manufacturers immediately, either by reordering because it's so good or by making[ing] an adjustment for next year.”

An Independence Day staple for nearly five decades, Macy's 48th annual Fourth of July fireworks show will feature more than 60,000 shells during the 25-minute spectacle. Last year, Macy's hosted the first live drone show in New York City.

This year, Macy's and Souza are aiming higher: They will showcase the nation's first drone-powered fireworks show, Jim said. The Federal Aviation Administration just approved the practice a few weeks ago, he added.

“Macy's is always trying to be bigger and better than ever,” Gary said. “They want to do the best they can for America.”

“During those 25 minutes of fireworks, we can all stand shoulder to shoulder (strangers, friends, family, loved ones) [and] “Just experience a little joy, a little inspiration, have a moment of reflection, have a moment to share a little artistic beauty and inspiration,” Coss said.

California-based company Pyro Spectaculars by Souza has collaborated with Macy's for more than four decades.

(Macy's Inc.)

After the traditional fireworks test, the team headed further into the desert. Just after 10 p.m., the crew members gathered in front of a 5×5 drone display, but at a safe distance from it.

“We're hoping to do something that's never been done in America,” Gary said.

A worker made sure all the drones were in order and changed out any that were poorly lit. Once the control desk was satisfied, the team took a head count.

The drones flew in sync, flashing the nation's red, white and blue colors. When they reached the right height, the fireworks began.

Once again, a chorus of exclamations of joy and applause ran through the small but enthusiastic team.

The test was a success, and Macy's is on its way to bringing pyro drones to the American public.

The annual exhibition has been held throughout New York City. Fireworks have exploded from iconic locations such as the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. After 10 years on the East River, this year the team is bringing the spectacular to the Hudson River.

“We've been on the east side of New York for the last 10 years,” Coss said. “We thought it was an opportunity to share a little of this spectacular tradition with our friends on the west side.”

He also said the Hudson River location gives them room to play with larger shells.

Last year, the event's broadcast doubled its 2022 viewership on Peacock, Variety reported. NBC's 8 pm and 10 pm broadcasts also grew.

“Our goal every year is to continue to grow our audience, grow our enthusiasm, grow our technology, grow our pyrotechnics,” Coss said.

The Fourth of July show will feature live performances from country music stars Lainey Wilson and Tanner Adell, “Despacito” singer Luis Fonsi and husband-and-wife country music duo War and Treaty. This year's music, with which Souza's team times the fireworks, is composed by Jason Howland, known for his work on “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “Little Women” on Broadway.

Born and raised in New York City, Coss calls his job (and the opportunity to put on the iconic show) a “dream come true.”

“There's only one Fourth of July in New York City,” Coss said, “and we're grateful and fortunate to be the team that brings it to life.”