The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. We are usually at the beach, whether it be Outer Banks or Oak Island, with a big group of family and friends. We have made years of memories of spending time together over this holiday and it has always been a magical one with the fireworks and festivities but also knowing it will be a great time altogether.
Every year we do something different but most of the time it involves a lot of great and fresh food, and I do mean fresh! You can always count on the fact that we will line a long table with newspapers or cardboard paper and lay out a whole spread of crab, shrimp, corn, and more for a low country boil. But that’s not all.
Here are some of the best hacks I found for pulling off the ultimate 4th of July party. Don’t feel like you need to incorporate all of them! Even just adding 1 or 2 will add a fun and festive touch to the holiday weekend!
Hack #1: Color-Coordinated
To create a festive spread, play into the red-white-and-blue color scheme, whether it be food in the spread or decorations around the house. Over the 4th of July in the Outer Banks, there is a golf cart parade in Pirates Cove to kick off the festivities, and let me tell you they do not disappoint. Bringing in some of those colors makes everything flow together.
Hack #2: It’s All In The Details
I’m always a sucker for the details at any event I attend and tend to look like a kid in a candy shop taking everything in. So of course I tend to go over the top with my own details. I always like to include some cute, festive details wherever I can. Try using mini cookie cutters to spell out words in watermelon or cheese. You can also use the star cutters for cheese and sprinkle them throughout your spread. We always like to have everyone involved with the spread, whether it be making the food or eating it. It makes it more fun!
Hack #3: Sparklers, But Sweet
We made some fruit sparklers out of watermelon stars and blueberries for some healthy snack options. They look so cute on their own but you can also add them to any red-white-and-blue drink for an added festive touch.
Hack #4: Let The Festivities Flow
Whether kid-friendly or adult beverages, drinks are a great excuse to go big for the holiday. We set up designated drink tables or bar carts or even coolers, where everyone can assemble their own drinks. Everyone is different, but have fun playing with the holiday theme.
Hack #5: Don’t Skimp On The Sweets
Who loves candy? I LOVE candy! We have a lot of foodies and chefs in our group so we usually have some fun. You can create a full candy spread filled with a variety of red, white, and blue candies or even incorporate my favorite s’mores bar. You can put together your own brand of a candy charcuterie board and for the s’mores bar do a mix of different chocolates – milk chocolate, cookie and cream, Reese’s, and more. The dessert boards are a cute addition and super popular!
Let me know if y’all have any hacks or hosting tips you love for the 4th of July! As always, thank y’all for stopping by and reading. I will see y’all back here next time.
