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Throwing the ultimate 4th of July party is easy as apple pie with these 4th of July party ideas! Complete with DIY decor tips, food and drink ideas and outdoor activity suggestions, this is your guide to hosting an awesome Independence Day BBQ or backyard bash for your friends and family.
Fourth of July party tips
1. Serve star-spangled sweets & treats
This red, white and blueberry parfait is the perfect light and healthy summertime snack to serve at your backyard bash. It’s easy to make, filled with fresh ingredients and visually appealing, too!
For a salty-meets-sweet finger food, try out this DIY firecracker popcorn. This one is certain to impress the kiddos with its vibrant colors and fun flavors.
No patriotic party is complete without America’s favorite dessert: pie, of course! These muffin tin mini cherry pies don’t require any fancy pie tins—muffin tins are what give your tiny pies their shape! Plus, you’ll only need a handful of ingredients to complete this recipe. Pro tip: top with whipped cream and blueberries to complete the red, white and blue trifecta!
2. Prepare yummy BBQ eats
Hopefully, you’re already planning on firing up the grill. Afterall, simplicity is key when it comes to cookouts, especially on the 4th: you really can’t go wrong with classics like hamburgers and hot dogs at a 4th of July party!
For an added oomph, try experimenting with your presentation. Instead of serving guests straight from the grill, try setting up a cute, self-serve hamburger and hot dog bar. You’ll be giving your guests what they want (i.e. good ol’ fashioned BBQ eats) while still sprucing things up with exciting decor. All you need is a couple patriotic serving platters, tongs and fun signage for each ingredient.
Oh, and don’t think we weren’t gonna talk about side dishes! One of the best parts of a summertime cookout is getting to fill up a plate with all your BBQ faves. This classic potato salad recipe is perfect for your 4th of July bash. Serve it in a colorful bowl like this one and watch as your guests go back for seconds, thirds and even fourths.
But, if you do want to get a little more cheffy with your spread, try these summer BBQ bites. With slightly more complex flavor profiles, these three recipes show you how to make tasty and elevated finger foods to subtly wow your guests with. Note: the honey glazed grilled pears are an absolute show stopper. We suggest making them on the backyard grill during your party as a little pre-firework entertainment!
3. Go all-out with on-theme party decorations
One of the perks of the 4th is that it comes with a pre-set color palette for your decor! Experimenting with different hues of red, white and blue can help give your decor a more unique and layered look. Or keep it classic with bold tones!
Making your own red, white and blue bunting is pretty simple and the perfect way to achieve that classic patriotic vibe. Just grab some colorful butcher paper, string and a hot glue gun.
For even more 4th decor, check out our 4th of July Amazon shop. It has just about everything you could need to totally transform your space into a red, white and blue wonderland.
4. Offer crafty activities
Give guests something to take home with them! Crafty activities like red, white and blue tie dye make for a memorable experience and double as a way to give guests a little party favor. Plus, the kiddos will be so excited for an opportunity to get creative. This red, white and blue tie dye kit comes with exclusively Americana colors, so you won’t be left with extra bottles of dye!
DIY photo booths are also all the rage for parties right now. You can make your own with a patriotic backdrop, some fun 4th of July photo props, and a tripod. If you really want to go all-out, instant photo printers like this one by Kodak will make it easy to give your guests a tangible copy of all the fun pics they’ll take!
5. Play classic backyard games
In addition to crafty activities, consider setting up some classic backyard games to entertain your guests before the fireworks start. Cornhole is the perfect game to set up in one corner of the yard: guests can come and play as they please for a quick round before heading back to the snack table!
Horseshoes and badminton are also 4th of July staples! This outdoor horseshoe set is possibly one of the easiest games to set up while this badminton set is super portable and comes with everything you could need!
Or try a full-group game, like an egg toss competition. Have your guests pair up and face each other in two lines. Then, pass out the eggs and start tossing! Remember, teams are out when they drop their egg and everyone must take an additional step backwards before each round to increase the tossing distance and keep things challenging!
