I really look forward to most holidays, but 4th of July is probably the big one (next to Christmas) that holds so many special memories for me from my childhood. For my family, it’s always just a relaxing and laid back day and I enjoy how casual it is compared to preparations that need to take place for other holidays.
4th of July usually involves simple BBQ food, fun outside activities, and just good quality time with our family celebrating our amazing country and our freedom. Doesn’t get better than that!
While I’m sure many people enjoy going on getaways to the beach or other fun summer destinations over the holiday, those types of trips can get expensive pretty quickly and definitely aren’t necessary to have a wonderful time this 4th of July weekend.
I’ve rounded up some other fun and family-friendly ways that you can celebrate the 4th of July in your own town, while also keeping your budget in check.
Affordable Ways to Celebrate The 4th of July:
DIY red, white, and blue gear
Patriotic clothes are really fun to wear on the 4th of July to feel festive and more in the spirit of the holiday, but the cost of new shirts or accessories to deck out the whole family for just one day can really add up. Try to get creative and pull together a patriotic outfit with clothing you already have, or maybe even head to the dollar store or the dollar spot at Target for some less expensive red, white, and blue necklaces or bandanas that won’t cost a fortune.
I’ve also seen some cute ideas for buying plain white t-shirts and letting kids decorate their own with red and blue paint. That might be a fun activity to do 4th of July morning to wear later in the day to fireworks and other festivities!
Fireworks shows
Most fireworks displays put on by towns are completely free to the public. Even if your own town doesn’t do a display on the 4th, I’m sure that a surrounding town does. Pack up a cooler with drinks and snacks to bring and make a whole night out of it!
Parades
Like fireworks displays, most of the towns around us do a 4th of July parade as well. I can’t wait to start taking Little Miss to the same parade I went to every year as a kid! In addition to being completely free, there’s usually some kind of candy or other small goodies being passed out too which is pretty cute to watch all the little kids running around collecting.
Backyard waterpark
Set up a sprinkler (I spotted this beyond adorable one that I think I’m going to have to pick up for Little Miss), slip n slide, and little pool and let the kids go wild having fun in their own “waterpark” right in the convenience of your own backyard! Perhaps even take part in an adults vs. kids squirt gun fight if the adults are game 🙂 .
Play softball or kickball
Get the whole family and friends together for a huge game of softball or kickball. Assign everyone to either “team red” or “team blue” and have all players dress accordingly. Would be a great way to fit in a bit of exercise to balance out all the good food you partake in later that day too!
Kid-friendly “fireworks”
Set up a little station of “fireworks” that are safe for the kids to do themselves. Snap dragons, party poppers, and sparklers are always fun! Although sparklers scare the living heck out of me with kids, I think that with proper adult supervision it can be a fun and safe activity for kids.
Glow in the dark ring toss
I found this super fun activity from Momma Did it to “light up the night” with a ring toss using glow in the dark necklaces as the rings to throw. What a cute idea!
Have a pot luck
Invite friends or family over and have your guests bring a signature dish to share that they enjoy making. It keeps the cost of food down for everyone and is nice to get a taste of everyone’s home cookin’.
For more fun ideas and patriotic goodies for the 4th of July, be sure to follow my 4th of July board on Pinterest!
What are some affordable ways that you plan to celebrate the 4th of July this year?
Great ideas!
Fireworks have been the biggest bummer to me since moving so far north. By the 4th of July, it’s not fully dark until around 11 pm. No way I’m staying up for that, much less hauling my kids out for the show. We do have a local 5k race, carnival, and parade though!
Oh geez, I didn’t even think of that! That’s pretty late. Ours are usually at 9p, and even that can be late with little kids. A carnival sounds like a blast though, that makes up for no fireworks 🙂
A backyard waterpark is such a cute idea!! We don’t normally do much for 4th of July and I like that it’s so relaxed! The past two years we didn’t even watch fireworks b/c our girls were always so young. This year, I hope to venture out and see a show, but at the very least we will hang out at the pool and BBQ! It’s nice it’s on a Saturday this year, too!
Pool and BBQ sounds like a fabulous day to me! Your girls are at fun ages where I’m sure they would probably enjoy fireworks at this point. I’m debating about whether we’ll take Little Miss or not. I think she’ll either love them or scream the whole time and we’ll have to leave…50/50 chance I’d say. Might have to take our chances!
