Throwing together a family friendly, patriotic Fourth of July party can be simple. From grilling outside to spending time with family and friends, celebrating America’s independence is one of the most fun ways to kick off summer. So, I rounded up the top 10 essential 4th of July party supplies! This list will help you have the ultimate Fourth of July party. 

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies

Kick off your celebration with deliciously grilled all-American food. Grilling outside brings enjoyment to any party. My local Lowe’s home improvement store donated the Weber Spirit E-310 gas grill for me to try out with my family of four before the 4th of July. This $500 grill is a splurge that is well worth it. With cast iron grates, a warming rack and a fixed side shelf, the grill has all the amenities. Making a scrumptious Fourth of July meal is simple to do on such a high quality grill. The three stainless steel main burners give you plenty of space to cook family size meals.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

My family and I tested the grill with an early Fourth of July party featuring classic hamburgers and sweet potato fries. We had a blast spending our Sunday outside enjoying the weather, while the food cooked. We were super excited to own the best grill! It cooked the most appetizing hamburgers that left our mouths watering for more. My husband enjoyed manning the grill while I watched the kids. This day was a wonderful reminder of why celebrating the holidays together means so much.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

The burgers were so delectable and savory! I loved the charred exterior and the juicy meat inside. This was the perfectly cooked burger. With fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and American cheese, the burger was a crowd pleaser. Even my picky kids ate everything on their plates. Thanks to an awesome grill and an incredible cook, our pre-Fourth of July celebration was a success.10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

For the ultimate Fourth of July party, offer guests a variety of food. Summertime in Maryland means one thing, crabs! Maryland crab cakes are a classic regional cuisine that families love to come together to enjoy. All year, I wait in anticipation of a delectable jumbo lump crab cake in the summer. I was overjoyed that FoodyDirect sent me four delicious jumbo lump crab cakes that came from a restaurant called The Narrows of Grasonville, Maryland.

These award winning crab cakes are known nationally and having tried them myself, I can see why they consistently receive such positive feedback. When critiquing a crab cake, Marylanders look for quality jumbo lumps of crab and barely any filler. This crab cake was spot on in its texture and consistency. 

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

When the crab cakes arrived, I knew this amount of food called for a family get together! The crab cakes came already pre-formed so it was simple to throw them in the oven and enjoy each other’s company. This would be perfect for the Fourth of July because when you’re grilling outside, the crab cakes would be simple to bake inside your home. All we had to do was sprinkle the top with some Old Bay seasoning for additional flavor. While the crab cakes were delicate and flavorful, there were plenty for everyone to enjoy.
10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Music brings life to any party. Create a fun ambiance by streaming a festive music channel for your crowd to enjoy. The JBL Pulse 2 speaker I tried out let me stream music from my phone to the Bluetooth-powered device in my outdoor party location. It was convenient to be able to manage the music from my phone, which I would always keep nearby at a party. Since I live in a neighborhood, I liked that the music could play at a mellow volume level so I wouldn’t disturb the neighbors. You could also turn the music up louder, but I liked that the sound was perfect for a close together among friends.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Another cool feature of this speaker was that it changes colors. The fun coloring brought a party to my house any time I turned it on to play music. My kids got a huge kick out of watching it. They loved waiting to see when it would turn their favorite color. You might not see the color much outside during the day, but check out how vibrant the coloring was inside in daylight. 10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Blankets can make children at your party more comfortable and can be used for seating as well as warmth. With the Aden & Anais red Classic Daydream Blanket, you get festive colors and decoration as well as a practical comfort for kids and families to enjoy. My children loved laying on this blanket when we grilled outside. The fabric was so cozy. This would be perfect for staying up late to watch the fireworks. At a party, when children get tired and irritable, they would love to curl up in such a soft blanket.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Festive flower bouquets are another Fourth of July decoration idea. Some flowers that fit with red, white and blue would be red roses, white lilies, and blue statice. The America the Beautiful bouquet from Teleflora has all of these and more. To add a nice touch, it comes in a gorgeous cobalt blue glass cube. I received this bouquet to try in my home, and I loved the pretty colors. The flag added a festive element that made my room look ready for a Fourth of July Party. 

