If you want to see the Macy’s fireworks display over the East River without leaving Brooklyn, your best bet at this point is to get to Brooklyn Bridge Park realllly early (read this before you go) or find a friend with a rooftop you can safely climb out onto—most of the parties hosted by businesses that have especially good vantage points are already sold out. (And the ones that haven’t sold out yet cost a pretty penny, like Pilot, where a seat starts at $400.) But if you were just wondering what to do with yourself on the 4th, never fear, we’ve found lots of ideas for ways to pass the time on your well-deserved day off.
Thinking of heading to the beach? Riis Park has free entertainment from noon on, with the Freddy DeBoe Band at Bay 9 and Tony Island with the Skells and Roland & Brother Rich at the Bathhouse East. Plus, in addition to all the usual delicious food available, Carnal is hosting a special Fourth of July short rib barbeque.
Coney Island will once again host the famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest during the day, followed by a Cyclones game against the Aberdeen IronBirds, and fireworks on the boardwalk at night.
Taproom 642 in Flatbush is throwing a fireworks pregame party from noon-5pm, and a $30 ticket will get you a plate of jerk chicken, a beer glass to keep, and an hour of open tap lines on Island to Island and Harlem Brew beers.
There will also be themed Fourth of July parties happening at North Brooklyn Farms, all three locations of Threes Brewing (including the Governors Island outpost), Parklife, Nowadays, and The Brooklyn Mirage, as well as a pig roast at Brooklyn Cider House.
If, like me, you are nostalgic for a big Fourth of July blockbuster movie release, you can get yourself good and freaked out at the latest from the director of Hereditary, Midsommar, which is being billed as a “Scandinavian folk horror” flick (yikes). Or you can binge watch the long-awaited new season of Stranger Things, which drops July 4 on Netflix.
