Fireworks scheduled for 11 p.m. Saturday from Pier 60 over the Hudson River went off early, catching some Hudson waterfront residents off guard.
The display had been permitted by the city of New York, which said Tim Burns of Above All Events held the permit. Pier 60 can be reserved for private events, including weddings, and the venue’s use fit that pattern even as the timing did not.
The early blast landed in neighborhoods that have complained about surprise fireworks before, including Hoboken, Jersey City and Manhattan. Residents along the river have asked officials for more warning in the past, saying unexpected fireworks have startled dogs and woken babies.
The complaints are not new. In November 2021, New Yorkers filed complaints with city government after fireworks caught them off guard, and that episode was later linked to a $1,250-a-ticket gala at the Javits Center where then-Mayor Bill de Blasio was the guest of honor. People were also upset in 2021 when fireworks went off the day after the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
What remains unanswered is how early Saturday’s display actually began. The city identified the permit holder, but did not say whether notice practices for future fireworks along the Hudson River will change.
