What to Do and Where to Eat in New York City for the Fourth of July
Making July 4th plans? You have come to the right place! Here is our guide with what to do and where to eat in New York City for the Fourth of July. Fun times and good food awaits!
What to Do?
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has been a New York City Fourth of July tradition for decades. Can Joey Chestnut break another record or can Matt Stonie beat the reigning champ again? Afterwards you can check out Luna Park or the Coney Island beach and boardwalk.
Watch a Baseball Game
July 4th is a great time to watch a baseball game. Unfortunately the Yankees have an away game and the Mets have the day off. But the Brooklyn Cyclones are facing the Aberdeen Iron Birds at MCU Park in Coney Island. Best of all, tickets to this game are only $15 and it includes a hot dog, a Steeplechase face bobblehead and a fireworks show after the game.
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks
Finally you have to end the day by watching the 43rd annual Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks light up the New York skyline. It is the largest pyrotechnic celebration in the United States and it starts around 9:20 PM. This year, the fireworks barge will be stationed around the Brooklyn Bridge area so you can get the best views from downtown Brooklyn or downtown Manhattan.
What to Eat?
Pulled Pork, Ribs & Brisket
Getting some delicious barbecue and the Fourth of July just goes hand to hand! We love pulled pork, ribs (both dry and wet rub) and brisket and luckily there are so many good BBQ restaurants across New York City! Some of our absolute favorites include Hill Country Barbecue Market (30 W 26th St), Blue Smoke (255 Vesey St & Other Locations), Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (604 Union St, Brooklyn & Other Locations), Fette Sau (354 Metropolitan Ave) and Hometown Bar-B-Que (454 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn).
Hot Dogs
You don’t have to eat 74 hot dogs like Joey Chestnut but a Fourth of July celebration is not complete without some hot dogs! You can get some top notch hot dogs at Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island (1310 Surf Ave, Brooklyn), Gray’s Papaya (2090 Broadway), Katz’s Delicatessen (205 E Houston St & DeKalb Market Hall) and Crif Dogs (113 St Marks Pl & 555 Driggs Ave, Brooklyn).
Ice Cream
Finally, the Fourth of July is going to be hot so you may be craving something to cool you down. Whether you are looking for a classic scoop of ice cream on a cone or a towering sundae, we recommend the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Bayard St), Ice & Vice (221 E Broadway), Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (224 Front St) and Brooklyn Farmacy (513 Henry St, Brooklyn).
