Everything you need to know about Fourth of July at Jones Beach on July 4, 2019. You'll find insider tips on how to beat the crowds, where to eat around Jones Beach, hidden spots to catch the fireworks and more. 

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Holidays

Fourth of July

Jones Beach Fireworks 2015

Ever wonder how many fireworks are launched during the Fourth of July Fireworks show at Jones Beach or how much garbage is collected after the holiday weekend?

Here we give you a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into a fireworks show at Jones Beach, from <a href="http://www.gardenstatefireworks.com">Garden State Fireworks</a>.

Meet the mortars

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Thousands of fireworks are a 'go'

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They should consider buying rolls in bulk

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The team behind the show

Keeping fireworks working properly

U - S - A

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You'll go slow after the show

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The fireworks 'after-trash'

The fireworks soundtrack is simulcast on Walk 97.5 and K 98.3

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It takes rigorous training to be a lead fireworks technician

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Fully staffed and ready for the public

Behind-the-scenes look at the Jones Beach Fireworks show

Behind the scenes at the Jones Beach Fireworks

If you're planning to hit Jones Beach, consider a lunch or dinner stop at any of these eateries. All are conveniently situated off either the Meadowbrook or Wantagh, the two parkways that lead to the beach. And all will welcome you in your flip-flops, shorts and bathing suit cover-ups.

FeedMe

Shake Shack

Lobster Shack

Passione Della Cucina

Pit Stop

Bobby's Burger Palace

Pollos El Paisa

Pastrami Plus

Chicken's Road

Chicken’s Road

Restaurants on the way to Jones Beach

Great eats en route to Jones Beach

Heading to Jones Beach for July Fourth fireworks is a long-standing tradition for many Long Islanders who enjoy a day playing in the sand, followed by a night watching pyrotechnics light up the Atlantic sky. Here's how to make the most of the event and beat the crowd. 
About 150,000 visitors are expected at the park on July 4, and more than 100,000 are likely to be there for the fireworks, says George Gorman Jr., regional director for the state Parks Department. 
"If that brings back memories of post-show gridlock as thousands of cars exit on the parkways, you're not alone. To avoid gridlock, motorists are no longer permitted to park on the shoulder of Ocean Parkway. In the last few years, traffic has flowed smoothly into the park and has exited the park quickly as more visitors come early to enjoy a day at the beach and then stay for the fireworks,” Gorman says. “If you plan to arrive prior to 8 p.m., traffic should be light to moderate." 
The multicolored displays will be set off by Millington, New Jersey-based Garden State Fireworks from a barge in the Atlantic south of Jones Beach's Central Mall. WALK/97.5 FM and K98.3 FM will simulcast music during the 30-minute show. 
Sterling National Bank July 4th Fireworks at Jones Beach State Park 
WHEN | WHERE 9:30 p.m. July 4, Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh 
INFO 516-785-1600, <a href="http://parks.ny.gov">parks.ny.gov</a> 
ADMISSION $10 parking fee charged 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
BOAT TO THE SHOW 
Beating the crowd? Board one of the Captree or Freeport Nautical Mile boats to watch from a front-row seat on the bay. 
The Captree Fleet 
WHEN | WHERE Boarding begins around 6 p.m., with boats departing between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. July 4, Captree State Park, Babylon. Reservations required. 
INFO 631-669-6464, <a href="http://captreefleet.com" target="_blank">captreefleet.com</a> 
ADMISSION $45-$50 
About a dozen boats from the Captree fleet of "open" or charter fishing vessels will take passengers out for an evening of cruising the Great South Bay, picnicking on deck and watching the fireworks at anchor. Some boats are providing snacks or desserts as part of a cruising package while others are selling food items a la carte. Some vessels invite passengers to bring their own food. Boats return at about 11 p.m. 
The Capt. Lou Fleet 
WHEN | WHERE Board at 7 p.m. July 4, 31 Woodcleft Ave./11 Richmond St., Freeport. Reservations required. 
INFO 516-623-5823, <a href="http://captloufleet.com">captloufleet.com</a> 
ADMISSION $75-$130 
The Capt. Lou Fleet sails from Freeport with two fireworks options this year. The basic party boat trip is a 4-hour tour that departs at 7 p.m. and costs $75 with a DJ, cash bar and a la carte snack bar (no outside beverages). More involved is a dinner cruise aboard the sleek Sapphire Princess, a 134-passenger yacht offering appetizers, a buffet meal, a photo booth, open bar and DJ entertainment ($130 adults, $100 senior citizens over 65, $90 ages 4-20). 
Freeport Water Taxi 
WHEN|WHERE 8:30-10:45 p.m. July 4, 211 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport 
INFO 516-874-4082, <a href="http://freeportwatertaxi.com">freeportwatertaxi.com</a> 
ADMISSION $50 adults, $35 for children ages 6-10, free under 5 
ALTERNATIVE VIEWS Wantagh Park in Wantagh and Cedar Creek Park in Seaford also offer alternative views of the show, albeit about 5 miles from center stage. 
Both parks "are excellent viewing locations for the Jones Beach fireworks," says Eileen Krieb, Nassau County parks commissioner. 
Capacity crowds are expected at both parks, so if you're seeking a spot to watch the fireworks, it's a good idea to arrive early to avoid being shut out. 
"These parks have limited parking, fill very early in the day and there is no overflow parking," she says. "The lots will be closed when they are full."

