LI celebrates the Fourth in parks and beaches, then gathers for fireworks at night

Fourth of July revelers on Long Island celebrated America's birthday in parks, parades and beaches, before watching fireworks light up the night sky at displays across the region.

Steamy summer weather sent many to the state parks, which were bursting by late morning Thursday, including smaller ones that almost never get shutout crowds, such as Valley Stream State Park and Orient Beach State Park on the North Fork, said George Gorman, regional director of New York State Parks. 

Throngs commemorated the day among the green of the 600 acres at Wildwood State Park in Wading River, which reached their capacity of 5,000 before 11 a.m., officials said. 

Sunken Meadow State Park, which accommodates 60,000, was full by 11 a.m., prompting authorities to shut down the parkway leading to it, the director said. It reopened at 5 p.m., along with Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, which also reached capacity early, he said.

Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh saw about 80 percent capacity during the day, Gorman reported, but the crowd reached its 200,000 capacity for the night fireworks.

Earlier, in Port Jefferson, hundreds lined Main Street to watch the community's annual parade. Camped in beach chairs or standing on the curb, spectators wore baseball hats embroidered with American flags, red- and white-striped tank tops and blue leggings covered in white stars.

“I found this to be a great extravaganza,” said first-time attendee Renard Emanuel, 52, of Selden, who snagged a shady spot for his chair. “Having a unified front to celebrate the heritage of such a great nation is just wonderful.”

Onlookers delighted in the sights and sounds of the parades, from the tiny hand waves of Cub Scout packs to the wail of firetruck sirens.

“Wave!” Janis Graziano instructed her grandsons, William, 8, and Nicholas, 4, as antique fire engines crawled by them. Graziano was visiting from the Albany area.

“This is what I grew up with, going to a parade on the Fourth of July, so it’s just nice to share this with my grandkids,” she said, adding that they would spend the rest of the day swimming and barbecuing.

Decked out in an American flag shirt, Casey Morse, 27, of Ronkonkoma, had come to the parade for the first time with fiance William Merschoff, also 27.

“I heard about it years ago, but I hadn’t been able to get up early enough for it,” she said, noting that they arrived at 8:30 a.m. to snag a spot for the 10 a.m. parade.

“There’s not enough Fourth of July parades,” she said. “It helps keep the patriotism up and helps us remember that we’re all one.”

Good friends Carol Trump, 73, and Dale Goodhart, 70, are parade veterans and got to Main Street at 8 a.m. so they could claim the same spot for their red and blue beach chairs that they’ve had four years in a row.

“I love seeing all the kids laughing,” said Goodhart, of Middle Island. “It’s a joyous time.” The pair said they would next grab a meal and head to the Amphitheatre at Bald Hill for music and fireworks.

“It’s the one time when everyone can just get together and celebrate,” said Trump, a Coram resident.

At Heritage Park in Mount Sinai, Boy Scout Troop 454 planted about 100 national and state flags along a jogging path. Many were U.S. flags but others represented state flags, such as Illinois, Colorado and Maine.

Megan Nargentina, 38, of East Setauket attended because she said she wanted to start her July Fourth celebrating the nation's history. “I heard there was going to be a flag display, a perfect way to start the day,” she said.

Come the night, fireworks were held throughout the region, including the Macy's spectacular that traditionally brings out millions to Manhattan and Brooklyn, including many from around the country and the world. 

Mark Rasiah, 62 from El Cerrito, California, had only seen the musical show on television, but this year he had a front row spot near the FDR Drive.

 "These are probably the best in the world. I've been to London and Sydney and New Year's and these outdo everything else. This is just outstanding," he said.

Brandon Pierce, 50, from Harlem, watched from right off South Street Seaport.

"Every time it boomed the sound goes through your soul," he said. "I just love being so up close. There's nothing like that.... It moves your soul," he said.

Security was tight, with several road closures, police checkpoints and NYPD helicopters buzzing overhead. Many were excited to catch the show near the Brooklyn Bridge, a location that hasn’t been graced by the Macy’s fireworks bonanza since 2014.

"It’s a part of the celebration of America," said Arch Ares, who traveled to Brooklyn from Virginia. "Who we are as a nation and as a people, how far we’ve come, and how far we’ve got to go. America is already great.”