As with all the Teleflora bouquets I’ve received in the past, I was very happy with the quality of the blooms when they arrived. I liked that the colors were vibrant upon arrival. The blooms lasted for at least a week before they started to wilt. With the flag and the vase being reusable, I will hold on to those items for my next Fourth of July party.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.comDress for the occasion. The Flag Shirt offers Fourth of July apparel for the entire family. The company dressed my entire family for our pre-Fourth of July party! My American tank fit great and was super comfortable. I layered it with a white tank top underneath, and it looked really nice! I loved how pretty the faded colors were. It had a distressed style with a pre-broken in, vintage feel.

For my husband, I chose the USA Flag Under Armour Performance T-shirt. The style was athletic and casual, which I thought was ideal for a relaxed family get together. I liked that the shirt would still work well for other occasions. Ryan is planning to work out in the shirt and wear it in the future since it doesn’t look overly festive. The fit was perfect for him to grill and play catch with the girls comfortably.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.comMy daughters loved the dresses that I picked out for them. I selected matching American Flag dresses. The vibrant colors were very appealing. I loved how lively the bright clothing looked in my photos. Since the dresses had such dynamic coloring, the girls looked even more enthusiastic in their pictures.10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

The dresses fit nicely and allowed plenty of room for movement. Both girls loved getting dressed up for the occasion. They enjoyed the experience of matching each other too. As a side note, I also received the kids’ American flag socks. Because the weather was so sunny, it was unnecessary to wear socks, but socks could be useful if you’re staying out late and it gets chilly.10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Parties don’t last without plenty of food options! Let’s check out a few more food ideas. These will help you extend your party into the evening. As long as you supply food, guests will enthusiastically stay at your party.

Flavorful, red white and blue tamales from Tucson Tamale look festive and have a spectacular taste. The red tamale is a smoky barbequed pork that has a rich flavor throughout each bite. For a gentler taste, the white tamale is made with green chile chicken. While the blue tamale is a vegetarian option, its mixture of squash, tomato, onion, green chile and cheese left me wanting more. 

Sharing a meal with my family, I sampled a three-pack of these tamales on two different occasions. The tamales were simple to toss in my steamer for 20 minutes. I loved that there was little prep work involved. These would be very easy to serve at a party and would allow you to mingle with your guests instead of managing the kitchen. The last day to purchase these for them to arrive for the Fourth of July is June 29th, so you can still get these in time!

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Because each American family is unique, the Fourth of July is a wonderful time to celebrate your family’s traditions. Growing up in my family, it was rare to have a family gathering without a big helping of tasty pasta and meatballs. I loved integrating my family’s heritage into our get togethers. You can serve food that isn’t traditionally all-American, especially if your guests enjoy international food.

For a delectable Spanish twist on your Fourth of July menu, make paella. This rice, seafood, and meat dish is traditionally served at family gatherings. La Tienda sent me the Mini Paella Kit Gift Box so I could learn more about how this meal would be prepared. Saffron is used to give the rice a delicious flavor and beautiful golden color. A smoky sweet paprika adds additional flavor. When the meal is finished, you get an amazing mixture of delicious ingredients. To make this meal for your party, buy a huge paella pan to fit all the ingredients.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Photo Credit: La Tienda

Another food I tried out for this article was a box of Belgian Liege waffles from Waffatopia. The box I received was called the Summer BBQ pack. I loved the sweet flavor so much I couldn’t bare to pair it with something savory. The Chocolate Stuffed Waffles were almost indescribably good. There were large, sweet chunks of chocolate hidden inside the waffle. I was pleasantly shocked when I ate these. The chocolate was barely noticeable until you bite in and get a tasty mouthful mixed in with the cinnamon and vanilla waffle dough. I topped the chocolate stuffed waffles off with ice cream, and the result was heavenly.

When I ate the Cinnamon and Vanilla Waffles, I made them for breakfast. Some pure maple syrup and a hint of butter highlighted the simple, elegant flavor. With an apricot on the side, the waffles made my entire family happy.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

When the waffles arrived, they came in individually wrapped packages. It was easy to toss them in the toaster for a quick meal. I kept them refrigerated until I was ready to cook them. The flavor was amazing. Tasting these waffles really showed me why splurging on specialty waffles makes sense.