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Watching Jones Beach fireworks on land and from the water

Jones Beach fireworks: How to beat the crowds

Facts about the Jones Beach Fourth of July fireworks show

Newsday

In order to pursue his vision of creating a getaway for the middle class, Robert Moses transformed bleak swampland into a splendorous park system.
 
Jones Beach State Park, which opened in 1929, served as the forefront of his dream. Today, the park stretches across nearly seven miles and receives six to eight million visitors each year.
 
Yet no matter how many times you've soaked up the sun or strolled along the boardwalk of this iconic park, there are probably still things you didn't know about Jones Beach.

News

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It's a working water tower

'The pier' is where you can find a great catch

American Indian culture was taught here

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Hidden messages at the Central Mall

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Designed for the automobile class

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Thomas Jones: whaler, soldier, privateer

Bathing cut short at the bathhouse

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Where you could get a workout

The theater's moat was covered for extra seating

Trash cans once stored fire extinguishers

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A canvas shop repairs the equipment

Secrets of Jones Beach State Park

11 secrets of Jones Beach 

Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh offers an astonishing variety of things to do on a summer day. Whether you want to swim, sunbathe, dine outdoors or play sports along 6½ miles of white sand and a 2-mile boardwalk, or find a quiet spot to surf, fish or look for wildlife, you can dive right in amid the park’s 2,400 acres. Here’s a guide to fun beyond the beach at one of the nation’s premier public recreational facilities. Destinations begin in the west and move east.

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Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh: An insider's guide to bathhouses, nature center, more

Insider's guide to Jones Beach

From sunbathers and families catching the waves to festive holiday fun, check out photos from the Fourth of July at&nbsp;Jones Beach State Park.

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2018 Fourth of July at Jones Beach State Park

Sand. Sunscreen. Smiles. This is July Fourth at Jones Beach.

From snapping selfies and action shots to capturing poses on the beach and fireworks, we found the best tips to help you take better photos and videos on your phone. Take a look: 
1. Zoom with your feet. Zooming with your phone will reduce image quality and, if you’re shooting video, make shakiness more prevalent. Instead, walk closer to your subject. 
2. Find an interesting angle. Pointing and shooting will only get you so far — get low, take a step to the right, do something else besides shooting your subject flat on. 
3. Set your focus and exposure with a tap. Beach shots can be too bright, especially when a light-colored shirt or pasty skin is in your view finder. If you tap on the brightest spot of your photo, your iPhone will dial down the exposure. Tapping on your subject will set the focus, as well. 
4. Get close when shooting video. Wind and distance are not friends with the little mic in your mobile device. Get close to your subject for a clearer sound. 
5. Know the rule of thirds. Video and stills look better when you don’t place your subject dead center in a photo (most of the time — creative license may overrule this). Imagine a grid on your screen that breaks it into three equal parts wide and three equal parts tall. Always place your subject on one of the lines in the grid. 
6. Avoid using flash, if possible. It often just creates a bad lighting experience, and people get red-eye. Try to get the subject in some kind of natural light — if you’re outside, maybe just find a street light and use the editing tools built into your phone. You can also use an app like Instagram to play around with the brightness and contrast. You can even add special effects. If you have to use the flash, try to put a piece of printer paper over the flash to diffuse the light and reduce redeye. 
7. Avoid using the zoom. It can make the image blurry. If you can’t physically get closer, it’s better to just take the photo and then zoom into whatever you want to focus on by cropping. 
8. Be sure to focus. This may seem obvious, but always give your phone a few seconds to focus to avoid blurry photos. 
9. Adjust the brightness. One trick for making details in your photos “pop” is to adjust the brightness after taking the picture. Look for the “light” setting on your iPhone. This will make shots look more dramatic. 
10. Choose horizontal. Horizontal photos are usually better than vertical ones, but if you plan to upload the picture to Instagram, be mindful that people on the ends of a wide shot could get cut off. So either leave extra space in the photo or shoot vertically. 
11. Try a photo app. Free apps like photo gene, or, if you have iOS7 or later, use the edit button and the magic-wand tool to tune brightness, vibrance, saturation and more. 
12. Hold your phone horizontally when shooting video. Holding the phone sideways allows for full-screen shots without the two black bars you would get if shooting vertically. 
13. Don’t take photos in front of windows if indoors. Shooting in a dark area in front of a light source will make the subject “backlit” — the camera will focus on the light source rather than the subject. This also applies on bright and sunny days, and when shooting sunsets. 
14. Be mindful of Instagram filters. Don’t oversaturate or over-sharpen your images. They may look OK on your phone, but when they’re blown up on a computer or on Facebook, they look grainy, pixelated and over-edited. Too much filter is a no-no. 
15. Take better selfies. Never look down into a camera held below your face. That results in notoriously unflattering poses. But hey, if you can pull it off, go for it.

Recreation

15 quick tips for taking better photos and videos on your phone

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Fourth of July at Jones Beach: Fireworks, sunbathing and family fun

Fourth of July weekend at Jones Beach

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Everything you need to know about Fourth of July at Jones Beach on July 4, 2019. You'll find insider tips on how to beat the crowds, where to eat around Jones Beach, hidden spots to catch the fireworks and more.

From sunbathers and families catching the waves to festive holiday fun, check out photos from the Fourth of July at Jones Beach State Park.

More than 100,000 people are expected and at least 8,000 fireworks are slated to fly during the Astoria Bank July 4th Fireworks show at Jones Beach State Park on July 4, 2018. (Credit: Newsday / Jeffrey Basinger)

A sneak peek into what goes into a fireworks show at Jones Beach.

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