How to Have a Patriotic Picnic on the 4th of July

There are many holidays Americans love to celebrate each year. The 4th of July is one of the most celebrated. The day is a celebration of our declaration and attainment of freedom to self-govern our destiny as a country and society. It’s one day where we Americans express our pride in our heritage.

One of the ways we celebrate is with family get-togethers. If you’re planning a family picnic for this 4th of July, there are lots of ways to make it a special event that will be long remembered. Here are a few ideas on how to make sure your own 4th of July celebration goes without a hitch.

• Space — Be sure that you select an area that can accommodate your guests comfortably. You’ll need room for picnic tables, games, decorations and maybe even a small pool for the kids. If you have a regular sized pool in your backyard, make sure you have it fenced and gated to prevent a wandering child from falling in, or be prepared to have a vigilant full-time adult lifeguard.

• Decorations — Red, white and blue are the colors of the day. Get bunting for the tables and for around the deck or porch at your local party supply store. A flag should be prominently displayed in proper respectable fashion. Some outdoor red, white and blue string lights will look fantastic at night.

• Proper Displaying of flag: When displaying Old Glory horizontally, the stars should be at top left with the stripes off to the right. If displaying the stars and bars vertically, the stars should be on upper left with the bars (stripes) to the right pointing down. Never let the flag touch the ground; it is seen as disrespectful. Any veteran who has fought for our country will rightfully get very upset.

• Costumes — Have all the guests dress up as a patriotic figure in colonial costume. It’ll be interesting to see how many Abraham Lincolns show up. Give prizes for the most original, authentic and humorous. This is where “petriotic” pets can add so much to the mix. Have all guests bring their “petriotic” pets (as long as they’re able to act civilized and not start any skirmishes or fights).

• Announcements – Have a designated “Town Crier” who will circulate the party and ring his bell to make announcements about food, events, etc.

• Music — Try to play music in the spirit of the occasion, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Jay & The Americans, a few Sousa marches and maybe even The Beatles and other “British Invasion” bands. Anything that relates to America or the theme is always fun.

• Games — Games for the kids, and even adults, are always great fun.

• Food — Again, red, white and blue are the colors to focus on. There are many recipes for pies and cakes that sport all three colors or treats to get from your local supermarket. Indulge! Bowls of fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and whipped cream arranged in decorative ways will add a festive touch to any table.

• Flowers — Stick with the colors of the day and you’ll be well complimented.

• Fireworks — Well, that goes without saying! Just after dusk, when the night sky is a dark blue may be good, but it’s best to wait until it’s a very dark sky. Be sure that you have a lot of cleared space. Have a hose or quick source of water available and remember to keep the kids safely away from the area. If you locate your picnic near a pond or lake, the dangers of fire are less and the view over the water will be spectacular!

• Fireworks Facts: We all know that the Chinese invented fireworks, but did you know that fireworks were used even before the American Revolutionary War? Today, The Walt Disney Company is the largest consumer of fireworks in the U.S.!

Finally, make sure you have plenty of cameras and film, or digital cards with digital cameras. There will be a million opportunities for fun and memorable pictures. Have at least one person designated as the “official photographer” to make sure the festivities get duly recorded.