Ideas for a Spectacular 4th of July with Family and Friends

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The 4^th of July is a wonderful day to spend with family and friends. It is a day we should cherish as it represents freedom. This day is observed in celebration of the passage of the Declaration of Independence.

Philadelphia had their first celebration in 1777, but Massachusetts was the first state to observe this day as a holiday in 1781. It was not until 1870 that the Congress of the United States made the 4^th of July a federal holiday.

Making this a special day is easy and it should be stress-free.  Here are some simple ideas:

In the kitchen

• Patriotic pretzels – These are fun to make as a family activity.  Dip pretzels in white chocolate that you have colored red or blue, or dip in all three colors – red, white and blue. If your family isn’t a fan of white chocolate, use regular chocolate and use sprinkles that are red, white, and blue.
• Serve apple pie – The traditional American pie is apple; serve and enjoy!
• Colorful fruits – On the healthier side, try some mixed fruits such as red and blue assorted berries, mixed with bananas or apples.
• Colorful drinks – Try cranberry Juice or blue Gatorade.
  • You can make a layered, colorful drink from these two ingredients if you add Sprite to the top.  Here is how – Add a small amount of ice, pour in cranberry, add ice, pour in Gatorade, add ice, then pour in sprite. Enjoy!
• Colorful drinks for adults – Alcoholic Beverages.
  • 4^th of July cocktail made with Pomegranate juice (pour first), vodka, and blue curacao.  Pour carefully and keep the layers separate for the presentation.
  • Red grenadine (pour first), lemonade and vodka, then blue curacao. Pour carefully and keep the layers separate for the presentation.
  • Strawberry daiquiri or margarita, a watermelon sangria, or a bloody Mary also work as a single-color drink.

Entertainment and games for the whole family

• Holidays are a great time to connect and have conversation. The Chatterbox or the Chatterbox Jr. is a great starter for conversation, and you can use it all year. Great for traveling; small and convenient to use in a car. You can find these products under the “shop” section on this site.
• Drawing Fun – Sidewalk chalk is entertaining for kids and adults alike.  Draw something patriotic and anything else that you love about America.
• Thank a Soldier – Make some cards to send to the troops. Find a place online that distributes appreciation letters to the troops. If you would like to do more, create some care packages to send with the cards.
• Refresh your knowledge – Read one of the founding documents.
• Q&A around the dinner table – Ask historical questions to each other. You can find many on the web.
• Gunny Sack Race – Everyone gets in a gunny sack and hops to the other end of the yard or park.
• Three-Legged Race – Pick a partner, stand next to each other, and tie the closest legs together. Now you have three legs to race to the other end of the yard or park.

Everyone participates in the Theme

• Have everyone wear red, white, and blue. Take pictures and create memories
• Decorate in red, white, and blue without spending a lot; red, white, and/or blue tablecloth, napkins, and straws will be perfect.

Enjoy your day!