Who Here Has Ever Been To a MEGA 4th Celebration?

[BethanyF]

1997, Tase of Chicago. I won an all expense paid weekend that included access to the catered tent and preferred seating for all the concerts (plus hotel suites, taste coupons, etc).
We were in abut the 5th row for the symphony during the fireworks. Amazing....until we and 2,000,000 other people tried leaving We had to form a human chain and pray we didnt get detached from each other until we got out of the crush of people.

 

[PrincessCLM]

My sisters and I went up to the Boston Pops concert one year. We had always watched it on tv and wanted to go. It was hot, but it was worth it to say that we did it. Will I go again? NOPE

 

[Figment22]

1976 - Operation Sail NYC (I can't believe it's been 30 years already!)
1988 - Boston Pops and Fireworks on the Charles
2001 - Fourth of July Celebration at Universal's CityWalk (Truly amazing fireworks going off from four different locations.)

 

[LadyyRedd]

My dad used to take us every year into DC for the fireworks there when we were younger.

Kimya

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I live in downtown Chicago, so I hear everyone's complaints about the crush. It is wicked. I prefer to spend my 4th at the Jersey Shore.

For those of you who live in the Chicago area, come in for Venetian Night. I think it's better than the 4th.

 

[redshoes]

When I was a little girl we went to DC for the fireworks, I still remember them- they were great! I can also understand why my Mom was so stressed that day, now that I have kids of my own, I think that she was just so nervous about the crowds and such.
I've been to Disneyland twice for the 4th and they were wonderful as well.

 

[lovmy2girls]

I've been to WDW on the 4th of July, does that count??

 

[llij]

I've been to DC multiple times for fireworks on the mall. The fireworks were always amazing. Getting home took forever though!

I think my favorite though was spending the whole day on the mall, watching the Beach Boys in concert and then watching the fireworks. That was almost 20 years ago....boy am I getting old!

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

I've been to Welcome America! in Philadelphia. That was truly amazing! A madhouse, but amazing! The Donna Summers concert was great and the fireworks out of this world!

 

[robinb]

Here in Madison, WI we have Rhythm and Booms which is billed as the "Largest Fireworks Display in the Midwest". It was held on Sunday 7/2 (a rain date) and it was awesome! We were about 200 yards from where they shot off the shells and the fireworks exploded over our heads. Thank goodness the wind was blowing the other way and we had no smoke or ash. The fireworks were so loud duing the 1812 Overture that we could only hear the first half.

 

[sm4987]

I've done disney for the 4th. MGM's special fireworks was awesome! Right after 9/11 and not that crowded. I want to do it again one year

 

[geetey]

VP Fair!!! Okay - so now it's called Fair St Louis. There is something really cool about seeing fireworks bursting in the sky and lighting up the Arch. They scaled things back this year, which is a bummer.

 

[Mermaid02]

Sitting on the banks of the Charles River watching the fireworks in Boston- 2000

 

[AllyandJack]

I went to the one in Boston once. It was fun, but once is definitely enough for me. I think it was 1998 or 1999. Can't remember. Good times, but now I prefer to be home....alternating between the Cops marathon and The Twilight Zone marathon.

I remember it was hot. I got there around 6am and fell asleep clutching my wallet. It got a little hairy around 1pm. I didn't think I was going to make it. My friend and I walked over to Newbury Street and stood in an ATM kiosk because it was air conditioned.

 

[clori]

I've seen the Boston fireworks many times but the closest I've been to the Esplanade is on July 3rd for the Boston Pops rehearsal (which is still way way way to crowded for me). I have probably watched from the Cambridge side more mostly on a bridge (Longfellow?). I have also watched in the distance from Brookline. Since we are a member of the Museum of Science last night we paid to watch the fireworks from the garage rooftop of the Museum of Science. It overlooks the Charles River so the fireworks are close by. There were many kid friendly activities while waiting such as clowns, magic shows, science based arts/crafts, face painting, dance music etc. There was music all night but starting at 8:30 it was all Boston Pops including the patriotic singalong. I was disappointed that the music feed came from a tv channel rather than direct feed from the Hatch Shell but it worked out fine. Dealing with a few thousand people getting out was much much nicer than dealing with the crowds in Boston. We walked down the stairwell instead of the ramp and were in the first batch of people to make it back to the Galleria garage so we were home relatively quickly. Just fyi 93north was completely backed up but 28 was no problem at all (we had to take my nephew home first). Cambridge fire department doesn't allow any cars to park at the museum parking lot so you can buy a galleria parking pass if you want or the t is close by.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

...the 4th at WDW!!! We spent the day at discovery Cove(awesome!) and night at Epcot! what a vacation! Hope to do it again some day soon.

that does dound like a wonderful day!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

WE have now done DC!!

Though we were chicken--we used the mall as a passage way--but didn't stay there. We headed to the Jefferson Memorial just in time as a horrendous storm approached. We got drenched before getting into the monument--but missed the hail. YIKES! But the rain cleared teh steps and it was open season on prime spots--we had a lovely flat ledge near the base of the steps--and the view was WONDERFUL!!!

We walked back to Arlington via the FDR memorial and just in time for a train and then caught our tfr train with ease.

Perhaps another time we will brave the mall--like when I can afford a downtown hotel room on the 4th.

 

[Crankyshank]

I've been to the Boston celebration a few times. I went once to WDW on the 4th and also to NYC (it was the centennial Statue of Liberty celebration I believe).
I think the best celebration I've been to is also the oldest - the fireworks and the parade in Bristol RI.

 

[PaulaSue]

I used to Nanny in NY and NJ so I have been to Macy's 4th a few times in the early 90s.

 

[Figment22]

I've already listed the other mega celebrations I've been lucky enough to attend in an earlier post upthread but I forgot to add the one that was amazing.

In 2000, we sailed on the Disney Magic during the first week of July. We were to be docked in Nassau on the Fourth of July and DCL had apparently asked the Bahamian govt. for permission to set off fireworks in the Nassau harbor but was denied. We sailed out of port early and into international waters. They sailed both the Magic and the Wonder into close proximity to each other, and brought a barge into the area and set off a marvelous fireworks display solely for the two Disney cruise ships! It was absolutely a wonderful night.

Have any other DISers sailed on the Magic or the Wonder on the Fourth of July? I'd be very curious to know if they do this every year.