BEST 4TH OF JULY PARTY IDEAS
The weather’s starting to heat up, and so, it’s time to get those Summer parties poppin’! Independence Day is a celebration we look forward to every year, so we’re rounding up our favorite Fourth of July party ideas for the best star-spangled soiree! From old-fashioned American flag decorations, to red, white & BBQ foods, there’s more than enough patriotic 4th of July fun to share. So, read on for Bonjour Fête’s best ways to party in the USA!
1. Vintage Stars And Stripes Party
When it comes to 4th of July party ideas, you can’t go wrong with a classic stars and stripes theme. But to keep things fresh, we recommend taking the vintage route and decorating with old-fashioned Americana decorations and gingham textiles. To get the party started, grab a red rose bouquet, a few berry tartlets, and some bunting fan banners. When in doubt, think WWBRD: What Would Betsy Ross Do?
Red, white, and blue party fans are the perfect easy 4th of July decoration. We layered ours with a few star balloons and pennant banners to add some eye-catching texture.
And since we hold this truth to be self-evident: that you can never have too many garlands; we have to show off a few more must-haves. This rustic flag banner and star garland set would be the perfect addition to your patriotic party decorating.
For the perfect 4th of July table, we recommend using picnic-inspired gingham place mats, and alternating red and blue at each table setting.
Then, layer all the stars and stripes patterned plates, napkins, and cutlery your heart desires. We love the vintage checked pattern on these star shaped plates, but solid colored red or blue would be just as stunning. Pop in a gold fringe cup and Hooray USA flag at each seat, and with that, you’ll be ready to let freedom ring!
2. Red, White, And Nautical Blue Party
Another snappy way to celebrate America is with a fabulous red, white, and blue lobster fest! Nautical-themed parties are always great during the summertime, so these party details will last you from the 4th of July, all the way into Memorial Day decorating time.
Balloons are essential for any patriotic party, so we created a fun sea-themed balloon garland in different shades of blue, and added some shiny red foil lobsters. If you feel overwhelmed crafting your own, we’ve got just the thing!
This easy DIY red, white, and blue balloon garland kit is our go-to for Fourth of July decorating ideas. And to add a little pop of personalization, bust out your calligraphy skills and add a few punny sayings to them in permanent marker!
Now let’s crack into the tableware. We recommend lining the center of your table with a blue and white striped runner and embellishing with bright red nautical themed cups, anchor napkins, and lobster plates.
Naturally, this party calls for lots of summer-fresh seafood. So, serve those lobster tails on an All-American decorative tray to tie the whole party together. And since nothing says Bon Voyage quite like a sparkler send-off; we recommend handing out a few sparkler wands to end on a patriotic note.
3. A Very Cherry Ferry Fourth of July
Since we love a good sea-themed soiree, we’ve got another nautical party idea to share. A few years back, we celebrated the 4th on the water with a red, white, and balloon-ed topped ferry boat.
We set the scene with a blue striped table cover and cherry themed tableware. We love including cherry accents because they always look so cute and summery paired with other classic American colors. Petition to make them the official fruit of the Fourth of July? (Move over apple!)
And of course, we had to include some cherry pies in this cherry-covered celebration. An American tradition we’re always in support of!
All in all, this party can easily be recreated with a seafront setting, a few cocktails, and your best girlfriends!
4. Rocket Pop Party
Rocket pops are a 4th of July staple, especially for kid's parties. So, theming a celebration around the red, white, and blue treat is a guaranteed good time for family gatherings.
The main decoration elements you should have are balloons, (these firework balloons from Pop Park City were a total showstopper) and rocket pop honeycomb accents. We also added some florals from Flower Bar Co to these fun American flag hat cups to style things up a bit.
4th of July cupcakes are always a crowd favorite, and they can be made even better with this darling rocket pop topper kit. Decorate and display them on your party table for the most delicious looking 4th of July centerpiece!
We had some fun with the tableware and alternated our rocket pop plates and napkins with our firework truck plates and firecracker napkins. For consistency, we layered each setting with these shiny red stripe plates and napkins and placed these hand-painted 4th of July placemats underneath it all. And there you have it– a (rocket) poppin’ patriotic party!
5. A Firecracker Fête
The Fourth of July isn’t complete without fireworks; and luckily, this next party theme is exploding with firecracker fun! To get this celebration started, stock up sparklers, poppers, and shimmery decorations.
We recommend decorating with classic 4th of July decor, like this streamer set or sparkly star garland. And if you’re looking to throw a more kid-friendly celebration, repurpose your bar cart as a patriotic party favor display.
We love doing this for Fourth of July parties because it looks cute, and doubles as a functionable grab-and-go station for paperware and other party supplies. To make your own, we suggest including some mason jars filled with reusable straws, sparklers, party crowns, and of course, firecracker party favors.
For tableware, any red, white, and blue pieces will do. We recommend going with navy plates, gingham napkins, and gold cutlery for the adult table. As for the kiddos, these rocket pop plates and napkins are just too cute to pass up! Finally, add some more firecracker flare by placing an Americana cracker or two at each setting. And there you have it: another booming 4th of July bash!
6. Red, White, & BBQ
America and barbecue go together like hot dogs and ketchup, so throwing a Summer BBQ party on the 4th of July is a no-brainer. If you’re feeling extra this Independence Day, we suggest going all out with a red, white, and BBQ theme. Decorate with hot dog and hamburger balloons, picnic style tableware, and lots of festive food, of course.
The most important part of this party is the table setting. So whether you’re cooking outside, or having an indoor feast, don’t be afraid to go all out with the BBQ theme. We recommend layering these eco-friendly bamboo plates with some red gingham ones. For that something blue, add some blue and white striped cups and napkins.
Moment of silence for these adorable hamburger and hot dog sugar cookies! They’re definitely a must-have sweet treat for any Fourth of July barbecue. We also recommend handing out some food themed party favors, especially since this fête is catered to kids. We love these cherry lip glosses or mini burger jigsaw puzzles. And with that, you’ll have the barbe-cutest 4th of July party!
7. Patriotic Picnic Party
Sometimes the best setting for a 4th of July party is just outside your back door. If you’re wanting to keep things traditional and simple this Independence Day, consider a summer picnic with florals and fresh fruit.
We chose blue gingham decor with pops of red for our 4th of July picnic a few years back. And to make it feel a little more laid-back, we added some hand-painted balloons and twinkling string lights.
To set your picnic table, start with a bouquet of red roses and a gingham check blue tablecloth. Then, scatter some ruby red apples and small bowls of cherries in the center for a playful picnic touch. For a little contrast, we used some deep blue floral plates and cups.
Mixing patterns is an easy way to make any party seem a little more elevated. We adore the way this floral print compliments the classic check pattern, and it really makes those red 4th of July desserts pop!
As for other patriotic picnic foods, you can never go wrong with a fruit and nut charcuterie board. To add a little flair, we suggest including some pinwheel fan food picks on top. But don’t get too hung up on having the perfect party food. Outdoor picnics like these are meant to be breezy and relaxed. All that really matters is creating a fun setting to gather and celebrate with your nearest and dearest.
That wraps up our list of top favorite Fourth of July party ideas. We hope we’ve gotten you excited for all the freedom-filled fun that awaits!
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