Fourth of July weekend just isn’t complete without the light show, and we’ve found the best parties that also offer a great view.
Brooklyn Barge
Greenpoint’s seasonal floating restaurant and barBrooklyn Bargeis throwing its first Fourth of July party with live music and a killer barbecue buffet featuring some top notch options like Brooklyn Summer Ale pork sliders and burgers with “fancy sauce” on King’s Hawaiian rolls, with sides of Old Bay fries and grilled corn with cotija cheese and crema. The open bar serves well drinks, wine and beer all night; an extra $50 per person buys you guaranteed seating on the barge and a champagne toast.$150, 6 p.m., 3 Milton St. Fireworks & Southern Chefs
Your ideal midtown vantage point is SolarOne, where a Southern-style cookout with live music kicks off at 5 p.m.Fireworks & Southern Chefs: A Taste of Georgiais bringing Georgia chefs to cook chicken three ways (fried, barbecued and smoked) with sides like cornbread, roasted sweet potatoes and watermelon salad, served up with cocktails, wine (rose and prosecco), beer and cider. With a VIP ticket you’ll get an hour’s head start on the goods, plus reserved seating.$100, 5-10 p.m., SolarOne, 24-20 FDR Drive at 23rd St. Freedom Fest 2016
South Street Seaportwill be humming all day with two stages of live music from 1 p.m.-9 p.m.: one for the partiers and the other for family fun, including an appearance from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Get your Smorgasburg snaps in — you can check off Wowfulls’ waffle ice cream cones here — then head to Pier 15 at 6:30 p.m. forFreedom Fest 2016. Though the entire Seaport is a front-row seat, admission to the pier gets you a four-hour premium open bar (7 p.m.-11 p.m.) and barbecue buffet eats like burgers, pulled pork tacos and wings.$139, 78 South St.
The weekly Queens market of local vendors will keep its doors open until 11 p.m. on the Fourth. Admission is, as always, free, to grab treats like matcha and Early Grey-flavored Twinkies, OTT quesadillas and more.Relax in the All Queens Beer Garden with brews from Rockaway Brewery, Finback and Singlecut, to name just a few of the breweries that have sprung up in the borough, until it’s time for the big show, which you’ll have great waterfront views of.Free, 5-25 46th Ave., Long Island City, 1-11 p.m.
Red, White and Brew
The Hotel Indigo’s 15th-floor rooftop hotspot Mr. Purple is hauling a whole Sabrett hot dog stand uptairs to serve the official food staple of true New Yorkers beginning at 4 p.m. Enjoy unobstructed views of the river with your Casamigos frozen margaritas and buckets of Budweiser — excuse us, America, the Beer — and Bud Light for the bar’sRed, White and Brewcelebration.For the ultimate free spirits, DJ Phresh will keep things bumping until 4 a.m.$50, a la carte food and drinks,180 Orchard St.
Coney Island
Over the East River isn’t the only place to catch fireworks in the city. Make a day of it in Coney Island starting with the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at 10 a.m., then take a literal spin in the new Endeavor ride at Luna Park (save the new food stands serving fruity shaved ice and fried Oreos for after), stroll among the Coney Art Walls outdoor gallery, roll up to Coney Island Brewing Co. for live music in the outdoor courtyard beginning at 6 p.m., then be on the boardwalk for fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m.
