The Fourth of July is the biggest picnic day in the U.S. It’s the day we get together with our families, honor the founding of the country with celebratory fireworks, eat delicious food and enjoy the great outdoors.
While the Fourth is when the country celebrates its independence, it’s also a time you can show off your picnic-organizing skills.
Here are some ideas to make your Fourth of July picnic fun and memorable.
Location
One of the most important parts of planning a picnic is picking the perfect location. For the Fourth, it’s often a matter of preference. Some people prefer being in a prime location where you can see public fireworks in the evening. Others prefer to be in less crowded areas where there’s more room to spread it out and have games. Still, others may want to be around a public pool or around an area they can light their own fireworks.
For example, if you’re in New York City, you may want to have a picnic in Central Park for a little more space or you may want to have one on the beach at Coney Island to allow for swimming.
All of these are a matter of preference, depending on what your party will be like, but you should be sure to make reservations or stake out a spot early enough.
Snacks
Red, White and Blue Fruit Kabobs
Snacks are they key to a great picnic. They’re what people first see and eat, and they set the tone for the entire picnic. Start off right with an array of red, white and blue dishes. The easiest one is the red, white and blue fruit kabob. Use wooden skewers and slide on strawberries, bananas and blueberries. The bananas aren’t necessarily white, but the color will become evident next to the others. You can also rearrange them into a flag inside a baking pan.
Meal
All-American Cheeseburger
Fewer things say picnics and the Fourth of July than the classic burger. This requires a grill in the vicinity, so you should pick your spot wisely. The All-American burger is delicious and beloved by pretty much everybody. Check out a good recipe at AllRecipes.com.
Dessert
Red, White and Blue Cupcakes
Were continuing the color theme with red velvet cupcakes, white frosting and blue topping. The blue can be anything from simple sprinkles to blueberries. Top it off with miniature American flags and you have yourself a patriotic dessert.
Games
You can have tons of different games at a Fourth of July picnic for both adults and children. It really depends on the personality of your guests. One classic game you could play is horseshoes. This is great for adults and kids and is more laid back than other games, so you can continue to chat and socialize.
Check out our Pinterest board for more Fourth of July picnic ideas.