It’s hard to believe that June in New York City can be topped, but this weekend might do it.
New York City is pulling out all the stops for America’s massive 250th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Macy’s fireworks, making this weekend one of the most electric celebrations in recent memory.
There’s so much going on — between waterfront flotillas, rooftop BBQs, and street festivals, the five boroughs are going to be absolute buzzing from Friday through Sunday.
Before you head out to navigate the holiday madness, you should know what’s actually functioning around the city.
Because the 4th of July lands on a Saturday this year, the observed Friday holiday on July 3rd is throwing a slight wrench into daily schedules, making city closures a bit of a wild card.
We put together your ultimate cheat sheet for what is open, what is closed, and how to get around NYC without a hitch this holiday weekend.
Subways, trains, and railways: how to actually get around
Getting across town during a major holiday weekend requires a game plan, especially when everyone is fighting for a spot along the East River and Lower Hudson to watch the sky light up.
The MTA is tweaking schedules across the board, so do not rely on your typical weekday commute times.
- NYC subways and buses: Believe it or not, subways and buses will operate on a Saturday schedule on both Friday, July 3rd, and Saturday, July 4th. You can expect boosted evening service between Canal Street and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center on Saturday to handle the massive fireworks crowds. Check the official MTA service updates before you swipe your OMNY card.
- Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): Commuters heading out to the Hamptons or beaches are in luck. The LIRR is running on a regular summer Friday schedule on July 3rd, and transitioning to a standard weekend schedule for Saturday, July 4th.
- Metro-North Railroad: You can expect a Saturday schedule on all East of Hudson lines on the 4th, complete with extra evening getaway trains to get you home after the fireworks finale.
Mail delivery & post offices: don’t expect packages on Saturday
If you are waiting on a crucial delivery or need to ship out a last-minute package, pay close attention to the calendar this year.
- Friday, July 3rd: Standard operations! Because the federal holiday falls on the weekend, the U.S. Postal Service is keeping retail locations open and delivering mail on their normal weekday schedule.
- Saturday, July 4th: Total shutdown. All post offices are closed, and regular residential mail and package deliveries are paused for the day. Normal services will fire right back up on Monday, July 6th.
Banks and government offices: handle your business early
Dealing with paperwork or banking over a holiday weekend is never ideal, but Friday is going to be your absolute last chance to see a human teller until next week.
- Banks: Most major commercial branches (think Chase, Bank of America, and Citibank) are open on Friday, July 3rd, though some local branches may opt for early closures. On Saturday, July 4th, physical bank doors across the city will be locked tight. You will need to rely on ATMs and mobile apps for any weekend banking needs.
- Government offices: Public agencies, NYC courts, and DMV locations will observe the holiday on Friday, July 3rd, and remain closed through Saturday.
Iconic NYC museums and attractions: where to party and play
Here is the best news of the weekend: NYC’s favorite cultural hubs and skyline observation decks thrive on holiday weekends!
Whether you are hosting out-of-towners or just playing tourist in your own city, you have plenty of incredible options.
- Observation decks: The Empire State Building, Edge, and Summit One Vanderbilt are open and welcoming crowds. In fact, many observation decks host exclusive, ticketed 4th of July viewing parties high above the skyline.
- Museums: Heavyweights like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the Whitney Museum of American Art are operating under standard weekend hours.
- Libraries: While neighborhood branch libraries are closing their doors for the holiday, history buffs should make a mainline sprint to the New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at 42nd Street. They are displaying Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence as part of a massive 250th anniversary exhibit through the weekend.
Sanitation and parking
We love a good parking break, and the holiday weekend is delivering the goods for NYC drivers.
Trash collection: The Department of Sanitation takes the holiday off, meaning there will be no trash, recycling, or compost collection on Saturday. If Saturday is your normal collection day, hold your bags inside until your next scheduled evening to keep the sidewalks clean.
Alternate side parking: Suspended on Saturday, July 4th! You can sleep in without fearing the dreaded street sweeper ticket.
