Tips for throwing a 4th of July party

Independence Day is quickly approaching, and that means it’s time to celebrate with red, white and blue! Are you planning on throwing a Fourth of July party this year for your family and friends? Whether you’re putting together something as simple as a backyard barbecue or organizing an elaborate block party, you’ll need to do some pre-party strategizing. Here are some tips for making sure your Fourth of July party is a real blast:

Start with the invitations
While some planning will need to happen before you tell guests about your festivities, sending invitations is the first action step to throwing a fabulous Independence Day party. Customize your party invitations to really set the stage for this celebration. Red, white and blue colors will let guests know what your party is all about before they even read the invite.

Since this party falls at the beginning of July, you may need to include some extra, summer-related information for your guests. For example, do you have a pool in your backyard? Encourage attendees to bring a swimsuit and a towel. Are you walking to a nearby park to watch the fireworks show? Remind guests to bring a picnic blanket to comfortably sit in the grass. This way, no one will miss out on the fun.

Break out the grill
The summer really doesn’t start until the grill is fired up and the smell of smoking sausage is in the air. Help guests get into the seasonal spirit while keeping meal costs low by serving food from the grill. Hot dogs, hamburgers and brats are all you need to keep guests satisfied, and they are all traditional Fourth of July foods. For your vegetarian friends, throw some zucchini and peppers on the grill, too. Or, you can easily turn your Independence Day celebration into a potluck by asking guests to bring a summery side dish.

Set up a canopy tent
Your party is sure to be a hit, but you can’t always depend on the weather. Between unbearable heat and pouring rain, it’s important to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Set up a table and chairs under a large canopy tent. This way, guests can still enjoy the outdoors while getting shade and shelter. Kiplinger suggests hosts borrow what they don’t have to save on money. Instead of rushing out to buy more patio furniture you’ll only use one day out of the year, see if your neighbors are willing to loan their tent, table or chairs.

Bring the fireworks to your backyard – safely!
You may want to leave the major explosives to the professionals, but you can still incorporate fireworks into your backyard party in a safe way. Let the adults have fun launching roaming candles into the night air, and hand out sparklers for the kids. The little ones will love dancing around the yard with their own personal pyrotechnics show, and the whole party will enjoy the backyard display.

Include festive decor
The best part about planning for a Fourth of July party is that the theme is already picked out for you. Deck out your home with stars and stripes, making the American flag the focal point of your decor. Red, white and blue should be your colors of choice, and desserts provide a great way to incorporate these festive hues. Let the kids have fun decorating cupcakes, and throw some blue or red food dye into your adult drinks.

Are you ready to dive into the festive summer season? Make your Fourth of July party as dazzling as the fireworks display with these simple tips.