35 Patriotic 4th Of July Party Ideas You Can DIY On A Budget

We often think that a 4th of July party needs big bucks to make a big bang, but that's not true! Check out these amazing but low-budget party ideas instead, and throw a party that's sure to be the coolest in the neighborhood!

Fun 4th of July Party Ideas That's Easy on the Pocket

35 Festive, Patriotic Independence Day Props, Decor, and Recipes

Were you hoping on throwing a 4th of July party on a limited budget?

4th of July is the biggest holiday in our family next to Christmas, and I am not one to let it pass without going all-out–food, decor, parties, fireworks, and all. And though I believe in giving this once-in-a-year affair its due, the huge cut it takes to our family budget can still hurt long after the festivities are over.

Fortunately, you can easily find 4th of July party ideas online and out will pop all the creative, simple, and affordable ideas you can use. I've short-listed all my favorites here which I'm sure you will also like. Help yourself to these practical ideas for a 4th of July party.

1. DIY Napkin Rings for 4th of July Dining Table

From the decor to the cutlery, your dining table for your party should scream 4th of July. This easy DIY napkin ring should cover it.

2. 4th of July Mason Jar Lanterns

This why we never throw out our mason jars and reuse them instead into this nifty lantern idea for a welcoming home entrance.

3. DIY Firework Hotdog

Give your grilled hotdogs a twist–a literal twist, with this firework-inspired recipe.

4. Make Your Own American Hat Flag

Dress up to the occasion with this patriotic DIY American hat to keep you both safe from the sun and fashionable on a hot Fourth of July.

5. Firework Fruit Kabob

Refresh your family and guests the healthy way with these stars- and firework-inspired fruit kabobs.

6. Red and White Pompom Garland

Why buy expensive decor when you can make some on your own, like these pompom garlands that your kids will enjoy crafting for a minimal cost.

7. Denim and Burlap Lighted Garland

Make use of burlap scraps and denim from your recent projects and make this denim and burlap knot garland for decor.

8. Patriotic Luminaries

Don't waste electricity this Independence Day by making low-cost luminaries instead, like these on-theme paper bag luminaries.

9. Homemade Confetti Launchers

Want a party with a bang? You don't have to spend much. You just have to get creative, and this idea will help.

10. Patriotic Clothespin Pinwheel

Make these elegant yet low-budget pinwheels as outdoor decor.

11. Paper Stars for Fourth of July

Trust me, this project is super easy, it's no sweat at all.

All you'll need are a pair of scissors, colored paper, glue, and some strings. You are free to follow whatever design you want for your star confetti!

12. DIY American Flag Backdrop

You'll be surprised how easy it is to make this American flag party backdrop. All you have to do is tie knots in a stylish pattern.

13. Star-Spangled Lawn

A fourth of July party will most likely take place out in the garden, and a great way to set the ambiance is to cover your lawn in red, white, and blue stars!

First, make a star cutout on a large piece of cardboard. You'll use this as a guide when spray-painting your lawn.
Next, grab a few cans of water-based spray paint. These are easy to wash off with water.
Finally, start spraying! Place the cardboard star cutout on the lawn and spray within the star-shaped hole.

Check out more fourth of July garden decor ideas here.

14. Patriotic Mason Jar Centerpieces

Mason jars are such a lifesaver with the tons you can do or make from them besides canning your fresh harvest–like this charming centerpiece.

15. How to Make Oreo Fourth of July Pops

Fancy desserts can be costly but not these Oreo drops. Make sure to put up a station for tasty kiddie treats because we've got more coming.

To make a few of these mouth-watering treats, insert a stick in between each Oreo sandwich, dip in melted white chocolate, then cover in red, white, and blue sprinkles.

16. Choco-Dipped Fourth of July Pretzels

This is what I'm talking about! With a selection of treats in your sweets station, who would ever guess you're partying on a budget?

Planning your 4th of July party? Don't forget #desserts! Here are some great recipes: http://t.co/BV3D45liJg pic.twitter.com/mZfFLSELuq

— Homemade Recipes (@BestHomeRecipes) June 24, 2015

17. 4th of July Drinks Party Recipes

You're going to have a lot of thirsty guests on a hot summer fourth of July. Make sure you've concocted a refreshing yet healthy non-alcoholic fruit drink mix for the party.

Some good options include bright-colored drinks that make use of lemon, limes, strawberries, and blueberries. You can opt to mix in some food coloring to make the drinks more exciting.

18. Firecracker 4th of July Party Favors

End the party with a blast, not literally though. I'm sure your guests will love this treat!

19. Stars and Stripes Bean Bag Toss

Have you got the downtimes in between dining and fireworks covered? This simple and easy to make bean bag toss game should take care of it.

20. Red White and Blue Broken Glass Jell-O

Even jello has to be dressed up for the occasion–or in this case, colored and cut up to the occasion. This one is sure to be a hit with the kids!

The recipe is very simple. You'll basically need to cut up red, clear, and blue gelatin mixtures, mix them together in a bowl, then submerge in rich, creamy condensed milk.

Freeze for a few hours and you're good to go!

21. Red White and Blue Pasta Salad

Not only do your desserts get to be red, white and blue, but your salad also does too! This is a very easy 4th of July party food recipe that consists of Italian pepperoni, potatoes, onions, various pasta, and of course, food coloring.

The idea is to mix different batches of pasta with food coloring, let them dry, then combine them in a salad bowl along with the other ingredients. This will give you a bowl of brightly-colored red, white, and blue salad!

