It’ll be a blast at Orchard Beach Friday night

The annual pre-Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza at Orchard Beach aims to be a blast again this year.

New York Salutes America, the borough’s biggest fireworks extravaganza and Boardwalk festival, will take place between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. near the Orchard Beach Pavilion on Friday, June 29.

The fireworks are expected to begin at 9 p.m. Before the big show blasts off, there will be live music and children’s entertainment. Anyone coming by car will have to pay $7 to park.

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Senator Jeff Klein are sponsoring the event – held rain or shine – in conjunction with D.J. Ambulette and Sanitation Salvage as primary corporate sponsors.

“This great event at Orchard Beach has become a Bronx tradition and, as in years past, Friday promises to be as exciting and entertaining for our families and kids, Diaz said. “I always look forward to our boardwalk festival and fireworks extravaganza because it’s an opportunity for Bronxites to bond and for residents from across the City to experience our borough. You always have a blast right here in the Bronx.”

Among the bands playing will be Throggs Neck’s own Alive N’ Kickin.

Last year, an estimated crowd of some 40,000 people showed up to celebrate.

“I’m thrilled to be co-hosting the New York Salutes America Firework Extravaganza once again,” said Senator Klein. “The fireworks are not only an annual rite of summer in our community, but they mark the official launch of beach season here in New York.”

“I hope to see many Bronxites there as we celebrate the birth of our nation and the greatest democracy on Earth, the United States of America.”

In addition to Sanitation Salvage and D.J. Ambulette, several other corporate and governmental entities are helping to sponsor the event.

They include the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, Business Initiative Corporation of New York, The Bronx Tourism Council, Cablevision, Hudson Valley Bank, the FDNY, Con Edison, Manhattan Beer Distributors, Triangle Equities, the NYPD, Crown Memorial, Snapple, Pepsi, Affinity Health Plan, Schuyler Hill Funeral Home, City of New York Parks and Recreation, WellCare, Pascap Co., and GAL Elevator Services.

For more information, please visit the Bronx Tourism Council’s website at ilovethebronx.com.

Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393