Huge crowds of duped revelers gathered in Brooklyn Bridge Park counting down the seconds to midnight and then looking stunned as no fireworks went off on the bridge. DUMBO and surrounding neighborhoods were flooded with visitors and traffic well into the early hours of January 1st due to misleading NYE fireworks features online. Social media and news outlets had shown the 4th of July fireworks at the Brooklyn Bridge announcing NYE fireworks in the same place. See video footage here and here.
Misinformation came from Time Out New York which runs Time Out Market in DUMBO who named the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and Brooklyn Bridge Park on its list of “best places to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks in NYC for free.” Secret NYC, a social media platform for events and things to do in New York City also listed the spot in a now-deleted post, putting Brooklyn Bridge Park in the No. 1 slot.
Time Out New York: “Brooklyn Bridge Park: If you want fireworks with a skyline backdrop, Brooklyn Bridge Park is the place to be. From Piers one through six along DUMBO’s waterfront, you’ll get sweeping views of the East River, Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges framing the show. It’s a prime location for photos, especially as fireworks reflect off the water. The downside is that it fills up fast. Aim to arrive before sunset to get the best spot. Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Just uphill from DUMBO, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade offers a postcard-perfect perspective. You can often spot multiple fireworks displays across the harbor, with the Statue of Liberty and downtown skyline in view. It’s a calmer alternative to Brooklyn Bridge Park and ideal if you want space to stroll while you wait for midnight.”
Images from 4th of July, 2025 (see below) were used to announce New Year’s Eve fireworks at the Brooklyn Bridge.