22. Easy DIY 4th of July Inspired Frozen Dessert

A star treat shouldn't be absent from your sweets station! And these delicious, decadent star-shaped cupcakes are exactly what you need to spice up your party!

The ingredients you'll need for these 4th of July desserts include sugar cookie dough, vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, and red/blue food color tints. The idea is to bake the dough with the food color tints to give your cupcake that American flag-inspired red, white, and blue theme.

Then, throw in the vanilla ice cream for that sweet, heavenly filling, top off with some sprinkles, and you're done! Follow the step-by-step guide to making this star treat in the video above.

23. Patriotic Tin Cans

Low-budget doesn't get any lower than this, you make this practically for free. With red, blue and white paint, the mood is set for a fourth of July party table.

24. Patriotic Bushel Basket

Go colonial and stylish with this bushel basket food server. You can use this too as a serving plate for all-time American favorite snacks such as popcorn, taters, nachos, pretzels, and chips.

25. Independence Day No Sew Flag Shirts DIY

Dress up to the occasion with this easy t-shirt craft even your kids can do. I sure am digging this one for my girls.

What makes this Independence Day arts and crafts project so cool is it does not require any form of sewing. All you'll need to do is to sew on the red, white, and blue ribbon flags on the shirt with a hot iron and you're done!

Important: Do not let kids work the iron alone.

26. Bright Red Berry Overload Cocktail

What better way to cap off a heavy, savory backyard brunch than by serving a few refreshing glasses of strawberry-mint berry cocktails!

The juicy berries and chilling mint are guaranteed to keep you cool no matter what the outdoor temperature is. Plus, the bright red color will match the All-American red, white, and blue them of your 4th of July party.

To make a few batches of this delicious drink, you’ll need:

8 cups hot water
Ice
4 tsp. spearmint tea leaves, dried
2 tsp. raspberry leaves
4 tsp. hibiscus flowers, dried
Strawberries
Lemon juice
Honey

Once you’re ready to make your red cocktail drink, mix all the ingredients, except for the ice, together in a large punch bowl. Stir then let chill in the fridge. Mix in the ice cubes before serving.

27. American-Style Ice Pops

Cool off your 4th of July party guests with a patriotic popsicle! The idea here is to create a red, white, and blue-themed three-layer popsicle.

For the red layer, you can use pulsed seedless watermelon. Meanwhile, some coconut mixture will make a great middle layer. And for the blue layer, mix some blueberry extract with sugar water.

28. Patriotic Red, White, and Blue Sangria

A bowl of ice-cold sangria is a must at any outdoor party, no matter what the occasion is. It’s zesty, refreshing, and has a mild kick that’s just enough to make guests feel relaxed.

Making sangria is easier than most people make it out to be. The goal is to mix red wine with a bunch of zesty, bright-colored fruit slices such as oranges, strawberries, lime, plums, blueberries, and peaches.

29. New York-Style Overloaded Hotdog

Needless to say, hotdog sandwiches are an American staple. No matter what state you go to, you’re bound to spot a hotdog stand or two.

The key to making flavorful hotdog sandwiches lies in the garnish. Opt to mix in various savory ingredients that will complement the hotdog’s rich, juicy flavor such as bacon, steak cuts, onions, relish, and pickles, among others.

Pro Tip: Make some mini American flags and stick them in the hotdogs to make your sandwiches extra patriotic.

30. Strawberry-Blueberry American Pie

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Pies have been a part of American culture for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, they were first introduced by the English colonists in the early 1500s. So it’s no exaggeration to say that pie is an integral part of any 4th of July party menu.

To make an all-American pie, you should use strawberries and blueberries for the filling. However, don’t mix them together. Instead, divide them into two parts so your pie will resemble the American flag.

31. Red, White, and Blue Fruit Parfait

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These strawberry, blueberry, and kernel ice cream parfaits will be the star of your dessert bar! They’re delicious, refreshing, and best of all, easy to make.

32. Firework-Embossed Glasses

Make your 4th of July party glassware more exciting by covering them in fireworks!

First, grab a bunch of clear glassware. Then, draw fireworks on them using fine-tipped, oil-based paint markers. Leave to dry for a few hours before using them.

33. Red Bravery Gin

Looking for a cocktail mix that packs a heavy punch? Try the red bravery gin mix. It has a strong kick that’ll leave your happier and overall more relaxed.

To make one, mix one part gin with two parts cranberry juice and top them off with some mint leaves and cucumber slices. Serve over ice.

34. USA Wooden Banner

Try your hand at woodworking by making your own customized USA wooden banner. Secure some extra wood pallets, shape a few of them to spell the word USA, then paint and design the wooden banner however you want.

35. American Flag-Inspired Flower Vase

Showcase your wonderful flower garden at your 4th of July party with these American-style homemade flower vases. Grab a few recycled tin cans, coat them in acrylic paint, then design with stars and glitter.

Need more 4th of July DIY ideas? Get them here in this video by Makers Gonna Learn:

There you go, practical homesteaders! 4th of July party ideas that prove you don't need to spend a fortune to have fun. Have a meaningful Independence Day everyone!

Which 4th of July party ideas will make it to your list of to-try? Let us know in the comments below!

Wine barrels bring us back to the colonial days when homesteading was a lifestyle. Find out the ways you can reuse wine barrels in your homestead here.

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Editor's Note: This post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.