For real, you and Jayleen are the queens of fun! I love this post. I would wear red, white, and blue all year if I could. I love the color combo. The patriotic aspect is a bonus! Rod and I were just talking about sparklers this morning. Man, those were fun! You make me want to go get some so that WE can play with them. I have to go tweet this thing! SO GOOD, Christina! SO GOOD! 😀
Thank you Kay! I love the color combo too, it’s just fun! Thanks for the tweet 🙂
We will be celebrating the 4th with friends, so we’ll have four toddlers together. I am planning on picking up glow sticks/necklaces. They are so easy to please at this age!
That sounds like a blast Kara! Gotta love toddlers (seriously my favorite age group I think, I used to babysit a lot). They take such joy in the simple things. Enjoy your 4th!!
Great list, Christina! You really don’t have to spend a ton of money to have fun on holidays. The 4th of July is usually pretty low-key for us since my husband always has to work the major holidays. We like to watch fireworks when we can though!
Thanks Kristi! Yeah I know some towns do them on the 3rd or the weekend prior too!
This is why I love 4th of July – it’s the least expensive and least stressful holiday that we celebrate. You don’t have to buy gifts for anyone and you don’t have to spend a crazy amount of time preparing a HUGE meal. Just grab some hamburgers and hot dogs and corn on the cob, heat up the grill, and have fun! 😉 Not to mention, fireworks are awesome.
Absolutely Ash! I love buying/making gifts for my loved ones, but it definitely makes Christmas a stressful time. It makes me appreciate the 4th of July even more!
My parents´ house when I was growing up was very near our local park. Instead of sitting in traffic to get into the park, we´d just set up our lawn chairs and watch the fireworks over the trees. These are some of my favorite memories from my childhood.
Sounds like the perfect 4th of July for a kid! 🙂
The fourth of July is one of our favorites as well. We don’t shoot off fireworks ourselves any more (other than a few small ones), but we do love the July BBQs!
Every couple of years we buy some fireworks, but they do get pretty pricey! Fun though 🙂
These are such good ideas, and great timing! I love a backyard waterpark – may have to borrow that for myself! 🙂
Do it Melissa!! 🙂
My wife and I haven’t done much for the 4th of July the past few years, but it’s always fun to do SOMETHING even if it’s just hanging out around the house. I think going to the beach is a good way to spend the 4th, even if it is always really busy. Last 4th of July I think I actually did landscaping work…maybe this year I’ll do something fun instead 😉
Haha landscaping work?! Maybe in the morning you can get away with doing that, but my vote is that you plan something fun for the afternoon/evening to just enjoy yourself and hang with your wife! 🙂
We usually do most of these. We love checking out the parade and the fireworks and usually just spend the day grilling out, eating good food and catching up with family.
That’s my idea of a good time!
Great ideas, Christina! Living in Switzerland, I will have to get a little more creative this year than I usually do. While we can’t see fireworks or parades live, we can still celebrate. I plan to at least sport some red, white and blue, have a festive meal and maybe find some sparklers! 🙂
Thanks Jennifer! That sounds like a great way to celebrate while living outside the U.S. for now 🙂
I never thought about a pot luck, then again I am used to barbecues. However, that sound more fun.
Kid-friendly fire works are a great idea because so many kids get burned.
My family has pot lucks for a lot of holidays, so it’s just become second nature for me. Usually the host makes the main entree and then everyone else brings a side to share. It’s so much more fun!
Living in Cali, the best way to spend the 4th of July IMO is to go to the beach. Get there early though traffic is horrendous. We enjoy the sun all day and the many firework shows at night.
That sounds absolutely lovely! If I lived near the beach and didn’t have to fly or road trip to get to one, I’d totally do that too.
These are great! We already have red, white and blue hand me downs so my kids will be rocking the 4th in (free) style!
We are also planning to go on vacation over the long weekend and we are staying in our family cabin (free lodging) and grilling out!
It should be super fun and not a ton of cash! I’m so looking forward to it!
That’s awesome Elise! Enjoy your vacation, sounds like a great time with the fam 🙂