Attention Party Hosts! These Fourth of July Entertaining Ideas Are For You

From classic American fare to DIY crafts, here’s everything you’ll need at this year’s Fourth of July celebration.

By: Kayla Suazo

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There are so many things to love about the Fourth of July. Summer is in full swing with barbeques, backyard parties and the best festive cuisine around. It’s also the perfect occasion to celebrate and honor America’s history with some Fourth of July popsicles, for instance. Now, it’s time to pull out all the stops and get ready for a Fourth of July bash that would make the founding fathers proud.

Red, White and Blue Berry Pops

Beat the heat in style with this colorful holiday dessert.

Photo by: Photo by Mick Telkamp

Photo by Mick Telkamp

Here are some creative ways to add some flavor and entertainment to your celebration.

Quintessential Cuisine

Put a fun spin on classic appetizers, food dishes and cocktails.

Say Cheese! How to Create a Killer Cheese Tray

Bacon and Ranch Cajun Baby Cheeseburgers

How to Make Family-Style Strawberry Shortcakes

For a fun boozy drink, try a red, white and blue sangria (below) with fresh fruit. All you need are star-shaped cookie cutters, white wine, watermelon, pineapple and blueberries.

Flynnside Out Productions

Flynnside Out Productions

Add Wine

Pour dry white wine over the fruit. Before serving, refrigerate for a couple of hours, allowing the flavors to blend.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Red White & Blue Sangria

This deliciously festive Red White & Blue Sangria is the perfect colorful cocktail for your upcoming 4th of July get together!

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Decorations + DIY Crafts

What's a good party without some decorations? We have fun and easy DIY projects that will add some American flair to your party.

Ombre Party Tablescape

Give your plain white placemats and napkins a modern and patriotic update. Dip-dye using red- and blue-colored dye for a stylish look that can be used all summer long.

From: Kristin Guy

For a patriotic tablescape, buy cream colored placemats and dip them in red fabric dye to create a fun ombré table linen.

How to Make Flameless Party Crackers

Entertainment + Games

Throwing an all-day party means a full entertainment schedule is necessary. Here are some ideas you can try when the excitement of yummy food wanes and hungry tummies are satisfied. For the kiddos, buy some bubble wands and make a homemade bubble soap. Backyard games are also fun for both adults and kids.

Backyard Games

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Horseshoes

As seen on HGTV'sVacation House For Free, host Matt Blashaw enjoys a quick game of horseshoes in the backyard in between filming. Get instructions for installing a backyard horseshoe pit.

Photo By: Natasha Lee

Combo Bocce Ball Court and Horseshoe Pit

Matt cleverly built this horseshoe pit at the end of the bocce court so you can end one game and go right into the other. Learn how to build a bocce court.

Photo By: Natasha Lee

Scorecard

This backyard bocci ball court includes a scoring rack built onto the fence to help track game points.

Cornhole Toss

One of the great things about a cornhole is you can play it most anywhere, tailgating before the game, at the beach or in the backyard. Get step-by-step instructions to make a set of cornhole boards.

Croquet

To play croquet, a wood mallet is used to hit a wood ball through a series of wickets (little wire bridges). The finish line is a wood stake standing at the end of the wickets. The game can be challenging depending on how lumpy your lawn is, but croquet is certainly a heck of a lot fun.

Photo By: Kevin Kelliher

Lawn Twister

If you want to make the party more interesting, lay out a Twister-style game board. Cut a circular template from cardboard and get four colors of water-soluble spray paint.

Ring Toss

This couldn't be easier to make. Upcycle some old bottles (plastic or glass), pack them into a wood crate or sturdy cardboard box. Check the craft store for lightweight wood rings, if not, use plastic shower curtain rings.

Photo By: Eric Perry

Giant Jenga-Style Tumbling Tower Game

Here’s another game you can play with a beer in hand, but not too many, you need a steady hand to win this suspense-filled game. To make a tower, you’ll need four 16-foot 2x4s. Cut the 2x4s into (72) 10-1/2" pieces. Sand the ends smooth, crack open a cold one and you’re ready to play.

Lawn Bowling

If a store-bought bowling game isn't in your budget, you can DIY one with some empty plastic bottles. Paint or decorate the bottles then fill them with sand to make the pins. Use a heavy-weight ball or old bowling ball (check the thrift store) to knock down the pins.

Ladder Golf

Individuals or teams can play. The object is to wrap a bolo around a rung, with each rung being assigned a certain number of points. For example, one point for the bottom rung, three points for the middle and five points for the top rung. Get the instructions to make this game.

Chess Anyone?

This backyard chess board is portable so it can be moved around the yard or inside the house. If you have the chess or checker pieces and just need the board, paint the checkerboard pattern on a large canvas drop cloth.

Photo By: California Redwood Association

Grassy Chess Board

Even after the game is over, this sod and concrete checkboard pattern makes an eye-catching backyard feature.

Checkers

If you don't have a giant chess set on hand (and how many of us do), make checkers by painting some plastic plates or chargers.

All Paver Chess Board

This game board is masterfully built into the extensive sandstone patio.

Putting Green

Improve your game and add a little greenry to the backyard with putting green. See how it's done.

Backyard Putting Green

A putting green is an investment in fun, but it could also be a good resale investment. If you plan on selling your home in a few years, the putting green might just be the unique feature that gets you a quick sale.

Movie Night

Turn your yard into "drive-in". (If you have a pool, you can make it a "dive-in".) A projector, screen and surround sound are all you need in the AV department. Make it B.Y.O.C. (bring your own chair) or spread out blankets for everyone to stretch out.

Inflatable Screen

An inflatable screen can make putting a movie-night party quick and easy. Perfect for having the gang over to watch the big game or for a kids' slumber party.

Photo By: Open Air Cinema

Half Pipe

Keep the kids off their screens by putting a skateboard ramp in the yard. Your teens may actually think you're cool again.

Fourth of July parties also means a late night is in order to watch the fireworks. For some fun entertainment until the light show make your own marshmallows, set up a s'mores station and roast away!

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