50 Fun 4th of July Party Games and Activities

It's the summer holiday that everyone looks forward to! The 4th of July is usually filled with food, fun and fireworks. The celebration can often last most of the day and into the evening and that can be a lot if you're the one entertaining. This list should help give you some patriotic ideas to keep everyone happy.

For the Kids

1. Flag Hunt - Similar to an Easter egg hunt, hide miniature paper flags, and the person who collects the most wins a prize.
2. Uncle Sam Hat Competition - Keep the kids busy making fun hats! Set up a table with construction paper, stickers and other red, white and blue craft supplies (you can precut hat shapes to decorate for little ones).
3. Statue of Liberty Torch Competition - Similar to Uncle Sam's hat, have kids create their own version of Lady Liberty's famous torch.
4. Pin the Hat on Uncle Sam - A patriotic version of pin the tail on the donkey.
5. Cookie Decorating - Make cookies ahead of time in the shape of the Liberty Bell. Then set a table aside with sprinkles, candies, frosting and more so that kids can get creative decorating their cookies.
6. Face Painting - See who gets the most creative and make sure to offer a prize to the winner.
7. Make Red White and Blue Tie-dyed T-shirts - Ask party attendees to bring white t-shirts. You provide the dye, the water and the buckets. Don't forget the rubber bands to help create the design.
8. Popsicle Stick Flags - Set up a mini crafting station so kids can wander over whenever they want. Make sure to have enough popsicle sticks on hand, as well as glue, red and blue markers and some fun things to help make them sparkle.
9. Chalk Drawings - Give kids chalk and plenty of space to draw. Ask them to create pictures of their favorite 4^th of July traditions.
10. Word Challenge - How many words can you make from "Happy Independence Day"? The winner is the one with the most words found within the phrase.
11. Bubble Blowing - Look for the biggest or most interesting formations to help decide a winner.

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For the Whole Family

12. Red White and Blue Balloon Pop - Use them as decorations and as a fun game to pop balloons towards the end of the festivities. Before blowing the balloons up, place a piece of paper inside saying "you won" and then offer those guests a prize.
13. Patriotic Costume Contest - Encourage people to get creative with their red, white and blue attire or ask them to go all in and dress up as key American figures like the Statue of Liberty, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Hamilton.
14. Screen an Outdoor Movie - Try a classic patriotic flick like Yankee Doodle Dandy, Independence Day or Top Gun.
15. Limbo - Cover the stick in red, white and blue streamers to turn this favorite party game into a patriotic one and play music that fits the theme as well.
16. 4th of July Bingo - Design your own card with all-American items that are placed around your gathering. Participants can mark them as they find them and ultimately win BINGO.
17. American History Trivia Competition - Come up with a list of questions that most guests should know (throw in a few tougher ones to make sure you have a winner at the end).
18. Patriotic Scavenger Hunt - Send guests on a hunt for hidden patriotic treasures. (You can up the ante by including an activity with every find (ex. does three jumping jacks, etc.).
19. 4th of July Fishbowl - Fill a glass bowl with red, white and blue candy and ask people to guess how many are inside. The winner takes the candy as a prize.
20. Baseball (Softball) Game - America's favorite past time can be the perfect way to pass the time.
21. Capture the Flag - One team must capture the other players and run the opposing team's flag back into their territory. Try using patriotic bandanas as flags!

22. Patriotic Pictionary or Charades - Before the party, come up with a list of tv shows, movies, famous people and places that are patriotic.
23. Slip and Slide - Always fun on a hot summer day, for both kids and adults.
24. Photo Contest - Give each contestant a list of things to take pictures with using their cell phone (such as a hot dog or your favorite dessert). The first team back with pictures of all the items wins!
25. Golf Cart and Bike Decorating - Encourage the kids and adults to decorate their bikes and golf carts using the red, white and blue theme. Hold a mini-parade to show off the creations!
26. Concentration - Have participants search for and list things that are red, white and blue (yes, the sky, the lake and the ocean count).
27. Watermelon Eating Contest - Challenge everyone to a watermelon eating contest and award the winner with a prize!
28. Hot Dog Topping Contest - See who likes the craziest combination of hot dog toppings from sauerkraut and bacon bits to nacho cheese and even chocolate syrup. The winner gets an extra hot dog or special dessert!
29. Jump Rope Contest - Remember how much fun jump rope is? Host a competition for adults and kids.
30. Badminton - Set up a Badminton net and play ball after reviewing the rules. Volleyball may work just as well for a lawn game.
31. Twister - This classic game still brings the awkward poses and lots of laughs for everyone involved.
32. TikTok - Have groups at the party come up with an original dance and post it on TikTok, the popular social media network. The most creative video wins a prize.

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Relay Races for the Family

33. Water Balloon Toss - A fun way to cool off, this can be an activity on its own or part of a series of relay races that the whole party can be a part of.
34. Bean Bag Toss - See who has the best aim by throwing bean bags at targets like buckets, coolers or cornhole.
35. Team Relay Race - Each person on the team takes a different leg on the ground or in the pool (it can be a simple race or include an activity).
36. Tug of War - Make sure to mix the teams up with an equal number of kids and adults.
37. Hula Hoop Contest - See who has the moves! Race in a Hula Hoop relay and make sure to pump up the music.
38. Three-Legged Race - Two people with their middle legs tied together must race down the field and back.
39. Potato Sack Race - Each participant must hop in the sack and then hop down the field and back.
40. Egg on a Spoon - Participants must balance an egg on a spoon down the field and back.
41. Over and Under - Alternate passing the ball over your head or under and through your legs.
42. Fruit Under the Chin - This old school game should inspire some good laughs. Each contestant places a piece of fruit under their chin and has to pass the fruit to the next person in line without using their hands.
43. Crazy Baseball Bat Race - Each contestant runs down to where a baseball bat is stationed. They must place their head on the bat and spin around a few times. Most people will be a bit dizzy and struggle to run back in a straight line.

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Fun with Food (And Other Entertainment Ideas)

44. Patriotic Beverage - Make a signature red, white and blue "cocktail" using cranberry juice, blue Gatorade and Sprite.
45. Flag Cake - Build a cake topped with strawberries, blueberries and white frosting.
46. Pinata - Fill a patriotic pinata with red, white and blue treats.
47. Embrace Photography - Create your own holiday-themed photo backdrop where everyone can pose and take pictures to document the day. Use balloons and fun July 4th themed props to make it as entertaining as possible.
48. Streamer Décor - Use red, white and blue streamers to easily decorate the indoor and outdoor spaces and red, white and blue paper products for colorful, easy cleanup dishes.
49. Decorate the Table - Create colorful themed centerpieces using red, white and blue flowers in brightly colored flowerpots.
50. Make a Soundtrack - Create a mix of Americana songs. Combine old school classics with modern favorites to make sure you have the perfect soundtrack for your soiree.

All you need is some red, white and blue and a little inspiration to make your 4th of July festive. Don't forget the apple pie!

Michelle Boudin is an investigative reporter for WCNC TV and a freelance writer.

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