Fireworks are one thing. Fighting crowds and dealing with drunken strangers are different matters entirely. And then there's the waiting: first, for the whole fireworks show to begin and then for the whole fireworks show to stop, so everyone can go home. The solution to avoid Scrooge-ing out this Fourth of July? Watch the fireworks on television, like the civilized do. Who says you can't celebrate America's birthday with modern conveniences like a stocked refrigerator, indoor plumbing, and a remote to surf around during commercial breaks? It's 2016. Trust me, you don't need to go outside to see colorful sky explosions set to patriotic music. You may be wondering then, what channel the TV fireworks are on.
Depending on where you live, you may have some local July 4 celebrations to choose from. But there are also three major, nationally televised specials that will be airing that night: the Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC; A Capitol Fourth on PBS, and The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on CBS. Now instead of jockeying for a decent spot on an overcrowded roof, all you need to do is pick which celebratory display you'll be tuning in for. Here are some details to help you and your fellow Fourth partiers sort that out.
Macy's 4th Of July Spectacular
Since the '70s, the department store chain has sponsored New York City's Independence Day fireworks show and their national broadcast. The 40th anniversary edition of the show kicks off at 8 p.m. EST this coming Monday. The Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks Spectacular music line-up is a who's-who of pop radio, designed, no doubt, to entice a younger audience who might not be swayed by fireworks alone. When you tune into your local NBC channel on the 4th, you'll see performances by retro-pop phenom Meghan Trainor, country star Kenny Chesney, Miami rapper Pitbull, and the pop-punk band 5 Seconds Of Summer.
A Capitol Fourth
PBS's annual DC-based extravaganza is going full-patriot, starting at 8 p.m. EST. One of the performers who'll be performing on the West Lawn for A Capitol Fourth will be Christopher Jackson, Hamilton's Tony-nominated George Washington. The rest of the eclectic docket includes Glee alum Amber Riley, Smokey Robinson, Gavin DeGraw, Sutton Foster, and the National Symphony orchestra. Closing fireworks are a given.
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Over at CBS, the city of Boston's July 4th party begins at 9 p.m. EST. Joining the Boston Pops for the evening will be Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas (a stop on their co-headlining tour) and country group Little Big Town. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular will be beamed out live from the Charles River Esplanade. Stay tuned for the big finale, when they dump a vat of tea into the water. (OK, this probably won't happen, but it'd be awesome.)
With all these choices, who needs to leave their house on the Fourth Of July?
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