28 Fun 4th of July Activities You Can Do at Home
Gather the family for these patriotic ideas.
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The 4th of July is officially here, and if you haven't made plans, we get it. It's hot, and, with the holiday falling on the weekend, crowds will be bigger than ever. If you'd rather stay home with the family than fight traffic or risk getting caught in the rain, we've got you covered with fun 4th of July activities the whole family can enjoy at home. And don't worry—there's still time to pull these off.
You can invite over some likeminded friends for a low-key 4th of July cookout, DIY some patriotic decorations, or even watch a 4th of July movie. But staying home doesn't have to mean boring. Try some fun 4th of July games, such as a water balloon toss or watermelon bowling. So there’s no need to feel beholden to the same old same this year! Plan a long holiday weekend filled with new (to you) old-fashioned 4th of July celebration ideas that the whole gang is guaranteed to love. Let the festivities begin!
Make Flags Out of Fabric Scraps
You may not have time to run to the crafts store, but if you have fabric scraps (or even old shirts) and skewers, you can make these fun flags.
To make: Cut a 4-by-3-inch rectangle from a red-based fabric. Cut a smaller square of blue-based fabric. Glue the blue square to one corner of red fabric with craft glue. Glue the rectangle to a wooden skewer or small dowel with a few dabs of hot glue.
Curate a Patriotic Playlist
Set the mood from the moment you wake up by queuing up a batch of patriotic songs. (P.S. For a little more twang, try our list of the most patriotic country songs.)
Plan Patriotic Outfits
Staying home doesn't mean you can't look cute! Whether you choose breezy summer sundresses or shorts-and-shirts combos in pops of red, white, and blue, it always adds extra fun to the holiday when the whole gang dresses in theme. Post a pic of the group on Instagram with a patriotic caption.
Win a Water Balloon Toss
To throw, cup your balloon and toss underhanded. As you and your partner space further apart, increase the height of the balloon's arc and aim for it to peak halfway along its journey. To catch, position yourself directly underneath the balloon in an athletic stance and use two hands or the crooks of your elbows to cradle the balloon into your lap with a soft swoop.
Try Square Dancing
This classic American dance form is just as fun in the backyard as it is at a town hall.
Savor Summer Tomatoes
America's most popular summer produce can be the star of your 4th of July cookout with one of these wonderful tomato recipes.
Make Your Own Ice Cream
Always wanted to make your own ice cream? Now's the time! And lucky for you, we've got easy ice cream recipes in every flavor.
Plan a Game Night
After the burgers have been eaten and the fireworks display is done, settle in for the evening with a fun game the whole family can play. (Rummy, anyone?)
Hang a Flag
And teach the kids about American flag etiquette in the process, including the proper way to fold it when you take it down.
Watermelon Bowling
Make the quintessential summer fruit part of your 4th of the July festivities with a friendly backyard game of watermelon bowling. (We recommend these refreshing watermelon recipes too!)
RELATED: 37 DIY Outdoor Games for Family Fun
Cut Flowers for the Table
Head out to the garden in the morning when it's cool and snip blooms for your 4th of July table. Bonus points if you have blue hydrangeas to complement a patriotic color scheme!
Make a Water Park at Home
Break out the sprinklers and the garden hose to create a water park in your very own backyard. You can also create a simple obstacle course, which will keep kids entertained (and cool!) for hours.
Go Camping in Your Backyard
Can't make it to a real campsite this year? Try a little backyard tent camping instead. Once your cookout's died down, watch fireworks from the comfort of sleeping bags and cap off the night with some (not super scary) ghost stories before sleeping under the stars.
Watch a Patriotic Movie Outside
Weather permitting, set up an outdoor movie theater and cozy seating on your lawn, then sit back and relax with some of the best 4th of July flicks. Of course, if it rains, you can easily move the festivities, popcorn and all, into the family room.
Create a Care Package for Our Service Men and Women
Set aside time during Independence Day weekend to create a care package to send to members of the military. UPS offers free kits and you can see a list of things to include via organizations like Soldier's Angels.
Plan a Soda Float Social
Country Living contributor Lauren Akins helped dream up this genius summer idea, which is perfect for fending off the July heat and keeping your crew refreshed. Channel the 4th of July from decades past with glass soda bottles and a vintage-inspired bar cart.
Take a Family Bike Ride
Your family can have your very own parade by decorating your bikes with flags, streamers, and ribbons, and setting off together for a few casual laps around the block. The ride will help everyone work up an appetite before the celebratory barbecue.
Make an Unforgettable Dinner
It's America's birthday, which calls for a special meal to celebrate. Whip up an incredible multi-course dinner for your family that both kids and adults will enjoy.
Host a Sing-Along
Break out kid-friendly musical instruments like kazoos and tambourines and host a family sing-along of 4th of July tunes like "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful" around the campfire.
Play Patriotic Games
Spark some fun family competition with Independence Day-inspired games, like stars-and-stripes tic-tac-toe or a red, white, and blue-themed water balloon toss. Should the weather not pan out, you can also keep kids entertained inside with a round of Go Fish—from a patriotic card deck, of course.
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