‘Largest Fireworks Show In New Jersey’ Returns For 2017 (And It's Free)

More than 150,000 attendees are expected to spend their Independence Day at a massive, July 4 fireworks show at Liberty State Park in Jersey City this year, event organizers say.

The 2017 Jersey City Freedom & Fireworks Festival will take place from 1 to 10 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

If the New Jersey government shutdown lasts until July 4, the event will be held at a backup location at Exchange Place, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop stated on Facebook.

This year, the festival - which Jersey City officials called the "Largest Fireworks Display in the State" in a news release - will include a performance from headliner Kool & The Gang, who will take to the stage at 8:15 p.m. Additional attractions include kids entertainment, a “smorgasbord” of food, carnival rides, an expanded large beer garden and live music performances at two stages.

The fireworks display will begin after sunset and will be led by iconic Grucci, a sixth-generation, family-owned fireworks company which has performed at eight U.S. Presidential Inaugurations, the Olympic Games and earned the Guinness World Record for “largest fireworks display” ever recorded.

Check out a few of their previous fireworks displays below.

According to event organizers, the annual celebration began four years ago after New York City’s fireworks display was moved to the East River.

For more information about the event schedule, transportation or what to bring, visit www.FreedomAndFireworks.com or the city’s social media pages and website: jerseycitynj.gov.

The following event information comes via a news release from Jersey City officials.

TRANSPORTATION TO THE EVENT

Anyone attending the event is strongly encouraged to arrive by foot, bike, or public transportation, as parking will be extremely limited in the park and surrounding areas.

Guests may arrive on foot or by bike through the Ethel Pesin Liberty Footbridge which connects downtown Jrsey City with Liberty State Park. The footbridge is located at Jersey Avenue and Mill Creek Road, and is in close proximity to the Grove Street PATH and three Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Stations: Marin Blvd, Jersey Avenue, and the Liberty State Park station. Liberty State Park can also be reached on foot via the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway so anyone wishing to attend the event from downtown Jersey City can walk to the park along the walkway.

This year there will be added shuttles transporting attendees to and from the festival approximately every 20-30 minutes.

NJ Transit’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) will be providing regular service to Liberty State Park, via the Liberty State Park station. Due to the high attendance forecasted for the evening fireworks and concerts, attendees are advised that HBLR service capacity is extremely limited and as a result, customers will experience delays leaving Liberty State Park station following the fireworks in particular.

Attendees planning to utilize Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service to and from Liberty State Park for the July 4th fireworks may encounter overcrowding, service delays due to the limited operating capacity, and extensive wait times which could span in excess of hours. With this, attendees planning to use the HBLR should build enough time into their travel plans or consider leaving the park before the end of the fireworks or remaining in the park after the fireworks to participate in planned activities. Customers are strongly encouragedto buy roundtrip tickets from ticket vending machines in advance of the fireworks event.

Guests utilizing the PATH train system, should check the PATH website at http://www.panynj.gov/path/ful... for an updated holiday schedule.

• Liberty Landing Ferry (water taxi) will run every 30 minutes to the following locations until 8:30 pm:
• Liberty Landing Marina Jersey City, New Jersey
• Warren Street Jersey City, New Jersey
• World Financial Center Terminal New York, New York

Jersey City will provide water taxi service free for guests between 8:30pm and 11pm between Warren Street and Liberty Landing Marina only. Visitors can view their schedule via theirwebsite: http://www.libertylandingferry...

Parking will be available throughout the city. Visitors are advised to use only registered and licensed parking facilities. Check with lot operators for fees and hours of operation.

BAGS SUBJECT TO SEARCH

Please be advised that any bags brought into Liberty State Park are subject to search by law enforcement authorities. Attendees are encouraged to pack belongings in clear bags that show contents. Coolers will not be allowed on festival grounds.

For a full list of what can be carried into the festival and what is banned, visit http://freedomandfireworks.com/what-to-bring/.

Send local news tips, feedback and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: Jersey City Freedom & Fireworks Festival