Weekend Guide: Fireworks, Wrestling, and Raves

By Shawn Setaro

Happy 250th, America. We’re coming to you this weekend with tips on how to get your semiquincentennial on. Of course we’ve got the inside scoop on fireworks-viewing and tall-ships-watching. But if that’s not your thing, there’s underground rap, movies about would-be assassins and carnival freaks, burlesque, all-night raves, and even some pro wrestling. Check it all out in our Weekend Guide.

Thursday, July 2

Pink Metal presents: Cabaret de Luxe hosted by Poison Ivory @ Sleepwalk
10:30 p.m.

Pink Metal the bar may have shut down earlier this year. But Pink Metal the home of burlesque is still going strong, just in a new location. This show, which promises “a world of decadence, glamour, and late night mischief,” features Molly Girl, OhLordyIt’sJordy, and Belladonna Luxe, with go-go from Dandy Red.

V-Don and Friends with Crimeapple, Estee Nack and Ankhlejohn @ The Meadows
6 p.m.

Producer V-Don has been a leading light in the East Coast rap world for well over a decade now, on both the underground and mainstream sides of the fence. Tonight, he’s bringing along some of the best emcees working today: New Jersey virtuoso Crimeapple, Massachusetts’ Estee Nack (who this writer has been hip to for a long time), and DC’s Ankhlejohn. If you want to see rappers who can spit bars over great beats while dropping knowledge about the Five Percenters or ancient Kemet (and who doesn’t?), buy your tickets now.

Spin! Screening and Q&A @ Life World
7:30 p.m.

Filmmakers Matthew Goldin and Jay Weingarten will be on hand for a screening of their first film, Spin! The movie, shot entirely in the first person, à la Nickel Boys (or Orson Welles’ never-finished Heart of Darkness), “explores the extremes of consciousness arising from unmediated contact and intimacy with our manufactured ecology.” No, we don’t know what that means either, but it sounds strange and fun.

Friday, July 3

Confessions II – The Largest Celebration in the World @ 3 Dollar Bill
4 p.m.

Even in 2026, a new Madonna album is an event—especially when it’s a sequel to her beloved 2005 project, Confessions on a Dance Floor. This party matches the momentousness of the occasion. It’s 12 hours long, for one thing, starting at 4 p.m. and going until 4 a.m. For another, official Madonna merch will be on hand for you to cop. And the whole thing will be headlined by Kevin Aviance and The Illustrious Blacks, with a huge lineup of DJs, performers, and hosts besides. 

New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx @ Barclays Center
7:30 p.m.

Liberty fan? Your holiday weekend starts in earnest when the 2024 champs take on the Minnesota Lynx at Barclays.

MAD Fest @ The Brooklyn Monarch
8 p.m.

This 10-hour rave (it lasts until 6 in the morning!) will have over a dozen acts performing across three stages. Among the performers will be Reinier Zonneveld, Rooler, Stan Christ, Kronos, Dr. Greco, and many, many, many more. 

Reggaeton Rave at House of Goal @ Industry City
8 p.m.

Reggaeton, dembow, and electronic music will be blasting to an outdoor crowd of thousands in the heart of Industry City. Free with your ticket is admission into the World Cup-celebrating House of Goal soccer festival. 

Mirandacon: Night of a 1000 Lin Manuel Mirandas @ C’mon Everybody
8 p.m.

Not only will there be five Puerto Rican drag artists to help us celebrate the Hamilton creator; there will also be an LMM lookalike contest! So get a ticket, show up early, and don’t throw away your shot to win the competition.

Saturday, July 4

Hot Dog Eating Contest @ Nathan’s Famous 
10:45 a.m.

You know the drill: Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo will defend their titles by gorging themselves with hot-dogs at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues. The women’s contest kicks off at 11 a.m., the men’s at 12:30 p.m.

Fun With Friends Block Party @ 99 Scott
3 p.m.

FWF is turning 99 Scott into a block party, double dutch and water fights inclusive. There will also be food, drinks, and tunes provided by DJ Ernz, DJ Trueblends, Chooch, Chvmeleon, and Khalil.

Superior Frequencies: Brooklyn’s 250th July 4th Rooftop Takeover @ Superior Ingredients
3 p.m.

Yet another giant party—though this one only lasts eight hours, not 12. The rooftop location is perfect to watch the fireworks, and a DJ lineup of Bola b2b Shek, BrÿanKör, Cake Batter, Devin Farrugia, Dominic Bonifazio, Felds, MWELL, Sasababy, and Sol System will provide an ideal soundtrack.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
4 p.m.

You need a ticket for this one, so make sure you sign up for the lottery here. If you manage to win that, you’ll have one of the best views of the fireworks in the whole city. And the park will be entirely closed except for ticket holders, so there won’t be any uninvited guests in your sight line. 

GCW presents “Bash at the Ballpark” 2 @ Maimonides Parka
6 p.m.

If you’re sick of the rockets’ red glare and want something completely different, why not head out to Game Changer Wrestling’s big show? The main match is a sure-to-be-wild three-on-three: Alec “Bustah” Price, Jordan “The Brain” Oliver, and Marcus Mathers versus Leedz Lewis, Juni Underwood, and Flyin’ Ryan.

Sunday, July 5

Sail 4th 250 Tall Ships @ Brooklyn Bridge Park
12 p.m.

There will be free tours of all the tall ships, but you have to reserve a spot in advance by going here. You’ll need separate reservations for separate piers, so get cracking! Bringing kids is fine, but you have to be at least five years old to board.

Spread Love for Palestine @ Wonderville
2:30 p.m.

Families in Gaza are still in desperate need of help. You can do your part and have a good time by attending this fundraiser (entry is free, but a $25 donation is recommended). The stellar lineup includes J. Hoard, Aya Aziz, Sarah Anjali, and Odd Jord. 

I Shot Andy Warhol @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn
4 p.m.

Mary Harron’s controversial, intense, and fantastic feature debut has Lili Taylor in an unforgettable turn as Valerie Solanas—a real-life radical feminist theorist, playwright, and would-be assassin of…well, you probably guessed that last part. Harron’s film, long caught in distribution limbo, is finally getting a proper 4K restoration in theaters. 

Freaks @ BAM Rose Cinemas
6:30 p.m.

If you run out of I Shot Andy Warhol and hop in an Uber or take the train one stop, you should be able to make it to BAM just in time for another absolutely unforgettable cinematic experience. You should not miss the chance to see Tod Browning’s 1932 classic of the carnival, the Ramones-inspiring Freaks, on a big screen.