Macy’s tests fireworks in Mojave Desert ahead of milestone Fourth of July show

Crews preparing Macy’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show gathered in the Mojave Desert on Monday night (June 8)  to test this year’s pyrotechnics ahead of a planned expansion marking the event’s 50th anniversary.

This year’s display is expected to be one of the largest yet, with fireworks set to illuminate the Brooklyn Bridge, the lower East River and the Hudson River as part of celebrations tied to the United States’ 250th birthday.

Far from the crowds of New York City, technicians launched fireworks into the night sky near Lucerne Valley, California, about 120 miles from Los Angeles, to evaluate how each element will perform during the live show on July 4.

Each firework is tested for height, timing and color to ensure it aligns with the choreography planned for the broadcast event, which draws millions of viewers each year.

"The Macy's Fireworks show is not just a show. It is a performance and it just captivates you," said the show's designer Gary Souza. "The colors and the pace and the rhythm and how it all synchronizes together, it should capture you. To the point where you are just beyond the 'ooh' and the 'ah', to just saying 'wow'."

To mimic the Brooklyn Bridge, crews suspended a chain of cascading fireworks between two cranes, allowing the pyrotechnic designers to simulate how the fireworks will interact with the iconic structure during the live show.

By July 4th, the silence of the desert will give way to cheering New York crowds and a skyline full of light.

"It's an opportunity to give back, bring everyone together for a little moment of unity, a moment of celebration," said Will Coss, head of Macy's Studios, which produces the show. 

Production: Sandra Stojanovic, Mike Blake, Jane Ross/Reuters