Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced Friday that the city is launching a public lottery to distribute 100,000 free tickets for the upcoming Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks. The initiative intends to give everyday New Yorkers guaranteed admission to prime waterfront viewing locations that are typically highly congested or difficult to access.
The complimentary tickets will grant access to dedicated viewing zones at Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn and the Seaport in Lower Manhattan during the holiday celebration.
The public lottery opened Friday on a dedicated city website, july4.events.nyc, and will accept entries until June 29 at 11:59 p.m. Randomly selected winners will be notified between June 30 and July 2. Each winner can claim up to four tickets, while children under the age of 2 do not require a ticket to enter.
“On the Fourth of July, Americans come together to look at where we’ve come as a nation, and where we want to go together in the future,” Mayor Mamdani said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers will gather along our waterfront to celebrate, and we’re making sure that some of the best views are available for free.”
City officials emphasized that the ticket distribution is part of a broader effort to prioritize equitable access to the city’s parks and public spaces.
“Events like the Fourth of July Fireworks remind us that our parks and open spaces are more than places to relax — they are where New Yorkers come together to celebrate, connect and create lasting memories,” said Tricia Shimamura, the New York City Parks Commissioner.
For those who do not secure tickets through the lottery, the city plans to establish additional non-ticketed public viewing areas along the FDR Drive in Manhattan. City officials noted that entry points for those locations, alongside details regarding accessibility and prohibited items, will be published on the event website in the coming days.
The annual fireworks display, which draws massive crowds to the city’s waterfronts each summer, remains one of the largest Independence Day events in the country.
“Brooklyn Bridge Park is honored to serve as the gathering place for this iconic New York City tradition,” said Eric Landau, the president of Brooklyn Bridge Park, adding that municipal agencies and first responders are coordinating to ensure a safe experience.
Matt Partridge, the chief executive officer of Seaport Entertainment Group, expressed a similar sentiment about welcoming spectators to the historic Manhattan neighborhood. “The Seaport’s rich history, energy and experiences reflect everything that makes New York City unique, and there’s no better place to celebrate the Fourth of July.”
