Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to throw an amazing Fourth of July party with your family

Fourth of July parties are a summer mainstay. Backyard barbecues and picnics are a super fun way to celebrate Independence Day. The great thing about Fourth of July parties with your family is that you don’t necessarily have to celebrate on July 4. The fun usually lasts the entire weekend, even if the Fourth of July doesn’t fall on a Saturday or Sunday. Inviting family over with all the cousins playing, laughing and eating together is a really great way to spend the Fourth of July. Don’t worry. Party planning can be stressful, but we have some great Fourth of July family party ideas to make it easy to pull together.

Fourth of July decorations
Malisa Nicolau/Shutterstock

Fourth of July Family Party Ideas

Invites

Fourth of July is always a busy time for picnics, barbecues, 5K races, parades and more. Get your invites out early to make sure the majority of your family can attend. Evites are an easy and inexpensive way to invite the family, or you can go the conventional way with mail invitations. If most of your family is local, invite everyone via a group text. Remember to ask people to RSVP by a reasonable date to ensure you have enough food and beverages and seating for all attendees.

Related Videos

Food

Planning a menu for your entire family can be a bit daunting. A low-stress way to stack the buffet table for the family Fourth of July picnic is to have each family member bring a dish. As the host family, you can take care of grilling the hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken. Ask others to bring the coleslaw, potato salad, garden salad, chips and other foods that make a Fourth of July barbecue delicious. Be sure to write down what each family member is bringing, and when people ask what should they bring, don’t be shy about suggesting what you need. If any guests are vegetarian or vegan, it’s a nice idea to have some plant-based foods on the menu, too. Veggie and black bean burgers are easy to find in most supermarkets and taste great on the grill.

Beverages

Be sure to have a mixture of beverages on hand and a way to keep them cool. Large coolers set up with ice are ideal for keeping beverages chilled on a hot day. Like food, you can ask guests to bring water, juice boxes or adult-only drinks for the Fourth of July celebration. If you’re supplying the beverages, buy in bulk to save money.

Two cute little girls eating cupcakes on the Fourth of July
Arina P. Habich/Shutterstock

Desserts

You can’t have a Fourth of July picnic or barbecue without yummy desserts. Red, white and blue cupcakes are an inviting way to cap off the day. Red fruits like strawberries and blueberries with whipped cream on top make a tasty dessert or set up an ice cream bar with red, white and blue toppings in honor of Independence Day.

Seating

While a Fourth of July party isn’t formal like Thanksgiving dinner, you do want to make sure you have enough tables and chairs set up for people to comfortably sit down and enjoy their food. If you don’t have enough, you can always ask a relative or neighbor to borrow picnic tables and lawn chairs. Don’t wait until the day before the party to check to make sure the picnic table is big enough for everyone. You’ll also want to leave time to clean off backyard furniture and ensure there’s enough seating. The morning of or the day before won’t leave you enough time and will only stress you out on party day.

Pool

If you have a pool, it’s important to designate a couple of adults to watch the water at all times. Another way to keep everyone safe in the water is to hire a certified lifeguard for the party.

Entertainment

Pools are perfect for entertaining family on the Fourth of July, but not everyone has a backyard pool. Have activities like cornhole, ring toss, Kan Jam, volleyball or other backyard games available for guests to play with. Board games are a great idea, too. Even if you have a pool, still have other activities available, especially if there are kids of different ages. Not everyone will want to go in the water.

Family enjoying fireworks at night
FamVeld/Shutterstock

Fireworks

Each state has different laws regarding fireworks. Every summer, the news is filled with tragic stories of adults and kids being injured from backyard fireworks. It’s best to leave the fireworks to the professionals for your Fourth of July party. Most community Fourth of July displays are on July 4 or in the days leading up to the holiday. Check to see when the fireworks are in your community and plan your party around them so everyone can still attend.

Decorations

Hosting the party, planning, setting up and providing entertainment is a lot of work. Don’t make yourself crazy or spend a great deal on decorations. Head online or to your local dollar store to buy inexpensive red, white and blue decorations, table coverings and tableware. Here’s where you can enlist the help of kids and teens. Kids can make red, white and blue beaded garlands and other simple Fourth of July crafts for festive backyard decorations.

Hosting a Fourth of July party for the family is a fun way to celebrate Independence Day. Sure, it’s a lot of work to plan a party, but our helpful guide can assist you in organizing all the essential parts of an amazing Fourth of July celebration.

Editors' Recommendations

5 easy Thanksgiving sides kids can help make for this year’s feast
Let the kids help you make these Thanksgiving side dishes this holiday
Family cooking together in the kitchen

Ah, autumn. Russet-hued leaves keep fluttering to the ground. There's an explosion of amber, auburn, gamboge, and scarlet everywhere you turn. And everyone's prepping for Thanksgiving and the subsequent holidays. Yes, Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to spend time with family and friends, but if you’re cooped up in the kitchen all day, all by yourself, you feel a little left out of the fun. Invite the kids into the kitchen this year to help with arguably one of the best parts of the holiday dinner -- those side dishes. 

While some may struggle with roasting the most delicious turkey possible, not all Thanksgiving dishes are such a challenge. There are many sides, in fact, that are so easy that even the kids could cook them (with a little assistance, of course). Here are five easy Thanksgiving sides kids can make. Let them try this holiday season.

Read more
9 inexpensive baby shower favors people will actually like
Baby shower party favors guests will use
Cake for a baby shower

The first baby showers were held in the years following World War II. All the fun traditions like games and those baby shower favors started in the late 40s and early 50s to celebrate moms-to-be. Think of a baby shower favor as a thank you from the mom-to-be for the gift and for helping her celebrate and get ready for the baby's arrival.

For the shower host, baby shower favors can be a source of stress. Coming up with baby shower favor ideas isn't easy, especially if the shower host isn't especially creative. Then there's also the problem of cost. Coming up with inexpensive baby shower favor ideas people will like and use isn't easy. There's nothing worse than coming up with an awesome baby shower favor and then finding out later most guests tossed it. Not only does it mean you wasted your valuable time, but your money, too. Don't stress over baby shower favors. We've got 10 budget-friendly baby shower favor ideas guests will enjoy.

Read more
9 incredible birthday party food ideas when you’re on a budget
Birthday party foods kids love that won't break the bank
Kids enjoying eating pizza at a birthday party

A lot goes into putting together a birthday party for kids, whether you're hosting it at home or at a party venue. From food to desserts and beverages to party favors and beyond, the bills can add up quickly, putting a dent in the family bank account. Of course, you can have a fun and festive party for your child without overspending. When it comes to kids, simple typically is better.

If you have a birthday party coming up and don't want to order high-priced catered food, no worries. There are plenty of yummy food ideas for a birthday party if you're on a budget. A budget doesn't mean cheesy or tasteless either. You can put together a delicious menu that kids will actually eat and enjoy without spending an excessive amount of money on these birthday party foods on a budget. Take a look at our list of birthday party food ideas on a budget.

Read more