The Souza family, operators of Pyro Spectaculars, is orchestrating a nationwide celebration of America's 250th birthday, producing 326 fireworks displays across the country. The company, founded in 1979 by the Souza family who trace their roots to a Portuguese immigrant over a century ago, is a prominent force in the pyrotechnics industry. This year's extensive engagement includes shows at iconic locations such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
The centerpiece of the family's work is the 50th annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show in New York City. This event, a long-standing tradition that Pyro Spectaculars has produced for over four decades, will illuminate New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Gary Souza, the show's designer and a third-generation participant, described the Macy's show as "especially meaningful" due to the involvement of multiple generations of his family.
"I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside family members who helped build this tradition before me, and today I’m working with the next generation as we continue that legacy together," Souza stated. "That family connection, combined with our longstanding partnership with Macy’s, makes being part of this celebration incredibly special year after year."
This year's Macy's show is designed to be the largest to date in honor of the nation's semiquincentennial. It will feature 85,000 shells in 30 shades, launched from four barges on the East River and two additional barges on the Hudson River. The event is expected to draw approximately 2 million live viewers and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
Planning for this milestone event began over a year in advance, involving 75 licensed pyrotechnicians. These crews have spent weeks preparing by loading shells, installing equipment, and setting up firing positions. The elaborate displays, including effects like color-changing Ghost Shells and a waving American flag projected from the Brooklyn Bridge, are digitally choreographed months prior. Experienced crews monitor all aspects of execution to ensure safety and precision.
Complementing the fireworks, a laser show on the Brooklyn Bridge will accompany a 27-minute musical score composed by Jason Howland, featuring hits from 1976 and subsequent years. Macy's chief marketing officer, Sharon Otterman, emphasized the event as a "once-in-a-generation experience filled with emotional storytelling and signature spectacle to connect millions of people nationwide."
Michael Ingram, president of Pyro Spectaculars, expressed the company's honor in contributing to the national celebration. "Producing 326 shows from coast to coast is an extraordinary undertaking, and there is no greater privilege than telling the story of America’s independence through the art of fireworks," Ingram said.
The Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show has a history dating back to the nation's bicentennial in 1976. Last year's display included 80,000 shells launched from four barges on the East River, accompanied by an art show projected onto the Brooklyn Bridge.