Big Apple Fireworks

America is ramping up to celebrate its 233rd birthday, but New Yorkers have several additional reasons to celebrate. First, Independence Day marks the reopening of Lady Liberty's crown, which has been closed to tourists for the past eight years. Secondly, this year it's a two-fer party that also celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage to America. It was on this voyage that the British explorer first set foot on Manhattan island.

In honor of the great explorer, Macy's famed fireworks bonanza returns to the Hudson after spending the past nine years over the East River. Despite the change of rivers, however, the 33rd annual event will be another incredible show. With six giant boats lined up in the waters west of midtown, the 26-minute show will feature 40,000 firework shells exploding at a rate of 1,500 per minute. The fiery booms start at 9:20 p.m.

Still, the Statue of Liberty and the fireworks might be the highlights for kids, but the real twisted minds will head over to Coney Island for Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest. The event, now in its 94th year, drew a crowd of 40,000 people last year in addition to a million viewers on ESPN. Who knew pigs eating pigs could be so popular? Last year's top oinker downed 64 dogs, but unfortunately the championship belt could no longer fit around his over-sized belly.

Locals like to leave the city on summer weekends, but this year should be the exception. Independence Day doesn't fall on a Saturday very often, and the Big Apple is making the most of an already excellent situation.

Fireworks photos by Barry Yanowitz courtesy of Flickr.