Overview
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office opened a short public lottery that launched on Friday, June 26 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 29 to distribute 100,000 free tickets for Brooklyn Bridge Park and the South Street Seaport.
- Winners will be notified by email between June 30 and July 2 and must claim up to four tickets quickly because viewing zones are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis when claims are made.
- There are four ticketed zones — three in Brooklyn Bridge Park (Piers 1; 2–3; 5–6 with ADA access) and one at the Seaport — and every person entering those areas will be searched with a long prohibited-items list that excludes chairs, blankets, backpacks, alcohol, drones, umbrellas and weapons.
- Non-ticketed options remain available, notably public viewing along the FDR Drive and multiple Hudson River vantage points in Jersey City where officials are running a free festival and concert series.
- The 50th Macy’s show will be larger than usual, firing from the East River, Hudson River and Brooklyn Bridge with new bridge projections and a 27-minute scored soundtrack, and it will be televised on NBC/Peacock beginning at 8 p.m. ET, which raises major crowd, transit and security demands for the holiday.