Summer BBQ Ideas: Red, White and Blue Themed 4th of July Party!

Summertime brings a lot of parties, BBQ's and celebrations. One of the seasonal favorites is the 4^th of July. Celebrating Independence Day dates back after its first reading in 1777 and, as history goes, it has been celebrated in pretty much the same way ever since.

How can you make your Independence Day celebrations more special and exciting this 4^th of July? Here are some BBQ party ideas:

Throw a red, white and blue themed potluck BBQ. When you're writing out your barbeque invitations, divide them up into three stacks and assign a color to each stack. Inside each invitation, provide ideas for what people can bring that's part of their color theme. Some examples include: (a simple search will produce many more ideas, as well as recipes you could also print out and include with the invitation)

Red:

* red wine
* red strawberries
* a main dish using red sauce (like American Chop Suey, for example)
* a salad with red vegetables and red vinaigrette dressing
* chips with red salsa
* a red jell-o dessert
* a red cherry dessert
* meat marinated in red BBQ sauce
* red hot dogs

White:

* white wine
* a white cake with white frosting
* white ice cream
* white salads (macaroni salad, potato salad, ambrosia salad)
* white cheese with crackers
* white dressings
* a main dish with white gravy (like chicken fried steak, for example)
* New York Style Cheesecake
* any kind of bread with white spreads

Blue:

* blueberry wine
* blueberries
* blueberry ice cream
* blue cornbread caked cat fish
* any blueberry dessert
* a cake using blue food coloring in the batter and icing
* blue corn chips and dip
* blue cheese spread or dressing

When planning your party, try to gather red, white and blue items to keep with your theme:

* table clothes: if you're using more than one table, put a different color on each. If you're using one table, use a white table cloth with red and blue table runners.
* napkins: spread them out so it's in a repeating red, white and blue pattern
* paper cups: stack them in a red, white and blue pattern
* paper plates: stack them in a red, white and blue pattern
* utensils: put red utensils in a red cup, blue utensils in a blue cup and white utensils in a white cup
* serving bowls: try to find even numbers of bowls so the table looks balanced
* balloons: hang them in groups of three on far corners of your table and chair presentations
* streamers: string them around the tables and on the perimeter of your party space
* flowers: try to have small vases of red, white and blue flowers on several places of the table

How your table presentation is will make a big impact on your party and how the rest of the evening plays out. If possible, serve the meal buffet style so the atmosphere is casual and comfortable. If you plan on having sparklers or morning glories burning, be sure to have plenty on hand for all of your guests. And, to be on the safe side, have your fire extinguisher on hand as well.