Between the Knicks’ championship win, the Puerto Rican Day parade and Pride — New York City has been outside this summer. Fourth of July weekend is slated to be no exception.
Between the international fleet of tall ships in the Hudson, holiday events, the annual hot-dog eating contest and Taylor Swift’s mysterious possible Madison Square Garden wedding, the city’s going to be particularly busy. Oh, and of course: the World Cup.
At the same time heat indices will soar through the triple digits. (Here’s our how-to on handling the heat in your apartment and your rights when it comes to extreme temperatures.)
So maybe it’s a good weekend to stay inside. But if you’re determined to go out, here’s what to know about street closures, crowds from big events and navigating the ever-overcrowded subways.
The World Cup
Supporters of France’s team are at the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Credit: AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
First, the World Cup continues with a line-up of games from afternoon until nighttime on Friday, July 3: Australia vs. Egypt at 2 p.m., Argentina vs Cabo Verde at 6 p.m., and Colombia vs. Ghana at 9:30 p.m. On Saturday, Canada plays Morocco in the afternoon and Paraguay plays France in the evening. Expect bars and local restaurants showing the games to be overflowing, but the subways and streets shouldn’t be too bad because the only game slated to play at New York-New Jersey stadium this weekend is Sunday’s Brazil vs. Norway at 4 p.m.
With NYNJ stadium shuttle buses running out of three Midtown locations — Port Authority Bus Terminal, Columbus Circle and Midtown East near Grand Central Terminal — traffic, by foot and otherwise, will soar in the early afternoon in the area on Sunday. And remember: Penn Station won’t help because NJ Transit will run straight to Secaucus Junction, skipping all other stops on match days.
That wedding
A worker holds “No Parking” signs prior to posting as trucks fill the loading dock outside New York’s Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew
Also allegedly happening in Midtown this holiday weekend: the wedding that’s charming if a little gauche, depending on where you stand on pop star Taylor Alison Swift and Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce. According to reporting from the New York Times, a very famous couple filed a permit with the city to close the streets around Madison Square Garden from July 2 to midday July 4 for their wedding ceremony inside the arena.
It’s unclear exactly which streets will be closed for the event — and it’s technically not yet confirmed by the celebrities themselves that the wedding is actually happening — but one thing is for sure: Something big is happening at the Garden on Friday, and if you’re looking to steer clear of crowds, avoid Midtown at all costs.
Fireworks galore
With four barges in the East River and two in the Hudson, Macy’s is putting on their annual fireworks show for the fiftieth year. (The show will be available on NBC and Peacock if you want to see the skyline without the travel troubles.) The fireworks are expected to begin at 9:25 p.m. and last around 30 minutes.
Just about anywhere along the FDR Drive, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and views on the water from Jersey City will be overflowing with people.
Fireworks explode over the East River and Brooklyn Bridge during the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show on July 4, 2025 in New York. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
More information about non-ticketed viewing locations will be released in the days to come, but here’s what’s not allowed: alcohol, backpacks, blankets, cigarettes, drones, duffle bags, e-cigarettes, large bags, large coolers, large packages, lawn chairs, motorized scooters, umbrellas and weapons.
Out on Coney Island, there are fireworks every Friday night in the summer and this week will be particularly busy with many people having that day off from work.
Then again on Saturday night, for the Fourth, they’ll be back, again, at 9:45 p.m. If you like nutcrackers, hot dogs and pyrotechnics, head to South Brooklyn. (Pro tip: if you want to spend the scorching-hot weekend at the beach, but hate the crowds, take the B or the Q just a couple stops further down to Brighton Beach. Grab a shawarma while you’re there!)
Looking for other fireworks displays? Here is the official list of permitted fireworks from the Fire Department, including at Co-Op City in The Bronx on Friday night.
Sail 250
And of course, Sail 250. Not only will street and foot traffic hit the city this holiday weekend, but New York Harbor will be flooded with tall ships from all over the world. Beginning in the East River and sailing up through the Hudson, you can register for a free spectator vessel anchorage here. Anchorages are open at 3 p.m. July 3 through 8 a.m. July 5. The morning of July 4, the International Aerial Review joins in: the Blue Angels will lead a formation of U.S. aircrafts parading over the Verrazano Bridge and above the Hudson River.
The exact schedule is here, but between the fireworks, airplanes and ships — avoiding any viewing locations along the lower Hudson and East River is a good idea if you’re looking to avoid the Independence Day hooplah. Here are the locations of the major Sail 250 viewing spots:
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Governors Island
South Street Seaport
Stapleton Homeport Pier
Pier 86 (Hudson River Park)
Fleet Week
While we’re talking about boats — Fleet Week is coming to New York City this weekend, too. The annual tradition honors those who serve in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines, meaning there will be even more military boats in the harbor. The International Naval Review, the pinnacle event, will coincide with Sail250 from July 3 to 8, featuring personnel from more than 130 navies and coast guards. Vice President JD Vance will deliver remarks at the International Naval Review on July 4.
Times Square
Most New Yorkers avoid Times Square like the plague on New Year’s Eve. This year, you might want to avoid it on Independence Day, too.
In celebration of the country’s 250th birthday, the ball will drop eight times between July 3 and 4 — commemorating eight midnights for eight time zones across the U.S. and its territories. The first drop will be at 10 a.m. on July 3 — beginning with Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands’ time zone — and the last will be at 7 a.m. on July 4, for American Samoa. The event will no longer be open to the general public, but to ticket-holders watching from inside One Times Square.
Hot-dog eating contest
Hot dogs adorn a table during Nathan’s Famous international Fourth of July hot dog eating contest weigh-in at the Empire State Building on Wednesday, July 3, 2019, in New York. Credit: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
The grotesque, century-old tradition is as integral to Coney Island as the Cyclone, Rita’s or the pier.
Every year on the Fourth of July, a handful of men and women eat as many hot dogs as they possibly can within 10 minutes. Most years, competitive eater Joey Chestnut takes home the “Mustard Belt.” His record is 70.5 dogs; if you think you have a shot at scarfing down 71, or you’re just morbidly curious, take the N all the way down.
If not, it’s just another reason to avoid South Brooklyn. The women’s championship begins at 11 a.m., and the men’s at 12:30 p.m.
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