The Fourth of July is the perfect summer holiday. Sandwiched between Memorial Day and Labor Day, it helps break up the dog days of summer with fun, food, and fireworks.
This year, there’s even more reason to celebrate because the summer holiday marks America’s 250th birthday. Block parties and special events are happening across the country to commemorate this monumental milestone.
Whether your July 4th party is an annual affair or you’re hopping on the birthday bandwagon, here are some creative ways to party like it’s 1776.
July 4 Party Themes
First things first: you need a party theme. Your theme will help determine decorations, dress code, and the overall vibe of your party.
Red, white, and blue is the classic July 4th theme. For America’s 250th, consider mixing it up with these clever twists on the age-old trope:
- Throw an Americana music festival in your backyard
- Invite guests to dress as senior citizens à la the 100th day of school
- Host a Destination America party and invite guests to dress up like tourists
- Celebrate America through the ages with iconic costumes inspired by the decades
- Channel your inner Michael Rubin with a white party
The cleverer the theme, the longer your guests will talk about your party!
Fourth of July Food
July 4th is the perfect excuse for a backyard barbecue. This year, mix up your menu with these regional spreads that pay tribute to taste buds across the country.
Host a potluck and invite guests to bring iconic foods from different regions of the United States. Lobster rolls from Maine, cheesesteaks from Pennsylvania, gumbo from Louisiana — there are a multitude of mouthwatering options.
If you want to stick to a more traditional menu of hot dogs and hamburgers, organize a hot dog bar with toppings from different cities. From pickles and tomatoes in Chicago to cream cheese and jalapenos in Seattle, you’d be amazed at how many cities have a signature weiner. If you want to get really crazy, you can turn the hot dog bar into a competition. After all, there’s nothing more American than a good old-fashioned hot dog eating contest!
For dessert, take your flag cake to the next level by hopping on the latest social media dessert trend: sprinkle embroidery. Bake a sheet pan — or buy a mini one from Trader Joe’s — and bedazzle it with red, white, and blue sprinkles for a fun twist on the classic.
July Fourth Activities
Yard games and fireworks are almost mandatory July 4th activities at this point. But why do what everyone else is doing? Celebrate America’s semiquincentennial with these playful patriotic pastimes.
Test your guests’ knowledge of the United States with a geography quiz. Print out blank maps of the U.S. and race to see who can (correctly!) label all fifty states the fastest. We guarantee it’ll be a humbling and humorous game for everyone.
Host a PowerPoint party and invite guests to present on a historical figure or their “Roman Empire” from American history. It can be serious or silly — the only parameter is to learn something new.
If Netflix and chill is more your vibe, host a backyard movie night and stream the constitutional classic National Treasure. Dare we say Nicolas Cage’s best work!
Not feeling very patriotic? Skip the party and spend your Fourth of July at a nearby museum or national park. You can still appreciate the country’s culture and beauty without throwing a rager.
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
