Top 12 Things to Do on the 4th of July

Celebrate Independence Day with these Fun Activities!

There are a ton of different ways to celebrate the 4th of July, but this year definitely isn’t the same as in past years. Instead, we have to be a bit more cautious with our celebrations. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun!

Keeping safety in mind, we’ve put together a list of fun things to do on the 4th of July and they’re all open to your very own creative twists.

1. Have a Small BBQ

You can never really go wrong with a 4th of July BBQ! As long as it’s not raining, that is. 😉

This year you could invite a handful of close friends and family for a small yet meaningful BBQ celebration. Be sure to make a 4th of July menu ahead of time to keep things simple! You could even ask guests to bring along a dish of their own for an even easier and more diverse menu!

To make things more interesting, set up some lawn games and other fun activities to do throughout the day.

2. Have a Family Picnic

If you usually do a BBQ and you want to try something new, have a picnic instead! You could keep this small with just your family for a nice, relaxing day.

To pass the time as a group, pack some fun outdoor games to bring along. Even just a frisbee, football, or croquet set is good! Oh, and don’t forget the picnic food!

3. Make a Flag Cake

Not only would this sweet American flag cake work perfectly for a BBQ, but it’s also just a lot of fun to make. You can have the littles help you out too in order to make it a real activity. They can help with the mixing, baking, and decorating.

This isn’t the only fun dessert idea you can try out either. Check out these other 4th of July desserts for more ideas. You could even have a little baking competition if you wanted!

4. Mix Up Some Patriotic Punch

Actually, this patriotic punch drink is kind of the opposite of mixing. You actually DON’T want it to mix together. With the right red, blue, and white drinks (sugar content is key for this) you can layer the colors to make a fun patriotic beverage.

Here’s a fun idea to make this a full activity: buy a handful of different red, white, and blue drinks, and see who can make the best cup of patriotic punch. You can figure out which drinks work the best for layering, and which give the best flavor.

5. Create 4th of July Crafts

Crafting is one of my favorite family activities. There are always laughs and learning involved! Plus, at the end, you get to hold something in your hand that you created from scratch.

So what can you make for the 4th? Well, there are plenty of patriotic craft ideas to choose from. Check out our list of 4th of July crafts for ideas. You could fill up an entire day with different craftivities!

6. Catch a Fireworks Show

Out of all the things to do on the 4th of July, seeing fireworks is definitely a yearly tradition for many.

If you want to celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks but you don’t have any of your own, look for a show near you. Here’s a list of some of the best firework shows in the US, along with information on how you can stream them from home!

For something fun (and also educational) with the kids, you can also try making these DIY pop rockets. Little ones can also play with these fun DIY sparkler wands which they’ll love.

Fun fact: If you Google “4th of July” animated fireworks will start popping up on the screen.

7. Take a Road Trip

If you want to do something away from home with the family, a good old staycation is always an option! You could even plan to see some of these American monuments in order to teach your kids a bit of history, and maybe even learn something new yourself!

Tip: To keep the kids entertained during the less exciting road trip parts, make sure to pack some fun road trip games for the ride. Also, if you’re planning on RVing, check out our DIY RV camping tips.

8. Play on a Water Blob

A water blob is the ultimate cool-down activity for kids. To make one of your own you just need some plastic sheeting, duct tape, scissors, and a hose!

The blob is super inexpensive to make, surprisingly durable, and it will keep the kids (and maybe even adults) entertained for hours. If that sounds good to you, learn how to make a water blob for some Fourth of July fun!

For more ways to cool down with water on the 4th of July, check out these backyard water games.

9. Go for a Bike Ride

One of the best ways to get active on the 4th of July this year is to take out the bikes and go for a ride with the family. This is always a blast and you could even dress up your bikes in red white and blue to spread the festivity throughout your neighborhood.

As a bonus, going for a nice long ride will hopefully tire the kids out enough to give you time to prepare dinner. 🙂

10. Play Some Family Games

We have a list of fun family games that aren’t necessarily Independence Day themed, but they sure are fun! Take your pick or bust out some board games that you already have at home and let the laughter begin!

If you’re not a big board game family, there are other alternatives too: puzzles, card games, or even video games! I know the Nintendo Switch has a ton of great party games.

11. Do a Backyard Campout

Another good way to keep things small and simple on Independence Day is to set up a backyard campout! Get the tent out, take enough supplies outside to last the night, and set up a campfire if you can!

Speaking of campfires, if you have a fire pit in your backyard, why not roast some s’mores too! That will really put you in the camping spirit. Even better, try these campfire eclairs – they take a bit more prep work but they’re SO good.

12. Watch a Patriotic Movie

If I had to pick one way to wind down and end Independence Day, a patriotic movie seems like the best choice. Especially after a full day of exciting 4th of July activities like the ones above!

Check out this list for patriotic movie ideas. You can also try CuriosityStream if you’re into documentaries!

Oh, and don’t forget the popcorn! Try our classic Killian corn recipe, healthy caramel popcorn, or this delicious cookies and cream popcorn!

Happy Independence Day!

Remember, these ideas are just that: ideas! Be sure to add your own creativity to them and use them as inspiration to make your 4th of July celebrations as special as possible.

What are your 4th of July plans looking like? Are you going to try any of the activities above? Let us know!