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How to Rock Independence Day This Year!

20 party Ideas & a playlist to help you celebrate July 4th!

Jun 25, 2020

It’s almost Independence Day! Just because fireworks in your town might be cancelled because of COVID-19 doesn’t mean you can’t have a patriotic party with family or a few friends.  Have a blast on America’s birthday using these party ideas.  Just be sure you’re following your area’s social distancing guidelines.

Celebrate Independence Day by throwing a party with your quarantine squad.Celebrate Independence Day by throwing a party with your quarantine squad.

Activities and Games

Parties with stuff to do are the most memorable.  Make your party the talk of the town by getting everyone laughing and moving around.  Don’t forget to play music during the games and activities.  Check out our “America” playlist below.

Plan the ultimate patriotic-themed get-together with food, music, decor, and stuff to do.Plan the ultimate patriotic-themed get-together with food, music, decor, and stuff to do.

July 4th Scavenger Hunt

Give everyone a list of holiday-appropriate things to find and set them loose in your yard.  The first person to find everything wins.  Ideas include: something red, something white, something blue, (a picture of) a hot dog, a star, a sparkler, (a picture of) a watermelon slice, a flag, or something with stripes.  Hide items ahead of time and give everyone a basket to put them in as they find them.

Set everyone loose in your yard for a scavenger hunt.  Buy lists or make your own!Set everyone loose in your yard for a scavenger hunt. Buy lists or make your own!

Red, White and Blue Balloon Games

  1. Who doesn’t love a good water balloon fight on a hot day?  Fill patriotic-colored balloons with water ahead of time and see who can get drenched the most. 
  2. Have everyone blow up a balloon, tie it and then sit on it.  Whoever pops his or her balloon first wins.  This is much easier said than done, which will get tons of laughs.

Plan a water balloon fight for a hot day!Plan a water balloon fight for a hot day!

Costume Contest

Who will show up with the craziest, most patriotic costume?  People can wear red, white, and blue or dress up as a founding father/past president.  Let people have fun with their imaginations!  Everyone can vote on their favorite costumes and the winner can get a prize at the end of the night.

Apple-Pie Eating Contest

Apple pie represents all things America, so why not?  You could use mini pies for the contest to keep costs down and upset stomachs to a minimum.  You can also give everyone a taste of the action by serving the apple pie bites recipe below.

Find out who can eat the most apple pie with a contest!Find out who can eat the most apple pie with a contest!

Baseball

Set up a good, old fashioned baseball game in your yard.  What’s more American than that?

Don't forget to set out the sparklers!Don't forget to set out the sparklers!

Still want more ideas?  Other possible activities include:  Face painting, a campfire, a movie night, a jam session, or making a festive craft.

Use scrunchies for prizes.  Find these at Joanne Fabrics stores.Use scrunchies for prizes. Find these at Joanne Fabrics stores.

Prizes

People will get more involved in playing games if a prize is involved.  It doesn’t have to be anything huge, just enough to get everyone’s competitive juices flowing.  Check out your local dollar, grocery and discount stores for these items.

Put together cute favors using supplies from discount stores.Put together cute favors using supplies from discount stores.
  • Treats wrapped in a red or blue favor bag, tied with a white ribbon
  • An apple pie
  • A patriotic shirt, scarf/bandanna, mask or sunglasses
  • Stars and stripes hair scrunchies, visor, flip flops, or hat

Find these hanging decorations on Amazon.Find these hanging decorations on Amazon.

Independence Day Treats

You can serve all the classic picnic food, of course: Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, corn on the cob, etc.  You can also buy some red, white, and blue candies and place them in dishes around the tables.  Here are some additional goodies to add a little more pizazz to your party menu!

So easy, and so delicious!So easy, and so delicious!

Patriotic Platter

Create an American flag by using blueberries, strawberries and white chocolate covered pretzels.  You can also substitute white cheese cubes for the pretzels and raspberries or watermelon for the strawberries.

Your guests will love these cute apple pie bites.Your guests will love these cute apple pie bites.

Apple Pie Bites

People won’t be able to resist this little dessert.  You can buy the caramel sauce instead of making it, and omit the pecans if anyone has nut allergies.  Recipe courtesy of Magnolia Journal.

Another super-easy dish!  One giant s'more.Another super-easy dish! One giant s'more.

S’mores Dip

What do you get with 4 sheets of Hershey's chocolate, 19 marshmallows, 1 cup of red, white, and blue sanding sugar, and graham crackers, for serving?  This impressive and delicious s’mores dip!  Check out the full recipe and a how-to video on the Delish website.

Use colorful candy as a decoration.Use colorful candy as a decoration.

Ambiance

Lastly, don’t forget to add splashes of patriotic color to your surroundings with decorations like balloons, hanging stars, mini flags placed in small pails or jars, and whatever color-appropriate décor you can find. Place sparklers around for people to light up when it gets dark. Also check out Kidzworld’s list of 4th of July party songs to add to your playlist for the day:

  1. "Party in the USA" - Miley Cyrus
  2. "America the Beautiful' - Ray Charles
  3. "God Bless the USA" - Lee Greenwood
  4. "American Woman" - Guess Who/Lenny Kravitz
  5. "Made In America" - Jay-Z & Kanye West
  6. "American Pie" - Don McLean
  7. "Born in the USA" - Bruce Springsteen
  8. "Ain’t That America" - John Mellencamp
  9.  "R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A." - John Mellencamp
  10. "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" - Toby Kieth
  11. "Made in the USA" - Demi Lovato
  12. "American Teen" - Khalid
  13. "Firework" - Katy Perry
  14. "Back in the U.S.A" - Chuck Berry
  15. "American Girl" - Tom Petty
  16. "Living in America" - James Brown
  17. "America" - Simon and Garfunkel
  18. "American Saturday Night" - Brad Paisley

No fireworks?  Have your own blast using these ideas!  Happy 4th!No fireworks? Have your own blast using these ideas! Happy 4th!
Share With Kidzworld

What are your 4th of July plans?  Do you have any party ideas to add?  Tell Kidzworld below!