31 Fourth of July Party Ideas for an Unforgettable Celebration
Cue the fireworks!
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America's birthday may be a few months away, but it's never too soon to start planning a Fourth of July celebration with summer cocktails, fireworks, and an abundance of red, white, and blue décor. Whether you’re gathering with a few loved ones or throwing an all-out, star-spangled banger, these Fourth of July entertaining ideas will make you the best host around, especially when you get friends and family in on the act with games, decorations, and recipes to enliven the party and help you wear your patriotism on your sleeve. From confetti-filled balloons to Lady Liberty-approved floral arrangements, these Fourth of July party ideas will definitely set the scene for an unforgettable Independence Day celebration.
Light Up Your Home's Entrance
If you're celebrating the Fourth of July at home, line the path to your front door with star-embellished string lights wrapped around greenery-filled hurricanes or jars. Live in an apartment? You can use the garlands to create a low-key table centerpiece instead, or drape them over vases throughout your space for an extra-special touch.
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Create a 7-Layer Place Setting
Feel the festive vibes while enjoying Fourth of July brunch or a smoky BBQ with a detailed, themed-place setting. Put a special touch with a dish towel in between two plates instead of a traditional napkin, like Jenny Reimold suggests to HomeGoods.
BUY NOW Corelle 18-Piece Dinnerware Set, $100
Set Up a Boozy Snow Cone Bar
Cheers to 'Merica with this spiked DIY snow cone bar. And always say yes to more festive decor, like these decorative red, white, and blue paper fans. Get the full instructions from Sugar & Charm.
BUY NOW Decorative Paper Fans, $11
Drink Out of Star-Themed Tumblers
For a subtle yet festive touch, serve drinks in these clear glass tumblers emblazoned with white stars. They'll look especially festive when filled with colorful classics, like pink lemonade, or a patriotic, boozy cocktail.
BUY NOW Borosil Simple Glass Tumblers (Set of 6), $49
Use Gingham Napkins
While classic gingham napkins are certainly Independence Day appropriate, they look just as good in your dining room all year round. And you can also find them in red, so you can create a nice pattern on the table by alternating colors.
BUY NOW Gracie Oaks Gingham Napkins, $16
Display Confetti Balloons
Skip the basic red, white, and blue balloon medley and opt for a dozen of these confetti-filled clear beauties instead. They're undeniably photogenic.
BUY NOW Red and Blue Star Confetti Balloons, $6
Go for a Picnic
A picnic in the park is an affordable, fun way to gather up your friends for the Fourth. Keep things festive and make sure you'll be able to enjoy the party with this outdoor net table cover. It's summery, stylish, and highly effective at keeping those pesky pests off your masterpiece of a Fourth of July picnic spread.
BUY NOW Dot & Army Outdoor Net Food Cover, $28
Make It a Formal Garden Party
To elevate your Fourth of July festivities, take note from this pretty red, white, and blue spread from Cheetah Is the New Black. With some fresh berries, a charcuterie board, a floral cake, and bottles of rose against a garden backdrop will set the scene for something a little dressier.
BUY NOW Golden Rabbit Enamel Cake Stand, $32
Get Creative With Cocktails
These little cubes look more like works of art than Fourth of July jello shots. Follow the recipe at Sugar & Cloth to learn how to make them. What's more all-American than Jell-o?
BUY NOW Cherry Jell-o, $7
Light Berry-Scented Candles
Make your mood lighting work double time with berry-scented candles that instantly enhance the ambiance. This one from Diptyque has a red label that will fit right in with the rest of your decor.
BUY NOW Diptyque Limited Edition Berries Candle, $74
Make Red, White, and Blue Bouquets
Since flowers can cost a fortune—especially when you need enough for a large tablescape—opt to make something a little more low-key for your centerpieces. Grab a few stems of red, white, and blue wildflowers, and then fill in the majority of the galvanized vases with leafy greens, as Sugar & Charm did here.
BUY NOW WH Metal Flower Vases, $25
Take It to the Beach
July Fourth is the perfect time of year for a beach day. Keep it in the family, or invite all of your friends. Don't forget to pack fresh watermelon, SPF, an umbrella, and of course, fun beach games, like spike ball.
BUY NOW Spikeball 3 Ball Kit, $60
Hang Flag Wall Art
If you're tired of wreaths and have some knitting or embroidery skills, this one's for you. Just be sure to stock up on the red, white, and blue yarn first. Find out how to make it at The House That Lars Built.
BUY NOW Red Heart Yarn, $4
Paint Your Lawn With Stars
Turn your lawn into the ultimate firework viewing spot by spray painting it with patriotic stars. You can even make the stencil yourself with large construction paper. Get the tutorial at Sugar & Charm.
BUY NOW Rust-Oleum Crimson Red Spray Paint, $10
Throw a Pool Party
Fourth of July is the perfect excuse for a pool party—especially if the pool has good views for firework-watching. To dial up the national pride, have everyone dress in on-theme hues and make things extra fun with color-coordinated pool floats.
BUY NOW Patriotic Duck Pool Float, $40
Cozy Up With Patriotic Blankets
Whether you need a blanket to lay out on your lawn, wrap yourself up in on a boat, or snuggle with around a fire, you can never go wrong with an American flag-themed version for the Fourth of July.
BUY NOW ChappyWrap American Flag Blanket, $135
Opt for Outdoor Dinnerware
If you're having your Fourth of July dinner party outdoors and plan on serving food, opt for durable plating. That doesn't mean you have to settle for paper plates—there are plenty of on-theme, stylish melamine ones to choose from.
BUY NOW Siren Song Prairie Melamine Plates, $68
Serve Summery Drinks
Not everything has to be overtly patriotic to feel summery and festive. If that's not you're vibe, make some special lemonade, like this rosemary recipe from Cheetah Is the New Black. You could also set up a gourmet lemonade stand with kids on the Fourth (add strawberries to make a touch more Fourth of July-ish).
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Hang a Flag Garland
Welcome guests by hanging an American flag garland on the front door. You could also hang it on a pagoda in the yard if that's where the heart of the party is. Sugar & Charm made this one with some string, toothpicks, and mini American flags.
BUY NOW American Flags on Toothpicks, $8
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Kelly Allen is the Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she creates design, culture, and travel content online and in the magazine. She’s been on the team since 2019, writing features on dreamy TV sets and movie filming locations, in-depth city guides, and inspiring home tours. From researching ethereal estates to discovering can’t-miss set decoration details onscreen, she’s always eager to answer burning pop culture questions through a design lens. In her five-year career, she’s built a strong network of designers across disciplines to tap for their invaluable expertise. Her background includes honing reporting skills while tackling viral news for Delish and contributing to Cosmopolitan’s entertainment coverage. When she’s not watching every new film and TV show, she’s browsing vintage home stores, attending industry events, and wandering around New York City—highlighting it all on Instagram.
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