4th Of July Party Ideas

Invite family, friends and neighbors for a holiday gathering at home, and host a July 4th themed backyard bbq party.

With self-serve food and drink stations, themed decorations, hosting tips, and more, I guarantee you’ll find something awesome to take your celebration to the next level.

Food Stations

Cook up everyone’s favorite with a hot dog bar and all the toppings you can imagine. It’s the perfect outdoor summer party idea.

Set up a burger bar similar to the hot dog bar. If you want to serve both, you can make sliders instead of full size hamburgers.

A 4th of July dessert table that lets guest build their own shortcakes, including strawberry shortcakes, blueberry, raspberry or blackberry.

Serve up a self-serve ice cream bar where guests can make their own ice cream sandwiches or floats.

Drink Stations

Let guests hydrate with a self-serve bar with family-friendly drinks.

Everyone love lemonade and this flavored lemonade bar has something for everyone. Easy recipes for spiced lemonade, strawberry, and peach versions.

A great way to cool down on a hot day is with an ice cream floats bar in the colors of the day – red, white and blue.

Another great drink station with plenty of variety is an iced tea bar with fruit juice or boozy add-ins.

For kids of all ages an old fashioned ice cream soda bar will have them screaming with delight! Use delicious retro bottled sodas to make it more festive.

Decorations

Welcome guests with a framed sign. Download and print these red, white and blue signs, cards, and tags. Use them on the bar or buffet table, and to label menu items.

Hang a banner over drink bars or food tables. For a vintage look, attach the two ends of the banner to an old empty frame. Or, use mini clothespins to clip them on to string or jute upholstery webbing.

Nothing brings home the spirit of Independence Day quite like vintage decor. Use thrifted items to bring the Americana vibe to life.

DIY 4th of July balloons can really add a festive touch to your party. Place them around the party space or at the entrance for a lovely welcome. Tie them to tables and chairs, or as a backdrop to a food or drink buffet.

Add a painted wood sign in a prominent location. You can make it yourself with salvaged wood and craft paint, or purchase one.

Display a copy of the U.S. Constitution. This is a great reminder of what the holiday stands for.

If you’re hosting a holiday cookout or dinner party, set a red, white and blue 4th of July tablescape.

Themes

Sure Independence Day is a theme all its own, but you can also turn other themes into a 4th of July party simply by adding traditional colors and patterns to the decor.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Patriotic Picnic
• Stars and Stripes
• Vintage Americana
• Classic Cookout
• Block Party
• Red, White and Blue
• American Flag
• Patriotic Luau
• Pool Party

Helpful Tips

• Keep cold salads chilled by placing the serving bowl on a bed of ice that’s inside a larger bowl. Add a little water if you need to nestle the bowl into the ice, and pour in some rock salt to keep the ice frozen longer.
• Have plenty of shaded areas so guests can get out of the sun. Use patio umbrellas and easy-up tents in strategic spots.
• Keep drinks and coolers in the shade rather than direct sun.
• Serve food indoors if it’s too hot outside.
• Tell guests to bring their own lawn chairs if you don’t have enough seating.
• Create conversation areas just as you would inside the home. Cluster chairs and tables, and even outdoor rugs to help define the space.

Fun & Games

Here are some fun activities you can do in your own back yard or neighborhood. There’s fun for all ages.

• Ladder ball toss
• Water balloon toss
• Old fashioned sack race
• Relay race
• 4th of July scavenger hunt
• Doggy dress up parade
• Decorated wagons and bikes parade
• Badminton
• Horseshoes
• Bocce Ball
• Croquet
• Cornhole

Provide sparklers for guests to light once the sun goes down. This is especially fun if you’re not able to see fireworks in your location. Just make sure to be safe and have adult supervision for children.

Food Ideas

Create snack cones with red, white and blue potato chips to stay on theme. Decorative and delicious!

A red, white and blue fruit platter is so refreshing and easy to put together with summer berries and watermelon slices.

Pre-fill 4-ounce jars with plain baked beans and add blue fabric to the top of the lid. The beans can be eaten at room temperature so this is a cute way to display individual servings that guest can grab-n-go.

Easy Dessert Ideas

Serve up star-shaped cookies for dessert or as take-home favors. Provide small bags or boxes if using them as favors. Look for a local or mail-order custom cookie maker, if you don’t want to make them yourself.

Keep dessert super simple with individual ice cream cups that are perfectly sized for the kids. And they bring back a bit of nostalgia for the adults!

PARTY TIP: Arrange the ice cream cups in an ice-filled bucket and keep it in the freezer until ready to distribute. It will keep the ice cream chilled long enough for everyone to grab one.

Make these simple ice cream sandwich cookies a day or two ahead of the party. Use soft cookies from the bakery section of the grocery store and sandwich a scoop of ice cream between them. Cover them or store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Bake a white or yellow cake with red food coloring added to the mix. Then decorate the single layers with tinted frosting to look like a sliced watermelon. Add chocolate chips for “seeds.” So simple and easy to do for a summer dessert.

More Recipes for 4th of July

• Juicy burgers for a crowd
• 4th of July party food ideas
• Best summer side dishes
• 4th of July desserts