How to Throw a Great Fourth of July Party

The Fourth of July is fast approaching, and that means it's time to plan what is, for many people, the largest party of the summer. With a little advance preparation and, as Thomas Paine would put it, some common sense, your party can be a splendid success. Let's examine the different topics to consider when planning an Independence Day bash.

First and foremost, one must consider fireworks. You've got two choices: purchasing your own, or viewing a professional fireworks show. If you purchase your own, consider all of the following: Are fireworks legal where you live? Do you have a piece of property where they can be set off without risk of fire or damage to buildings? Does your budget have the funds for fireworks, which can be rather expensive? If you decide to have your own fireworks show, keep these tips in mind: only allow sober, careful adults to do the actual lighting and firing, make sure that someone directly supervises all children present to keep them in a safe area, and, lastly, try to purchase fireworks on or directly before the Fourth of July. Despite the fact that you will have to deal with huge crowds of last minute shoppers, this is when all the fireworks stores and stands mark everything down in order to clear their shelves. If you're really planning well in advance, come back on July 5th. Sometimes, you can find leftover fireworks being sold for almost nothing, and they can be safely stored for next year.

If you're going to watch a professional fireworks show, there are a few tips I can't stress enough. The first is, arrive early! If you want a good space to watch from, instead of being tucked under a tree at the back of the viewing area, you must claim a spot early. Bring along your own blankets and folding chairs for extra comfort, as well as to mark your area. Arriving early also means you might get a parking spot closer to the show area. Keep in mind that professional fireworks can be extremely loud, bright, and flashy, and some small children might be scared. Speak to them ahead of time to familiarize them with what to expect, and explain how exciting it will be. Reassurance before the fact is often all that is necessary to make a child feel safe. As a last note, be sure to check to see what rules might apply to the viewing area. If glass bottles or food are not permitted, for example, don't bring any with you.

This leads to our next subject, food. If you're throwing a Fourth of July party at home, this might be even more popular than fireworks! Some serving ideas are so obvious that it seems silly to note them, but any party will do well with hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, chicken, and so forth, preferably grilled outside and served with vegetables, potato salad, chips, soda, and anything else you like to serve at a picnic or barbecue. Wine and beer is also popular, but make sure that no minors are drinking, and above all, don't let someone who has been drinking light fireworks! Just like driving, have a designated fireworks 'driver.'

For extra fun and historical significance, consider serving some actual Colonial American recipes! Welsh rabbit, Pennsylvania Dutch dumplings, and other selections can make your party unique among all the other cookouts and barbecues, and lend some real taste to your event! Recipes for these and other dishes can be found in the Resources links with this article, courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg organization.

Finally, and most important of all, you want your Fourth of July party to be fun! While fireworks and food will no doubt be the centerpieces of your event, consider activities for your guests. Traditional ones include roasting marshmallows over a fire, playing baseball, soccer, or football, and simple enjoyment of social exchange. In addition, you might want to consider some of the following: a spirited game of horseshoes (which is not expensive to set up nor hard to learn) a sack race, or a treasure hunt with special prizes awarded to the best searchers! For a really unique and special occasion, contact your local historical society, museum, or colonial re-enactment group, and see if they offer visits to events by members who specialize in portraying historical figures. Perhaps Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson himself can appear at your party, answering questions about the reasons for the Fourth of July and providing fascinating historical anecdotes. This has, in my experience, always been a smash hit at a party! Of course, a fee might be charged for this, but at the very least, you should make a donation to the historical group or museum in question.

Enjoy your Fourth of July!