4th of July is one of my favorite holidays, right up there with Christmas. All of the red, white & blue, cooking on the smoker, cute outfits, fun drinks, and good ol’ american fun. We bring out the speakers, play corn hole, swim in the lake, play with sparklers, and celebrate our freedom!

One of my favorite things to do is plan the menu, decorations, outfit, and all the little details. So, I wanted to share all of the planning that has taken place for this year’s celebration! Below is our 4th of July menu, outfit details, and decor to inspire your Independence Day celebration!

MENU

Every year we whip out the smoker for the 4th of July. It is one of our favorite cooking appliances, but especially in the summer months! This is also a perfect way to feed a crowd, which we always have on the fourth. Below is the full 4th of July menu we will be serving this year…

• Smoked Pork Butt with this rub – Sweet and Smokey Rib Rub Recipe
• Coleslaw – I do a creamy/tangy base, recipe coming soon!
• Fruit Pizza – every year I make this into a flag. Blueberries for the stars, and strawberries and raspberries for the stripes
• Corn on the cob – cut these up into 1/3 or 1/2 size and they’re perfect!
• Baked beans – make your favorite kind, or from the can is fine
• Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream – perfect for a crowd, or strawberry shortcake if you have a smaller gathering
• Pitcher Drink – something red or blue! Pomegranate margarita, cranberry and vodka drink, sangria…keep it simple!

OUTFIT

There are so many cute outfits with stars and stripes, and if you aren’t into that, a dress or classic blue jeans and a white top with some jewelry is a good go to. I found my new favorite top from my sister, at a boutique in Charlotte, and it is perfect for the fourth! Here’s what I’m wearing…

DECOR

One of the stars of the show. I don’t go all out with balloons and signs, I think subtle touches speak more. Keep it simple, but thoughtful. Even if you’re not doing a formal dinner, you can still add details to your island, buffet, or bar cart! My family is doing it buffet style at our island, and this is the decor I’ll be adding to our party! (more red, white & blue hosting essentials here).

Florals – Hydrangeas are my absolute favorite for any occasion, but especially for summer. Blue is perfect if you can find them, otherwise white works just fine too! Throw them into a simple vase (I love a rattan one) and place it in the center of your table/island/bar cart for an extra touch.

Tableware – We usually do paper plates for the Fourth since we usually have a good amount of people, and it makes for easy clean up. I have linked below some of my favorite aesthetic tableware picks for this holiday.

GAMES

We LOVE to add games to our 4th of July celebration. Cornhole is one of our favorites, and the bags just so happen to be red and blue! This year we have a little blow up pool for the toddlers, and we’re excited about that. Water activities are usually a hit in the heat of July! Slip n’ slide (especially for the adults) is also a good one. For cards – Euchre (for my midwesterners), Phase 10, and Code Names are some of our favorites.

These details make for an awesome Fourth of July party. I hope you have the best day celebrating our independence with friends and family!