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41 Best 4th of July Party Ideas for a Patriotic Shindig
Celebrate Independence Day with all the trimmings.
It's almost time for the fireworks, but you want to create some fireworks of your own (metaphorically speaking). So, how do you throw a 4th of July party to remember? Start by putting together a slew of homespun red, white, and blue crafts that double as decorations. Next, plan a menu of delicious 4th of July recipes that would impress George Washington himself. Curate a playlist of patriotic tunes. And lastly plan some family-friendly outdoor games. There you have it — everyone will be vying for an invite to your bash!! To help you start planning, we’ve gathered our very best 4th of July party ideas in one handy list.
From festive tablescapes to super-easy summer recipes, there are plenty of ideas here for every host, whether aspiring or expert. You can recruit a few helping hands since most of the DIY decorations are simple and appropriate for all ages and skill levels. Plus, many of these ideas are so easy you can do them at the last minute if you're just now getting around to planning. Some even include items you probably already have lying around, like baseballs which you can place in a glass vase with small flags to create a whimsical centerpiece or an apple-picking basket that gets transformed with just a few coats of paint into an on-theme snack bin.
Because the food is what everyone cares about most of all, you'll find lots of simple drink and food ideas you can whip up in no time. Once you scroll through these 41 clever ideas, return here. The recipe collections listed below offer even more inspiration for your All-American menu:
- 4th of July Drinks to Toast That Grand Old Flag
- Easy Desserts That'll Elicit Oohs, Ahhs, and Yums This Independence Day!
- Get the Party Started with 4th of July Appetizers
And now for those 4th of July party ideas!
All-American Place Setting
A layered table sets the scene for a festive holiday celebration. Create a stunning centerpiece by filling a glass vase with baseballs and flags. Use vintage sparkler containers as place cards. Line the table with a selection of vintage noise makers and use stack red, white, and blue plates at each place setting. Happy 4th!
Patriotic Sorbet Loaf
This impressive dessert is like a Bomb Pop on a plate! Made from three layers of homemade sorbet it's sure to be a party showstopper!
Cherry Syrup and Rum Soda
Whether you decide to serve these with or without booze a homemade cherry syrup makes for the perfect celebration sipper.
Get the recipe.
Snack Basket
Serve snack and treats in a basket painted in the colors of the season.
To make: Paint the vertical slats of a small wooden basket, alternating red and white. Paint the horizontal strapping dark blue. When dry, line the basket with a blue and white striped napkin or tea towel. Fill with snacks.
Saltines with Basil Mayo and Burst Tomatoes
These cute and very delicious snacks made with two of the summers best ingredients - tomatoes and basil - will get your 4th of July celebration off to the right start!
Mixed Berry Flag Pie
This patriotic pie, from the upstate New York shop Nobel Pies, will be the perfect dessert for your 4th celebration.
Red Hots & Spanish Peanuts Snack
This savory and sweet snack mix, served up in a thermos top, has the color palette down!
Patriotic Tie Wreath
Take a trip to the consignment shop for a selection of vintage red, white, and blue ties then fashion them into the hippest wreath on the block.
To make: Gather about 10 color-coordinated ties (they can be made with red, white, and blue for the 4th of July or in your dad’s favorite colors for Father’s Day). Cut each tie about 7 1/2 inches long, measuring from the widest end of the tie. Arrange the 7 1/2-inch pieces around a 12-inch wooden craft ring, pointed ends facing out and cut ends facing in. Fold the cut ends over the inside edge of the craft ring. Hot glue in place, being sure the craft ring is fully covered.
Red, White, and Blue Straw Wreath
Celebrate the Independence Day and welcome guests with a colorful wreath made from a load of paper straws. For a sophisticated palette dot a few light blue straws in the mix.
To make: Attach different lengths of red, white, and blue straws to a craft ring with hot glue; layering them until the craft ring is fully covered.
Apricot-Almond Slab Pie
This large format pie will be enough to serve the crowd you have at your 4th of July soiree this year!
Get the recipe.
Vintage Flag Banner Decor
For a little indoor decor, drape a vintage (pictured) or new flag banner across a fireplace mantel (holding it in place with push pins) or wrap around the handrail of staircase.
Fabric-Scrap Flags
Use these petite fabric-scrap flags to wave at the town parade or in a table centerpiece.
To make: Cut a 4-by-3-inch rectangle from a red-based fabric. Cut a smaller square of blue-based fabric. Glue the blue square to one corner of red fabric with craft glue. Glue the rectangle to a wooden skewer or small dowel with a few dabs of hot glue.
Bleached Bandana Bunting
Set the scene at your outdoor party with a bunting made from "reverse" tie-dyed bandanas. Use vintage or new bandanas or even squares of scrap fabric if you have some lying around.
To make: Wash 100% cotton bandanas; do not dry. Fold, scrunch, or crimp wet bandanas and hold together with rubber bands, kitchen twine, or binder clips. Soak in a solution that is 2 parts bleach to 1 part water until faded. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. (Note, new red bandanas seem to be pretty colorfast, and we found that vintage ones bleach better.) Once desired level of bleaching has occurred immediately remove binder and thoroughly rinse under cold water. Wash if desired. Fold bandanas in half to form triangles, then tie corners together to create a bunting.
Vase Citronella Candles
Keep bugs at bay with a DIY citronella candle.
To make: Fill clean and dry glass vases with citronella oil. Place a large oil lamp wick in the jar being sure it extends all the way to the bottom and about 1/4 to 1/2-inch above the top.
Ribbon "Sparklers"
Even the littlest kids can enjoy waving these DIY ribbon sparklers. These festive decorations look precious incorporated into a centerpiece (we used a vintage popcorn box for a container) or try laying one across every table setting.
To make: Wrap a 12-inch by 1/8-inch wooden dowel in washi tape. Cut lengths of red, white, and blue ribbon and rickrack of varying widths, colors, and textures. Lay ribbons and rickrack flat on a table and tie together in the center with a length of baker’s twine. Wrap baker’s twine around the dowel and hold in place with hot glue.
Red, White, and Blue Table Setting
Let's be honest: Food is the star of most parties. Pull out all the stops for the 4th of July with red, white, and blue linens, utensils, and serving pieces (including that vintage red cooler!). Tuck a few American flags in a vase for a patriotic centerpiece that won't wilt!
Blue Plates
Bright blue plates made of melamine are ideal for outdoor get-togethers like a 4th of July party. Pair them with grain sack-style napkins with a red stripe for a subtle patriotic look.
Balloon Ice
This party trick is one your friends will definitely copy! Fill red, white, and blue water balloons with water and freeze. Place in a tray and nestle in ice cream to keep it cold in style.
Flag Placemats
Use these placemats featuring hand-stitched stars at your 4th of July party this summer.
To make:
Step 1: Cut a 15- by 11-inch rectangle from ticking stripe fabric and a 6- by 5-inch rectangle from denim fabric.
Step 2: Use a "disappearing" pen (available at craft stores) to trace a five-point star on denim. Outline by passing a need and thin white yarn though each of the points.
Step 3: Sew the denim to the top left-hand corner of the ticking stripe. (Iron-on adhesive will also do the trick.)
Step 4: Create a relaxed frayed edge by pulling out threads along the placemat's border.
Drinks Tub
Let guests serve themselves by piling up a variety of canned drinks in a big galvanized steel tub. This red one is just right for the 4th of July.
Watch Next
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100 Summer-Perfect Grilling Recipes for Outdoors
50 Fantastic Fourth of July Songs (Old and New!)
The Best 4th of July Captions for Patriotic Pics
