Macy’s Fireworks Finale Launches from Atop Empire State Building

New York still got a Macy's fireworks display on this Fourth of July despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Fireworks went off from the top of the Empire State Building Saturday evening.

Although the show was short and nowhere near its usual grand scale, spectators still took to the streets to watch as fireworks lit up the Manhattan sky.

The scaled-back show came as the coronavirus pandemic continues to all aspects of life in the city, including how New Yorkers gather and celebrate.

Earlier this week, Macy's held several unannounced fireworks displays throughout the five boroughs that lasted just a few minutes. Those displays were spliced along with Saturday's display for a presentation that aired on NBC. The show also included musical guests.

Macy's plan was met with criticism by some New Yorkers when it was announced, as it came amid growing complaints from New Yorkers who say the fireworks would add another unnecessary level of stress on residents who've been at the mercy of a barrage of illegal fireworks once the sun goes down.

The president’s July Fourth celebration Saturday featured a U.S. military air show over Washington, and New York got to experience the same, only smaller.

The “Salute to the Great Cities of the American Revolution” began with Air Force and Marine Corps jet flyovers in Boston, before they made their way here to the city. They then went to Philadelphia and Baltimore before concluding their journey with a show in the nation’s capital that inlcuded a range of military fighter jets, bombers, helicopters and more, plus a performance by the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds.

State Police and local law enforcement agencies have also increased patrols as a statewide crackdown on drunk driving this holiday weekend continues.

They're conducting sobriety tests at various checkpoints and targeting reckless and aggressive driving.

Police issued more than 13,000 tickets last year during the July 4th weekend and investigated nearly 190 crashes. Two people were killed. 249 people were arrested for DWI.