July 4, 2025

Yonkers celebrated America's 249th birthday by bringing the national anthem to life with a night sky full of "rockets' red glare" and "bombs bursting in air".

The official city fireworks show attracted thousands to the waterfront, but the official programming wasn't the only source of explosive celebration. Although illegal, communities hosted their light shows, entertaining their communities with boisterous, if not dangerous displays of freedom.

Families gathered near the footsteps of their homes or apartment buildings and enjoyed the sights from where they stood. Kids enjoyed the randomness of it all, with fireworks all around them every few minutes as revelers prepared for the next launch. In the lull, families would set off sparklers on the ground, maintaining the momentum and the children's excitement.

Setting off fireworks is not without risk. At least one person was injured when a rocket went off in their hand, according to reporting by News 12. Countless firework accidents were reported across the country, including an inferno at a fireworks warehouse in California that claimed 7 lives days before the holiday. Fireworks are volatile and changing conditions in the environment can set off a reaction. Professional pyrotechnicians must follow strict state and federal guidelines.

The following day City Councilman John Rubbo took to social media to notify residents of the danger, illegality and environmental impact of setting off fireworks and the heaps of exploded material left behind.

Despite the dangers, it remains a tradition that someone in your neighborhood or the next one over is dedicated to lighting up the night sky, if for no other reason than to behold a few seconds of magic.

Oh say, can you see?