This year’s annual July 4th Fireworks Spectacular will take place at Jones Beach! Sponsored by Jovia Financial Credit Union Fireworks Spectacular will begin at 9:30PM and end by 10PM. Local radio stations WALK 97.5FM and KJOY-98.3FM will have a special simulcast broadcast as well. Best of all, the fun is not priced per person, but by car - that’s right, the whole family can enjoy the exciting patriotic fun for only $10 per vehicle.
Looking to arrive with plenty of time to find a good spot for the show? Your best bet is to gather your friends and family and meet up at the beach in the morning. There’s a nominal parking fee (generally between $10-$20 until about 4PM) but then you’ll get to spend the rest of the day enjoying the sunshine, taking a stroll along the shoreline, and maybe even some swimming. Why not make a whole day of it and make some fun family memories!
If you don’t wish to have a beach day prior, make sure you show up by 3PM or 4PM to secure your next best viewing experience and leave plenty of time to park! Arrivals after 4PM will be charged the “special event fee” of about $10. You’ll want to allow for delays; incoming traffic to the Jones Beach Area spikes around 6PM. Additionally, if lots are filled to capacity the NY State Police will divert incoming traffic away from Jones Beach; you may not park on the shoulder of the roadway. Check the live updates of the parking lot capacity map before you head over.
It’s expected that there will be 100,000 attendees at this year’s event, with upwards of 200,000 visitors throughout the day. Traffic will be tricky after the show winds down; there may be delays of up to 2 hours in duration for exiting the park grounds.
For those who don’t wish to drive and deal with parking or spend the full day at the beach with a packed car, there are plenty of other options!
Nassau Inter-County Express will be running buses every 30 minutes from 8:30AM through 8:30PM from the Freeport LIRR station, and hourly from the Hempstead Transit center. Return trips will be available 30 minutes after the show concludes; rendezvous at the West Bathhouse for pickup.
If you live locally, you may also choose to travel by bike along the Cedar Creek County Path, which is about 5 miles and runs along the east side of the Wantagh State Parkway. You can also walk right onto the beach if you live nearby.
Additionally, limited tickets are also available to join the crew of the Island Princess Captree Fishing Boat or via the Captain Lou Fleet from Freeport.
If you’re looking to avoid the crowds at the host venue, you can still view the fireworks from several other facilities and locations nearby!
The fireworks will be visible from Wantagh Park and Cedar Creek with proof of Nassau County residence. County residents with a “Leisure Pass” can also access the show from Nickerson Beach Park on Long Beach.
Other Fireworks Displays in the Long Island Area
This evening in Downtown Riverhead, starting at 3PM you can enjoy the “Alive on 25” event!This is a family friendly pop-up street festival with 6 stages hosting musical performances, local craft brews and beverages, outdoor eateries, and wonderful artists, performers, and local vendors. The festivities begin with a car show, and close out with a spectacular fireworks event.
On July 3rd from 7PM to 9PM in Port Jefferson, catch a live musical performance while you partake in a gourmet dinner buffet at The Waterview, and round out the evening with a gorgeous fireworks display over the Long Island sound.
If you’re heading out of town for the holiday weekend, Montauk has several displays to enjoy. In North Fork at 9PM on July 3rd in Orient Harbor you can enjoy oceanfront views of Fireworks by Grucci! South Fork at Montauk has a beautiful fireworks display of its own on July 4th starting at 9PM. Grucci fireworks will be handling the local Independence Day Fireworks, and they’ll be visible from Navy BEach, The Crow’s Nest, and Montauket.
The Long Beach Boardwalk fireworks display will take place on July 8th starting at 9:10PM. You’ll be able to view the fireworks from the boardwalk and beachfront locations.
You won’t want to miss the Shelter Island Fireworks show at Crescent Beach on July 9th at 9PM for their annual Independence Day display.
