America’s birthday is almost here, and it’s time to celebrate once again. The weather is hot, the lemonade is cool, and the sparklers are on fire. Everyone wants to be outside with family, enjoying the sunshine, and indulging in whatever they can fit on the grill. (Brats anyone?) It’s a time to get together and celebrate; the bigger the group the better on the Fourth of July. But how on earth are you going to accommodate all those people? Here’s how.

1. Scout Out A Location

The first step to hosting any kind of party is to find a location—and your backyard might not cut it. Then again it might; the determining factor is really going to be how many people you invite. Regardless of that number, keep in mind that you won’t want people traipsing through your house consistently throughout the day. This dilemma has two main causes:

1. Bathroom. Everyone has got to pee.
2. Shade. July can be a particularly humid month. If you don’t have a tent set up somewhere, expect visitors to seek refuge from the sun in your home.

Barbecues are really designed to be outdoor activities, so if you can find a great location with clean bathrooms and ample shade, you’re on the right track.

2. Make It Potluck

Aren’t things more fun when everyone contributes? Big group gatherings can be both taxing and pricey for hosts. Because this isn’t a birthday party or something that focuses solely on an individual, there’s nothing wrong with asking everyone to chip in. Not only is this more cost effective, it’s fun!
When everyone brings a dish to the Fourth Of July party, there will be more choices—which is great for families with picky eaters. As an added bonus, everyone has to cook less, stress less, spend less, and get to have scrumptious dishes they wouldn’t have thought to prepare themselves.

Signing up for certain dishes or creating a running list of contributions is always a great idea. This keeps everyone from eating nothing but potato salad all day long. Some things you shouldn’t forget are:

• Hamburgers
• Hot dogs
• Buns
• Potato salad
• Macaroni salad
• Chips
• Fresh fruit
• Veggies and dip
• Dessert that doesn’t melt easily
• Ice, ice, and more ice

3. Don’t Forget The Decor

Fourth of July is just one of those holidays that wouldn’t be the same without some stylish decor. You can keep things simple with red, white, and blue bowls as well as some star-shaped plates or you can kick things up a notch with rope, table hangings, candles, flowers, and even confetti. (Confetti is even more fun when the party isn’t taking place in your home!) You can find these types of items cheap at your local dollar store, but to give the party more character, hit a vintage market or an antique shop for one-of-a-kind pieces that will add some serious flavor.

Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite red, white, and blue ensemble! After all, you and your guests are setting the scene here. (Bonus if you can manage to include stars and stripes.) Picking out elements of an outfit is a really fun activity for the kids.

4. Keep Them Entertained

Entertainment doesn’t have to be a live performance or anything, but you should come up with a few ways to help your guests pass the time in an enjoyable banner. Outdoor games like cornhole, croquet, and ladder toss are ideal for both kids and adults. They aren’t too expensive to purchase at the store, but if you prefer, you can certainly make them yourself and decorate them for the occasion.

Other family friendly options that get everyone into the competitive spirit could include things like a sack race, tug of war, and even a swimming challenge if you have a lake nearby to cool off in.

When worse comes to worse, sparklers are always a hit.

Get Ready To Rock This Fourth

As the heat sets in and everyone heads outdoors for the first real celebration of summer, we should keep in mind why we celebrate this important American holiday. On July 4, 1776 we officially declared independence from Great Britain and the world has never been the same. ON this day we celebrate the people who made this country great then and now and are thankful for the opportunity to call ourselves Americans.