How To Plan A Spectacular Fourth Of July Party
From all-American eats to patriotic touches, get our festive ideas for your Fourth of July celebration.
Celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness with an American-inspired party that’s all about old-fashioned fun.
From classic recipes to patriotic decorations for the table, we’ve got simple, inspired ideas to help you make your July celebration go off with a bang.
Sweet sips
Cool off with ice-cold classics, like ginger ale and sweet tea, or opt for colorful, fruit-infused sodas and spritzers. Our favorite? Fizzy ginger ale finished with a scoop of raspberry sorbet and skewers adorned with blueberries.
In place of a pitcher or bowl, serve your favorite Fourth of July drinks from oversized glass dispensers. Use fruity beverages to add a punch of color to your tables. Label what’s inside by brushing strips of chalkboard paint on the fronts and labeling with chalk, or thread tags through twine and tie them around the dispensers. Keep drinks cold and flavorful with ice cubes made from the same soda, juice or tea.
All-American eats
This year, instead of appetizers, arrange fresh, festive fruits like strawberries, watermelon and sliced star fruit on a cake stand. Or set out star-spangled skewers: Thread strawberries, blueberries and marshmallows onto toothpicks.
Put a patriotic spin on classic burgers by layering patties with roasted red peppers, garlic mayo and bleu cheese crumbles to make Red, White and Blue Burgers. Round out the menu with the classics: hot dogs, baked beans and corn on the cob.
Tip: Give your grill a deep clean before the party begins with Mr. Clean and Dawn. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Extra Durable to clean burnt-on food and other messes from grill grates, and wash the outside of the grill with a solution of Dawn Ultra Dish Soap Dawn Ultra Dish Soap and warm water. Get the full tutorial here.
Patriotic desserts
End the meal on a light, sweet note by icing cupcakes with whipped cream cheese frosting and topping them with blueberries and sliced strawberries. For kids of all ages, offer an ice cream bar with strawberry topping, whipped cream and red, white and blue sprinkles. Prep ahead of time by pre-scooping servings of vanilla ice cream into chilled Mason jars or glass bowls the night before the party. Keep them in your freezer until you’re ready to serve.
Americana accents
Keep your Fourth of July décor simple and charming with childhood-inspired decorations, like patriotic pinwheels artfully arranged in jars or flag-inspired pennant garlands hung between trees or along the fence line. Polka dot tablecloths, thrift-store-find cake stands, and fun touches like old-fashioned soda bottles can add to the vintage vibe.
Twinkling party favors
After the sun goes down, keep the party aglow with sparklers. Tie handfuls of them together with ribbon, and display them in a red or blue basket. Distribute matchbooks to the adults so partygoers can light up the night. Be sure to exercise caution, of course!
Easy cleanup
Before you hit the hay, do some initial post-party cleaning: Clear trash from the party area, load dishes into the dishwasher with a Cascade Platinum ActionPac, wipe down tables with a damp paper towel and clean hard floors with a Swiffer WetJet – especially if your guests popped inside the house for a bit to cool off. It’s an all-in-one mopping system that breaks up dirt and dissolves tough messes.
With these tips, your guests will be talking about your Independence Day celebration – and looking forward to every Fourth of July – for years to come.