And if you’re not in the mood for an egg-y backyard, you truly can’t go wrong with a sack race, three-legged race or wheelbarrow race. These games require very few supplies and are a surefire way to get the whole group laughing.
6. Make festive cocktails or mocktails!
July can get pretty hot, so give your guests the gift of a crisp and refreshing beverage to help wash down all those tasty bites you’ll be serving them!
With hints of lemon, pineapple and grapefruit, these big batch cocktails are perfect for any summertime bash. Plus, you can easily turn them into delicious and refreshing mocktails by nixing the alc!
Is any summertime party complete without lemonade? This alcohol-free cranberry pineapple lemonade ticks off all the summery boxes. Lemon mixes with pineapple for a refreshing and tropical flavor. Plus, the cranberry juice gives the drink a—yup, you guessed it—red color, absolutely apt for a 4th of July party if we do say so ourselves.
For more hints of red, try this red wine sangria. A little juice, a lot of wine and plenty of cut fruit make for an easy yet satisfying summertime staple.
Customize your 4th of July party invites with Evite
Make your 4th of July invitations pop with Evite’s awesome customization features. Choose from a wide range of vibrant, patriotic designs, then add your own personal touch with our easy-to-use design tools! Add fun stickers or a custom stamp, choose your favorite background and customize your envelope liner. Plus, you can even adjust the text on your invitation until it’s perfect: choose your favorite font, change your text’s color and size and move text boxes around with ease. With Evite, the sky's the limit when it comes to creating the most buzzworthy, eye-catching 4th of July invitations!
More popular 4th of July ideas & tips
How do you throw a fun 4th of July party?
Start by decorating your venue with red, white and blue colors. Plan a menu that includes classic American barbecue items (you can’t go wrong with hamburgers and hotdogs!), fun red, white & blue treats and on-theme drinks. Organize fun activities such as backyard games or patriotic arts and crafts. Create a festive playlist with fun music to set the mood. Lastly, make sure to prioritize the safety of your guests by providing ample seating, shade and access to water.
How do you prepare for a 4th of July party?
To prepare for a 4th of July party, start by making a checklist of everything you'll need. This includes decorations, food and drinks, seating arrangements and any necessary permits for fireworks or outdoor activities (if applicable). Send out invitations well in advance and keep track of RSVPs (which is super easy when you use Evite!). Plan your menu and create a shopping list for ingredients and party supplies. Set up a timeline for tasks leading up to the party, such as cleaning, organizing and setting up the party space.
What do you give the host for a 4th of July party?
Consider giving a patriotic-themed gift or a nice bottle of wine. Alternatively, you can bring a homemade dish or dessert that complements the party theme. The most important thing is to choose something that aligns with the host's preferences and shows your gratitude for their efforts.
What time should a Fourth of July party start?
The start time for a Fourth of July party can vary depending on the nature of the event and your guests' preferences. It's common for 4th of July parties to begin in the afternoon, around 2 PM or 3 PM, and continue into the evening to enjoy fireworks displays. However, you can adjust the start time based on your specific plans. Consider factors such as the availability of daylight, the timing of fireworks shows in your area and the duration of activities you have planned.
Getting fired up for the 4th? Browse our selection of free and Premium 4th of July invitations to start planning your own patriotic party ASAP!
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What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from SignUpGenius?
Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than SignUpGenius:
- 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
- Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
- No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
- Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
- Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
- User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
- Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.
Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!
What is a signup sheet?
Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.
Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer!
Long story short, signup sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.
How do I create a signup sheet?
Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:
- Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
- Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
- Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
- After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
- Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
- After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
- Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!
What information should be included on a signup sheet?
When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:
- A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
- When and where the event is taking place.
- The organizer’s name and phone number.
- Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete.
When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!
Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!
What are the benefits of using a signup sheet template?
Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:
- A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
- Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
- No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
- The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
- Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
- An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
- Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.
With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.
