Make Your 4th of July Unforgettable with These 10 Activities

Independence Day is right around the corner! If you’re not sure how to celebrate this year, don’t worry — we have a complete list of fun activities that are guaranteed to make this 4th of July the best one yet. From camping to barbecues to fireworks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

It wouldn’t be an American holiday without a backyard barbecue, would it? Invite some friends or neighbors over and start up the grill to enjoy an American classic: hot dogs and hamburgers. Don’t forget to grab a speaker to play some music and get grilling!

Take advantage of the holiday falling over a weekend this year, and plan a road trip to celebrate! Visit some places you’ve never been to and stop at some of America’s historic landmarks. What could be more fun than a road trip while learning more about American history? A few notable landmarks include the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall in Washington DC, Freedom Trail in Boston, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in New York City, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu (which may be a bit further than a road trip), just to name a few. For a complete list of America’s historic landmarks, click here.

Sleep under the stars, sit around the campfire, and make s’mores! If there isn’t a campsite near you, setting up camp in your own backyard is just as fun. As long as you have some fun music, good food, and a campfire set up to make food, you’ll have a great time. Just don’t forget the bug spray!

It wouldn’t be a holiday without enjoying some delicious food and tasty drinks, would it? Make a flag cake, a traditional apple pie, or a patriotic-themed cocktail if you're over 21. This refreshing watermelon sangria is perfect for the 4th of July. Cheers!

Get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful nature that America has to offer. Grab some friends, a cooler of snacks and refreshments, and head over to spend a day on the water. Rent some tubes or a boat if you’re looking for some extra fun on the lake.

Bring a pop of color into your Fourth of July by attending a firework show. A simple google search of your local area will help you find where your town is putting on a show in the sky! If that doesn’t yield any results, then this is the perfect excuse to buy a bunch of fireworks and put on a private show for your friends and family. You can find fireworks at most big shops. But you can also shop locally by stopping at an outdoor stand if there is one near you. Of course, follow instructions and be safe!

Here is our roundup of firework shows around the United States to give you an idea of how big some cities do it!

7. Throw a Themed Party - Everyone Dresses as a Historical Figure

An activity that will add extra fun to your Fourth of July party incorporates a historical theme. This will help your guest get into that extra patriotic spirit. A great suggestion for your theme is to have everyone dress up as historical figures. Imagine grilling hot dogs with Harriet Tubman and Benjamin Franklin! You can also test your knowledge of your county by playing American history games. Amazon has some American Trivia games available for ages 14 and up.

8. Shop 4th of July Sales

For some of us, shopping is a celebration within itself. That’s why we suggest taking advantage of all the sales available on the Fourth of July. Think ahead by making a list of what you may need in the coming year ahead. Buying matching Christmas Pjs for the family in July (on sale!) never hurt anybody!

Here are some favorites:

• Gap
• Home Depot
• Best Buy
• Old Navy

If you’re still hungry for more, Reader Digest breaks down 30+ Best 4th of July Sales You Won’t Want to Miss.

9. Learn Something New 

Learning something new about our country's history and reading stories about the past can be a great way to celebrate such a historical holiday. This Fourth of July make an activity out of learning by consciously searching up a part of history you’re not entirely familiar with. There is a lot of history that gets overlooked, so this can be a way to enlighten yourself and those around you about everything that happened for us to get to where we are now.

10. Get Active

Remember field day from elementary school? Of course, you do! And If you never had the chance to experience it, imagine all your friends gathered specially for the opportunity to compete and subsequently earn bragging rights. Made up of several physical and mental challenges - Winning field day requires both teamwork and performance.

For a successful field day, there are a couple of things you want to do in advance: 

1. Decide How to Measure the Competition - This includes how many members can be on one team, how many points to win, and the prize. 

2. Find the Right Challenge Level - the same as measuring the competition, this is going to depend on the age group and competitive level of your friends and family. This will help you decided which games to choose and how hard you will make winning them.

3. Keep the weather in mind - make sure to have a backup plan in the event of bad weather. This could be an indoor space that fits your group or overhead covering outside that will allow you to continue the event.

4. Plan your games and the order in advance - this is for the sake of keeping the stress of the host and the attendees down. There will be no guessing the day of,  and everyone will know what members to choose for challenges in advance. Here are 52 Field Day Game ideas on Pinterest.

Whether you decide to do some shopping or go all out and plan a family field day, these 10 activities will make your Fourth of July celebration unforgettable!