More than 3 million people had been expected to attend the New York display, though no crowd estimates were immediately given. It had been moved south along the river this year so onlookers could get a better view of the skyline.

Spectators thronged the riverfront in a light rain, some holding red, white and blue umbrellas.

Edwin Aleman staked out his viewing spot in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn hours before the show.

"These are million-dollar views," he told WNYW-TV. "This is what New York City is all about: the views, the skyline."

More than 35,000 shells sparkled, arched, spiked and fanned over the river during the half-hour show, launched from barges in two areas. It was televised on NBC to songs including "Give My Regards to Broadway," the "Tennessee Waltz" and, of course, "Yankee Doodle."

Organizers said this year's pyrotechnics included new nautical fireworks that floated on the water. Other new shells went through multiple transformations after they launched, providing four different effects.

It was such a large and potentially dangerous load of fireworks that the shipment got its own Fire Department escort from the moment it crossed the state line from New Jersey, officials said.