Fourth of July gatherings have always had a special place in my heart—the smells of the barbecues and sunscreen; the sights of folks in their red, white and blue attire; and the sounds of the crashing beach waves or the splashes of the swimming pool all add up to my favorite summer memories. Growing up, we’d alternate between wildly festive block parties at my aunt’s house and holidays spent at a little green cottage on the beach in Southern California.
For the last ten years or so, my Fourth of Julys have been celebrated in the big cities of San Francisco and Portland. But this year I’m back in the land of pool parties, beaches, and backyard barbecues. And I’m breaking out all my favorite Fourth of July party theme ideas to throw the best, most memorable gathering I can. The only question is, which theme should I choose?
From a Cape Cod-style beach bash to a Sandlot-inspired backyard barbecue, or a classic Fourth of July pool party, here are three hot summer kickoff party theme ideas that will help you throw a fantastic gathering, wherever you are.
Cape Cod-Style Fourth of July Party Theme Idea
To me, Cape Cod-style soirées seem to scream summertime. There’s the seafood bakes spread out on big picnic tables covered with newspaper, the games held on the sand often under the stars, and the simple yet elegant decor. There’s a certain fanciful casualness to them that I just love.
If you’re celebrating the Fourth of July near the beach this year, here’s everything you’ll need to throw a Cape Cod style party. And, luckily, if you aren’t hosting your party near the sand and sea, many of these ideas can easily be transferred to a lake, a park—or even your own backyard.
The Party Food: A Seafood Bake or Boil
Make a statement with a seafood bake or boil complete with lots of corn on the cob, big loaves of rustic bread, crab cake bites as an appetizer and, of course, bowls of butter and big coolers full of cold beverages. If you’re looking for a recipe for the crab bites, here’s one of my tried and trues:
For the Crab Mixture
- 6 oz crabmeat
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
For the Bisquick Mixture
- 1/2 cup Bisquick
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 eggs
For the Aioli Mixture
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
The Baking Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 375° F and prepare 12 muffin cups, oiled or sprayed.
- In a bowl, mix the crabmeat and paprika. Sauté the onion and bell peppers in olive oil and add the crab mixture. Stir until it’s heated through and let cool before adding the cheese.
- In another bowl, blend the whole milk, Bisquick, and eggs until blended.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of the Bisquick mixture into each muffin cup and top with the crab mixture. Then, add another tablespoon of the Bisquick mixture to the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove from pan and let cool.
- Mix the mayo, paprika, and lemon juice to create your aioli and serve each crab cake with a dollop on top. Enjoy!
The Party Games: Beach Bonanza Fun
Beach games are a wonderful activity for all ages, from kids to adults, especially on the Fourth of July when beach days tend to be an all-day activity. If anyone gets tired of swimming and frolicking in the sea, here are some playful ideas for games:
- A bean bag toss
- A mega game of sand Scrabble
- Three-legged races
- Classic Horseshoes
- A bottle ring toss
The Party Decor: Nautical and Bright
With a Cape Cod-style party, simple decor is the way to go. Set bowls of beautiful cherries out on the tables, vases of yellow sunflowers, and an arrangement of sand dollars for your guests to take home as gifts. Pull together the nautical and the patriotic theme with red, white, and blue anchors as your fabric print of choice.
The Sandlot-Inspired Fourth of July Party Theme Idea
My brother and I used to watch The Sandlot every Fourth of July. To me, there’s nothing more All-American than our beloved baseball movie complete with Fourth of July fair scenes, block parties, and all things Babe Ruth. You can easily transform your backyard barbecue by giving it this theme through fun Baseball game day food, Sandlot bingo, and a photo booth.
The Party Food: Classic BBQ
For the food, set up a concessions stand with a hot dog bar and all the fixings—and big pitchers of homemade lemonade. Of course, no Sandlot party would be complete without s’mores for dessert. To put a spin on this classic, offer unique variations, like strawberry banana s’mores or caramel s’mores made with cinnamon graham crackers.
The Party Games: Movie Bingo Fun
Here’s the most important part of this party: the movie itself. Set up a projector screen in the backyard to stream the movie and encourage guests to bring blankets and pillows to lounge under the stars. From there, let The Sandlot bingo ensue. Create simple Sandlot bingo cards filled with objects from the movie (like a ferris wheel, a baseball, a home plate). As people get a bingo, they receive party favors. Here are some ideas on what to hand out:
- Baseball cookies
- Babe Ruth candy bars
- Baseball caps or mitts
- DVDs of The Sandlot
- Tickets to a baseball game
- Cotton candy
The Party Decor: Photo Booth Silliness
For the decor, keep it festive and baseball-inspired with baskets of Big League Chew bubblegum and Cracker Jacks which can then be taken home by guests at the end of the event. Set up a Sandlot-inspired photo booth with cutouts of the stars’ faces on popsicle sticks and props like baseball bats and conversation bubbles with quotes from the movie. “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!”
Classic Fourth of July Pool Party Theme Ideas
Sometimes, a Fourth of July party with the classics—pasta salad, a pool, and beach ball bowling—cannot be topped. When I was growing up, it seemed that the few friends who were lucky enough to have a pool were also those who ended up hosting most of the summer parties. Or, we’d set up a mini pool in the backyard, which proved to be just as fun. Whatever form of pool you’re celebrating by this Fourth of July, read on for some red, white, and blue inspiration.
The Party Food: Summer Grilling
Summer party foods like grilled kebabs and pasta or potato salads are perfect for the quintessential outdoor pool party. To bring a bit of unique flare to the gathering, set up a snow cone bar with a variety of syrup flavors, making sure to include red and blue. And, if you want to make things extra fun, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the bottom of the snow cones for the full festive feel.
The Party Games: Beach Bowling, Baby
For a fun party idea, try setting up a game of beach ball bowling using empty metal soda cans (Pepsi and Coke to go with the red and blue 4th of July theme work well) and white noodle tubes as the bumpers. This can be set up on the lawn or somewhere in the backyard where you have a good amount of space for guests to move around.
The Party Decor: Classically Patriotic
Growing up, my mom used to decorate year after year with simple mini American flags (and a flag cake to match) because sometimes, when it comes to patriotic party ideas and all things Fourth of July, you really can’t beat the classics. Go with simple red, white, and blue decor to give your pool party that timeless feel. Here are some decoration ideas:
- Paper chains
- Balloons
- Twinkle lights
- Flag banners
- Paper lanterns
- Bandanas
- Bowls of holiday M&Ms
- Spray painted tin cans
- Outdoor candles
- Flowers
- Paper star cut outs
Regardless of how I’m celebrating, what the Fourth of July always symbolizes to me is good food and games enjoyed with family and friends in a festive atmosphere. From a Cape Cod-inspired beach party to a Sandlot soiree or a classic, All-American pool party, I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration to go forth and create a memorable and unique gathering that’s all your own. And as the sun sets, celebrate with fireworks as they light up the sky—and perhaps a slice of the most divine red, white, and blue cake you can find.
From all of us at Elfster, happy Fourth of July!
For more summertime inspiration, check out our Summer Fun Gift Guide. Or, connect with Elfster on our Facebook page, on Twitter @Elfster, or Instagram @Elfstergram.