You can get free shipping from Waffatopia through July 4th with the promo code THERESA at checkout. Order by June 28th to receive before the holiday weekend!

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

After the festivities, messes all over your white clothes can put a damper on your night. Stock up on stain removal so you don’t have to worry about the newly purchased Fourth of July clothes being ruined. Simply knowing that you have a product that can combat stains can make your evening stress-free.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

All laundry detergent sent me their Fresh Clean ESSENTIALS detergent. I absolutely ended up needing this in the house! I was really glad that the detergent was so effective. When I washed my clothes, the stains came out easily.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

Check out how messy these girls got during our pre-Fourth of July party. They had a simple idea to do some chalk drawing on the sidewalk that turned out to be more complicated than I had imagined. When colorful chalk got all over their cute new dresses, I wasn’t sure that I could get the stains out. Samantha was pretty good about only getting the chalk on her pants.

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

My energetic younger daughter got chalk all over herself. The girls also got chalk and dirt all over my new, pretty Aden & Anais blanket. I was really relieved that when I washed the clothes and the blanket, the chalk and dirt came out easily. With two active girls, I need a heavy duty laundry detergent, and All Fresh Clean ESSENTIALS detergent worked great for me!

10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies - Theresa's Reviews - Featuring @lowes, @FoodyDirect, @jblaudio, @adenandanais, @teleflora, @theflagshirt, @tucsontamaleco, @latienda, @waffatopia, and All Laundry Detergent - Found on www.theresasreviews.com

So there you have it, 10 awesome essentials that will help you have the best Fourth of July party. Your party will stand out from everyone else’s with these fun ideas. Our pre-Fourth of July party was a huge success, and I hope your party goes well too!

What would your ideal Fourth of July party be like? Share in the comments!

For more party tips, follow Theresa’s Reviews on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Flipboard and Youtube.

Disclosure

I received a free item, but it in no way influenced my opinion!

About The Author

Owner And Editor
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Theresa has been writing since 2010 in magazines and online. Her lifestyle and parenting expertise has been featured in publications, including ShopSmart and Scholastic. She earned an M.Ed in Elementary Education from Vanderbilt as well as a BA in History from Flagler College, and she is a certified teacher.

110 Responses

  1. Alexis

    Great things to keep in mind for the 4th & every day! 🙂 Love the dresses for the girls…

    Reply
  2. Angela

    aww love their little dresses!!
    This is my first fourth of July! And you really make me wish I had a BBQ

    Reply
  3. Gwen

    WOW! I am suddenly starving! These look amazing but I am going to have to try the crab cakes for sure and my son would adore those waffles! The blanket is also so lovely! I want that too! Thank you for sharing! I’m all excited for the fourth now!

    Reply
  5. Louisa

    Now this makes me wish I had a grill but I thank God for friends that do. The speaker looks like a fancy little gadget to have for all celebrations. I’m looking forward to the 4th!

    Reply
  6. Alexandria

    The tamales look delicious! I am currently building an outdoor space for my husband and to entertain. I was looking into getting speakers for outside. What are your opinions on the JBL Pulse?

    Reply
    • theresa

      JBL is a high quality speaker brand. I really trust their product! However, I would look into more of a surround system? This one is great because it is portable, but it might not give you the loud sound for a full party on a regular basis. It’s more casual and good for small get togethers.

      Reply
  8. Shann

    Your girls are adorable! I love those dresses! My husband would love that grill, and looks like you’ve had some really great food. That paella kit looks awesome.

    Reply
  10. Kimberly

    So much yummy food. I love family get togethers, and I could easily see these items becoming a star at a get together. Also, the shirts are awesome, and I have to say, your kids are precious. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • theresa

      Yes, he would! Mine surprised me by grilling mid-week when I got home late… Such a wonderful treat!

      Reply
  13. GiGi

    THIS YEAR I will be on the golf course with the fiance – and two friends… Wonder if the GRILL with happen this year 😉 We shall see!

    Reply
    • theresa

      That sounds like a lot of fun! I don’t go golfing, but that sounds like the perfect group to golf with on the 4th!

      Reply
    • theresa

      Yes, the crab cakes are incredible! I want to drive out to the restaurant The Narrows and try them in person!

