Tips For Hosting An Easy July 4th Backyard Party

If you’re just attending a party and need to bring something to the potluck, our list of Patriotic Recipes is for you. That’s just red, white, and blue food ideas.

Before The Party

Setting up to make sure there’s enough shade and seats is really important.

Set Up Tents/Canopies

The sun is so strong this time of year. So, you want to make sure you have shade for your guests. The easiest way to make shade — so your guests stay outside rather than congregating in your house — is to set up tents in your yard.

If you have a pop-up canopy that you use for the beach, take it out and set it up. If you have any patio umbrellas, you’ll want to open them too.

Arrange Tables & Chairs

You want to set folding tables and chairs out under your canopy tents so people have somewhere to sit while they’re eating.

But don’t forget about setting up a table for food so it stays in the shade too.

What we do is arrange all the seating before people show up. That way, when they see a long table without chairs around it, it implies that it’s the food table. It just makes life easier for us.

When you’re setting up tables, you’ll want to put tablecloths on them because that makes cleanup easier for you. You can pick up a disposable patriotic tablecloth online or at the dollar store. That’s functional and adds a little decoration too.

Decorate With Red, White, And Blue

The easiest way to decorate is by picking up small American flags and putting them around your property. You could find some cute balloons or a door wreath too. Or maybe just some bunting along your fencing.

Anything that shouts “USA” is perfect.

While you’re shopping for those, pick up some patriotic-themed disposable plates too. Because you don’t want to use real plates for your party. You need disposable. So you might as well get some that are on theme. And of course, themed napkins are great too.

Grab some red and blue plastic cups for drinks too. When you set them all out on the table with the food, they’ll look festive and double as decorations.

And trust me on the disposable. When we have parties, it’s just so much easier to cleanup when everything is disposable. And you don’t have to worry about people dropping your actual plates and breaking them.

Food And Drinks

Your guests are definitely gonna need something to eat.

Make Your Appetizers & Sides Early

I love making themed food for our parties. So, when I’m planning our menu, I make sure to come up with a few festive ideas that I can make ahead of time.

For July 4th, that’s usually an American flag charcuterie board and fruit sparklers. I make them in the morning, then leave them in the fridge until our guests arrive.

If I make them early, that leaves me the afternoon to clean the yard and whatever else needs to be done before company comes.

Grill Some Food

We always grill our main proteins for our parties. It’s the easiest way to feed a crowd. Plus, you do it outside, so you keep your party outside.

And, it’s July 4th. Everyone is expecting the very American menu of hamburgers and hot dogs. So serve them. They’re easy for you to buy in bulk and satisfying for your guests.

When you’re shopping, you want to remember to pick up buns and condiments too because your guests will be looking for those.

Stay Hydrated

If you took our advice to grill for your guests, there’s a chance they’re going to congregate near the grill — and then overheat. So you definitely want to set out a cooler with ice and fill it with bottles of water for your guests.

You might want to come up with some cute patriotic drinks to serve too, like our watermelon lemonade.

Make Patriotic Desserts

If you know me, you know I’m so extra when it comes to desserts. So of course, I serve so many patriotic desserts at our parties.

My biggest hit is my red, white, and blue bundt cake, which is really simple because I use store-bought cake mix. Our guests love when I make patriotic meringue cookies too.

I really like making red, white, and blue pretzel rods because they’re easy to make and easy to eat. And I make patriotic chocolate-covered Oreo cookies at the same time because they use the same melted chocolate, so it’s quick.

Entertainment

If you want to give your guests something to do while they’re waiting for your fireworks show, this section will help.

Set Up Games

We live at the keystone of a cul de sac and always set up games in the road when we have a party. That way, it expands our outdoor space and no one is playing on the lawn (where a poorly thrown ball would end up right in the potato salad).

My parents have a Captain America cornhole set that’s red, white, and blue, which we bring that out for every party we host.

Our ladder ball set is, coincidentally, red and blue too, so they both look really festive on July 4th.

But, if you don’t have red, white, and blue games, any outdoor games will work. Giving people something to do besides just sitting around chit-chatting is a way to make your party a lot more fun.

Have A Patriotic Movie Marathon

Your guests will most likely congregate outside, but they might stop inside for the bathroom or some air conditioning. So, play some patriotic movies on whatever TV is closest to the front door. People might stop to watch a few scenes, which is great.

If you’re looking for ideas for what to play, we have a long list of patriotic movies to help you choose.

You can also make a bowl of patriotic popcorn and have it in the living room as well. That way, people can snack a little while they watch.

After Dark

The main attraction of any July 4th party is what happens when the sun sets.

Hand Out Glow Sticks

If you’re throwing a good party, and I have faith that you are, it’ll still be going on when it starts to get dark.

So, hand out glow sticks, glow necklaces, and glow bracelets.

You can buy those already assembled or you can do what I do. I buy a bulk pack of glow sticks with the plastic connectors from Amazon. Then, our guests, no matter their age, can make bracelets and necklaces out of them. They’re a little cheaper than buying the already-made bracelets and necklaces.

Set Off Fireworks

If you live somewhere where fireworks are legal and you live in an area where you’re allowed to do them at home, we highly suggest ending your party with them.

If you can’t get actual fireworks, at least pick up some sparklers. They’re fun for kids and adults.