Inspiration
A Guide for Planning a Last-Minute July 4th Party
Story Highlights
The Fourth of July is the quintessential outdoor holiday. Many travel to the beach, while others attend cookouts and pool parties. No matter the destination, if the weather is good, the only way to celebrate Independence Day is outdoors.
With only days left before the holiday, if you find yourself without plans, consider throwing your own, last-minute Fourth of July party. Before you tell yourself there's not enough time, consider that a July 4th party can be one of the easiest gatherings to host. With an hour of planning, a quick Amazon Prime order, and a trip to the grocery store, you can be hosting your own Fourth of July party for family and friends.
In this guide, we provide helpful planning tips that will make hosting your Fourth of July party successful and less stressful. Additionally, photos from our patriotic photoshoot provide plenty of inspiration throughout.
Decor
Creating a Patriot Setting...
First things first, you have to create the proper setting for your gathering. This could be as simple as a few well-placed flags or an extravaganza of "Americana" and everything Uncle Sam.
DECOR
Color Scheme
The wonderful thing about a July 4th party is that you don't have to waste any time coming up with a color scheme. When setting up for your gathering, anything Red, White, or Blue will do!
If you have anything with red or blue gingham, it can be put to good use! Also, consider repurposing any red decor you have for Valentine's Day or possibly Christmas.
Decor
Old Glory
When it comes to a Fourth of July party, you can't have too many American flags. Even if you have no other decor, your party will still feel festive with a few flags throughout the space. Consider putting them in your flower arrangements, potted plants, throughout the landscape, or simply laying them on the serving table.
Jump on Amazon to get a pack of 12, 50, or 100 of these little flags and you can likely have them by tomorrow!
If you have extras, consider giving them away to your guests as party favors. No one is going to turn down a free American flag!
decor
Stars!
The Fourth of July is all about the Stars and Stripes. Whether they are from your Christmas decor or maybe a "Starry Night" themed gathering, most anything with stars will work for your Fourth of July party. As long as it's a red, white, blue, or neutral color, consider giving your star decor a shot. Star string lights are also a great, easy-to-find option!
For our July 4th tablescape, we used star candle holders and star-studded plate chargers.
Decor
Cut Flowers
Fresh cut flowers are always a great choice for decor. You can go to the florist/grocery store or, even better, you can pick them from your landscape. Consider flowers that match your red, white, and blue color scheme. Summer bloomers like hydrangea (blue and white), daylily (white and red), salvia/speedwell (blue and white), and daisies (white and red) are all great choices. If you want a break from the red, white, and blue, consider a bouquet of American wildflowers!
Our July 4th tablescape included white hydrangeas and red gerbera daisies from our friends at Strawberry Fields Flowers and Finds!
decor
Anything Americana!
Feel free (that's what this holiday is about after all) to get creative and use anything "Americana" in your decor. If you have items around the house that invoke nostalgia or patriotism, it might work perfectly for your July 4th setup. Think mason jars, an old bicycle, a red wagon, a baseball glove or wooden bat, a white picket fence, Coca-Cola memorabilia, etc. Even food choices, like lemonade, sweet tea, apple pie, blueberry pie, etc., can invoke nostalgia and act as decor.
Our setup brought out "Americana" vibes by including a vintage bicycle that was repurposed as a serving table for lemonade and watermelon (pictured). Additionally (as pictured later in the article), we used an old, red wagon as a cooler for Coca-Cola in classic, glass bottles.
food & drink
Setting the Menu...
When it comes to setting a last-minute menu, it's important to keep things simple and casual. Luckily, for a Fourth of July party, simple and casual are a perfect fit!
food & Drink
Hamburgers & Hot Dogs
The only thing a true American should want or expect on the Fourth of July is a hamburger and/or hot dog! Steaks, ribs, grilled chicken, and barbeque are all wonderful choices as well, but few things say "America" more than Hamburgers and Hot Dogs.
food & drink
Consider a "Featured" Topping or Style
If you want to take it up a notch, consider providing a "featured" topping or regional style.
If you're from a hot dog city like New York or Chicago, consider providing the toppings for your city's signature dog.
The "featured" topping or style could also be something more personal to you and your family. For example, in my house, we're currently in love with this hamburger combination of arugula, swiss cheese, and jalapeno drip jam from Joanna Gaines; we love it so much that we offered it at our recent Father's Day gathering.
food & drink
2 Simple Sides
The key to hosting a last-minute gathering is keeping things simple. Do not stress yourself by trying to offer everything! When it comes to planning side dishes, you really only need to have two, tried and true favorites. We recommend you keep things balanced with one carbohydrate salad (pasta or potato) and one vegetable salad.
If you feel like you need more, consider rounding out your table with super-simple favorites like baked beans and potato chips.
food & drink
Anything & Everything Berries
When it comes to Fourth of July desserts, everything begins and ends with fresh, in-season berries. Whether it's blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries, these seasonal favorites even come color-coordinated for the holiday! You cannot go wrong with these red and blue favorites paired with a little white whipped cream. Put them on/in a crust, cookie, or tart and you've got a festive, seasonal, delicious dessert.
Food & drink
One "Featured" Drink
If you're planning a last-minute gathering, you'll drive yourself crazy trying to get drinks to make everyone happy. With the current state of inflation, you'll also probably go broke as well.
Instead, consider doing a featured drink (or two if necessary) for your gathering. Lemonade and Iced Tea are great summer options for family events with adults and children. For adults that prefer something harder, both drinks can easily be spiked as well.
Remember, freshly squeezed and home-brewed is best, but store-bought is fine.
Food & Drink
Add an extra dose of "Americana"
Whether it's your drinks or snacks, add an extra dose of "Americana" by offering classic American brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Budweiser, Miller, Lays, and Hershey's (for your S'mores of course)!
For our July 4th setup, we used a classic red wagon as a cooler for our glass bottles of Coca-Cola.
final thoughts...
Keep it simple!
For your last-minute party, do not let yourself get carried away. As mentioned throughout this guide, the key to your successful Fourth of July party will be keeping it simple.
If you'd like a little more inspiration, flip through these photos from our patriotic photoshoot.
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