Since 1976 the tradition of Macy's fireworks took place on the East River in Manhattan. This year to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of  the exploration of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson, the 2009 Macy's July 4^th Fireworks extravaganza took place on the Hudson River,

This year's fireworks featured more than 40,000 shells exploding at a rate of more than 1,500 per minute.

The fireworks were synchronized to a score of patriotic standards, classic river-themed works, and original music. Performances by the New York Pops and Broadway superstars Audra McDonald and Idina Menzel performed.