4th of July Party Ideas

Check out these great 4th of July party ideas. Whether you prefer to host a quiet family barbecue or attend intense stadium firework displays with thousands of fellow Americans, the 4^th of July is meant to be a time to enjoy friends and family and celebrate the nation's laws, heritage, history and people. 

Traditional BBQs
Many families choose to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate the holiday with backyard BBQs or picnics at nearby parks. Relatives and friends often gather to eat traditional foods like hamburgers, hot dogs and fried chicken. Watermelon, chips with dip, potato salad and pie are also eagerly anticipated. Picnics can be had at pools, city parks or shady backyards. The location doesn't matter as long as there is plenty to eat and lots of cold drinks.

Other Holiday Options
If a BBQ isn't your thing, then incorporate elements from your own cultural background and family traditions. Celebrating the 4^th of July also means celebrating your diversity and individuality.

The 4^th of July weekend is a perfect time to hold family reunions, and many Americans look forward to the holiday as a way to rekindle relationships and enjoy relaxing on their day off from work. Many head to the hills for overnight campouts to get away from the bustle of city life. Campsites at state campgrounds, such as McKinney Falls State Park in Texas or Big Foot Beach State Park in Wisconsin, are usually booked well before the 4^th of July.

While celebrating with parades and ball games is one way to embrace the traditions of the past, the holiday is a great time to explore new activities and start fresh customs that your friends and family will enjoy for years.

Party Atmosphere

• Enjoy natural centerpieces, such as fresh red and white flowers in blue glass vases or colorful fruit displayed in glass bowls with curled ribbons spilling out.
• Stay away from overpriced stars-and-stripes tablewear. Use solid red, white or blue cups, plates, utensils, napkins, tablecloths and placemats so you can mix and match, yet still use them for other events.
• Light up the night with unusual 4^th of July decorations, such as paper lanterns or paper bag luminaries. Even twinkling white Christmas lights can add to summer evening festivities.
• Create a CD of America-themed songs. Choose from dozens of songs that celebrate America, from Jimi Hendrix's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to "American Girl" by Tom Petty. Don't forget the orchestra and big band classics such as "America the Beautiful" and "Yankee Doodle."

Activities for Adults. Give your 4^th of July parties a patriotic twist while keeping adult guests entertained.

• Hold an annual cooking competition, such as a chili cook-off. Other cook-off choices include who can make the best homemade barbecue sauce or who can bring the most patriotic dessert (think red, white and blue).
• Get a map of the United States and block out each state's name. Make two large copies and have a contest between men and women to identify all 50 states. You'll be surprised at what people know, or don't know.
• Hold a scavenger hunt. Before the party, make a list of 10 to 15 categories such as "Someone who has lived abroad," or "Someone with no sisters." Give a copy to each guest to fill out during the party. It's a great activity that encourages mingling.
• Honor Lady Liberty. Have identical boxes full of assorted items (paper towel rolls, straws, craft feathers, tape and such) for each team. Teams have 15 minutes to build a likeness of the Statue of Liberty using only the items in the box.
• For those who are bored by more traditional backyard games, try bocce or disc golf, in which partygoers toss a plastic disc at a target.

Fun for Kids. Keep the little ones occupied and happy with a variety of patriotic crafts and games just perfect for a 4^th of July celebration.

• Allow children to make windsocks from an oatmeal container, tissue streamers and string. Once the bottom has been cut out, let them decorate the container with glitter and markers. Add string as a handle on one end and tissue streamers to the other.
• Play "Red, White and Blue." The first child says something that is red, the next child must say something that is white and the next, blue. If they cannot think of something in 10 seconds, they are out. The game continues until one child is left.
• Let them get wet with a water balloon toss that uses red, white and blue balloons. Have partners stand face to face, gently tossing a water balloon back and forth. With each successful catch, the pair can step back. As they get farther apart, it becomes harder to catch the water balloon without it breaking. Don't be surprised when the adults want to join in.
• Access the abundance of mazes, word scrambles, crossword puzzles and fun quizzes online to round out the activities.

Firework Shows
There simply couldn't be a 4^th of July celebration without fireworks to delight both young and old. Depending on your preferences, you can do your own pyrotechnics show. Or, take a short drive to the nearest community firework show, likely held in a city park or town square and sponsored by local officials.

In many football stadiums across the country, large firework extravaganzas are held on the 4^th of July. They offer hours of pre-firework entertainment such as bands, concerts and comedy acts. The Macy's Fireworks Display in New York will also be televised for everyone across the country to enjoy.

No matter the size of the show, watching fireworks explode overhead in the night sky is the perfect way to end a 4^th of July celebration. From the first burst to the spectacular finale, fireworks are sure to thrill spectators for miles around.