      Reply
    • theresa

      Yes, I’m so excited for the 4th of July! It’s going to be the best. We might make chicken wings… Yum!!!

      Reply
  19. Justine Y @ Little Dove

    Love your essentials, especially the food-related ones, lol. 🙂 The grill looks amazing, my husband “needs” a new one so I’ll have to check that one out. Love all your festive red, white, and blue too!

    Reply
    • theresa

      Yes, I love good food on an awesome holiday! I love this grill, so I’d definitely check into it!

      Reply
  20. LeAnn R.

    The food looks delicious! Yumm-o! My hubby loves to grill out too! I can not wait until this weekend! Good food & good company! I hope you have a wonderful 4th! I’m putting crab cakes on my list!

    Reply
  22. Mary

    I’m hosting my first bbq with my family this weekend. I’ll be keeping these in mind.

    Reply
    • theresa

      I hope the weather is good this weekend! I heard it might rain for a little bit, but maybe that will just keep the weather cool for a wonderful cookout!

      Reply
    • theresa

      Oh, you should! You have to get real jumbo lump crab though, otherwise it’s pretty plain and tastes like bread.

      Reply
  25. CourtneyLynne

    Omg so in love with that grill!!!!! My hubby and I have been eyeing that exact one for awhile now!

    Reply
  26. Sara

    Yes, looking forward to the 4th of July! Love the girls dresses, they’re cute. And the crab cakes are making me drool.

    Reply
    • theresa

      Thank you! I had so much fun taking photos for this article! I wish I had this much spare time to work on the website all the time!

      Reply
  31. Bree

    Your girls are so adorable! Love those dresses and everything else made me hungry! 🙂

    Reply
  32. Gwen

    Hey! Just sending an update! After reading this I checked out the Waffles and have decided to order some of the chocolate filled ones! So excited to try them. They have great reviews and I love delicious and easy! My son is gonna think I’m amazing! Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
    • theresa

      That’s so awesome! I love getting the chance to influence readers with my opinions… Hope you love them as much as I do!

      Reply
  33. Deanna

    I like ve that grill and your outfits are adorable! What great ideas for the 4th.

    Reply
  35. katrina gehman

    i will be traveling over the weekend so it won’t be the normal 4th for us. we still plan on having fun. i love cooking on the grill and fireworks for the kids.

    Reply
    • theresa

      Traveling can be fun too! Hope you have a great time together! I did an article about traveling recently… You should check it out, maybe it would make your trip more fun!

      Reply
  36. Ashley Stephenson

    I am hoping this weekend is a little pretty – they are calling for rain all weekend. We have plans to have a cookout by our pool! But we probably need to clean the grill a little before we cook on it! We have multiple grills and the one at our top deck by our pool hardly gets used!

    Reply
    • theresa

      I think it might rain here too. What made you decide to get more than one grill? Are they different models?

      Reply
    • theresa

      It is one of the softest blankets I’ve ever used! I’m cuddling up with it right now. 🙂

      Reply
  38. Katelin @ The Road We're On

    This is CUTE! I love the seasonal outfits that the girls are wearing! As a child, I had a red, white, and blue bandana that I wore about this time every year. Their outfits reminded me of that–hadn’t thought of it in years!

    Reply
  41. Desteny

    We have a Weber Spirit & love it! Great BBQ, well worth the investment!

    And those dresses are absolutely adorable 🙂

    Reply
  42. Ashleigh

    I don’t live in the U.S. anymore but this is a great 4th of July checklist…super helpful! Plus your girls are just adorable; I wish I knew how to find those dresses sooner, so I could send them to my nieces!

    Reply
    • theresa

      I wish I had more of those amazing waffles! It would be neat if you could buy them at grocery stores… I would be so likely to make an impromptu decision to buy some right now!

      Reply
  48. candy

    Good reminder of what is needed and your daughters 4th July outfits are really adorable.

    Reply
    • theresa

      I’m so glad you found this list helpful! It’s always useful to have one last reminder before hosting a party.

      Reply
    • theresa

      Thank you! They loved being so festive and learning more about why we celebrate the 4th of July.

      Reply
  53. Rebecca Hicks

    I love all of these things! We grilled burgers for our get together with friends, and boy did we need a bigger one. And that speaker is so cool!

    Reply

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