So are you hosting the Fourth of July pool party celebration this year? It’s the perfect holiday for it! Decorating can be aesthetically over the top just by adding a boatload of red, white, and blue balloons to float freely on the sparkling blue water. Beautiful, yet inexpensive. If they become a nuisance at some point, the kids will love retrieving them for you—especially if you make it a competitive event!
Another inexpensive decorating idea is to purchase lollipops with red, white, and blue wrappers and make bouquets to adorn the dessert table. Prepare for them to grow smaller as the day wears on though.
We know times are tight, so rather than springing for patriotic pool floats, what about creating another competition? Tell guests they should be prepared to enter one in the judging. If space is an issue, you could limit one per family or let all guests enter if they’d like.
Food friendly
Hot dogs and burgers are served up by the millions at Independence Day celebrations nationwide. Are you following suit or showing your independent streak by breaking free of the mold? Ka-bobs are popular and after the prep work is done, can be served up just as quickly. You can wax patriotic with your ingredients line-up pretty easily too!
Whatever you decide the main course will be, if friends and family are bringing along a side or two, it’s sure to compliment! If you aren’t planning a carry-in, it won’t be a chore to come up with a plethora of easy dishes that can be prepared in advance. That includes desserts!
Lemonade and soda pop are popular beverage choices for the summer holiday. If alcoholic beverages will be served, remind everyone to drink responsibly and be prepared to see that your guests are all okay to drive before heading home!
Are the bugs banned?
If your patio area is enclosed, flies and other insects won’t be able to crash the party. It makes such a difference in the atmosphere. And, the kids are sure to spill less when they aren’t constantly shooing the pests away from their plates! If you haven’t done that yet, it could be too late to get on the schedule for this year’s extravaganza, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.
It would save you the hassle of pulling out fly swatters and putting the food in little tents to try and ward off the invasion that is sure to set in.
And if you choose a company that offers to customize your screens using digital imagery—like ours, for instance— your guests could be blown away by the change in ambiance when they arrive. We use vivid dyes that are supercharged with added UV protection. Images are guaranteed to remain vibrant for years!
Are you set up for shade?
Even though we’re used to it, it’s always good to have a place to escape the sun. Rather than have guests partake in impromptu races to claim a sliver of shade, set up some gathering spaces that provide it before they arrive. If you don’t have a covered patio, pop-up gazebos would suffice and are fairly inexpensive. They can be rented for the day too.
We’ll add a reminder here that even though it’s a pool party, everyone still needs to come out now and then to reapply sunscreen. Be prepared to offer any naysaying adults a popsicle right along with the kids while letting them know they need to set a good example. Little things teach a lot.
Stress safety
You should know the laws and ordinances regarding using fireworks in your area. However, certain consumer fireworks are usually allowed here in Florida. They include sparklers, noisemakers—such as poppers and snappers—colored smoke bombs, and other smoke devices.
Other consumer fireworks are illegal in the state. They include firecrackers, torpedoes, rockets, Roman candles, and aerial shells.
If your pet isn’t fond of the holiday, be sure they are in a safe space. It could be easier for them to bolt and run with guests coming in and out.
Remember, it’s a patriotic pool party
Our country has been through a lot. We’re still here though. It’s going through a lot right now. However, despite our differences, we’re still free.
Let’s take some time to reflect on the importance of that fact and realize that it must never change.