It is the quintessential backyard barbecue. After the parade and before the fireworks, families and friends all over the nation gather together to observe America's birthday, celebrating the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Our founding fathers would be proud 237 years later as bright colors soar in the sky creating a patriotic display of American affection for all to see.
After summer officially begins on June 21, storefronts begin to sell a plethora of red, white and blue paraphernalia to portray country pride, as well as starred and striped products that symbolize liberty and justice for all.
Hosting a happening Fourth of July barbecue for neighbors, friends and family is the best gift you can give on the nation' birthday. As with any annual anniversary, decorations, food and drinks and games are the key to keeping everyone amused no matter what their age. This brief brochure provides big ideas at a low-cost so your backyard barbecue best celebrates the Fourth of July.
Invitations and Decorations
Start saving immediately with invitations by simply sending out a holiday themed Evite, free email, to friends and family members. As for the neighbors, whose email you may not have saved on your computer, simply print out all needed information in bold red and blue font and print on white paper, folding nicely before placing it in their mailboxes.
Shopping for the Fourth of July is just the beginning of the holiday fun and can be done affordably at any area Dollar Tree. This time of the year, the low-cost store sells streamers, balloons, banners and more to hang both outside and inside. As with any other party, paper and plastic tableware and utensils are the easiest way to serve food and can also be bought at the discount center. If you cannot find Fourth of July printed products, buy red cups, white plates and blue napkins to create the holiday colored theme.
Some other great inexpensive decorations to adorn the outside or inside party area are small handheld flags (also available at the Dollar Tree), and red and white carnations that can be found cheap at almost any grocery store florist. Pull out the ruby Radio Flyer wagon and fill it with red, white and blue construction paper, crayons, confetti and glue so upon entering the event, children can make holiday ornaments to hang around the lawn. Save some brown paper bags and used toilet paper rolls prior to the party so children and adults alike can make homemade Uncle Sam hats and faux fireworks to throw through the air.
Food and Drinks
The first and easiest way to host a frugal Fourth of July barbecue is to make it a pot luck event. When sending out the invitations, ask each quest to bring a food or drink item priced at only $10. By inviting 10 guests alone, you already have $100 worth of hotdogs, hamburger meat, chips and salads.
Rather than buy an expensive holiday dessert, make your own. Use red, white and blue icing to create the American Flag on top of a 13 x 9 panned cake. For those that may not like synthetic sweets, supply strawberries and blueberries with a little sprinkled sugar in a big white bowl and tie a red ribbon around it.
Water is not only the healthiest drink to offer your guests, it is most often the least expensive. Buy a bunch of generic bottled waters and store them in the refrigerator to cool. After the water is chilled, pour it in a couple clear pitchers and add blue and red water coloring. Rather than have a costly supply of alcoholic beverages, make it a BYOB barbecue and have guests bring their own six pack of beer or bottle of wine.
Games
Running through the sprinklers, playing hide and seek and blowing bubbles are but a few free and low-cost activities for attending children. As for adults, place a deck of cards at each table and designate a shady area set up with checkers and a chess board. Bring out the child in the adults and set up red, white and blue chalk near the blacktop driveway and hold a holiday picture contest. While the adults are busy being creative on the concrete, have a table set up for the kids to color Fourth of July activity pages that can be downloaded and printed off the Internet for free.
Bring everyone together for a Fourth of July Scavenger Hunt, using red, white and blue objects as items to be found, and fill up a fish bowl of patriotic colored jelly beans to have a guessing contest with the winner taking home the bowl of goodies as the prize. Play truth or dare balloon pop by placing tiny notes in red, white and blue balloons that inspire your guests to get honest or take a risk. Lastly, play an old fashion game of baseball and serve cherry pie and lemonade for that authentic American feel.
Entertainment
Schedule the party around the local parade and fireworks display, which takes place in almost every American town, so you and your guests can break away from the grill and enjoy the community-wide event. If your city is not hosting a holiday festival of any kind, search online for free Fourth of July events in the county to attend.
When you return from the regional affair, set up a dance floor in the lawn by using red, white and blue streamers. Have a dance contest and play group songs like the Macarena, Electric Slide and the Chicken Dance to get adults and children moving.
After your guests move their feet, have them swing their arms as they play with a Piñata. Along with offering dessert, the candy that will eventually fall to the ground is sure to quench guests' sweet tooth. And of course before the party is over, make sure to light some candles and sing Happy Birthday to America.