This summer there is nothing better than a pool party celebrated with food, parties and an exciting fireworks – for the 4th f July. If you’re planning a pool party this sumer there are several details to consider. From the invitations and theme, to the poolside food and games – who can’t resist a classic summer pool party. Here are tips to create the perfect event this summer.

Image via: Pinterest

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Set up the Budget

Setting up the budget is the first step to planning any party. Budget will be a deciding factor in listing the invitees, groceries, beverages, food items, dinnerware, paper goods, decorations, and other necessary things. Moreover, it will save you from after-party budget hangover. So, do not start to plan your party before deciding on your budget.

Personalized Invitation

You can send invitations through online but personalized party invitation will give the event an intimate touch. Use craft papers of various colors and cut out different shapes like lounge chairs, beach ball, or flip-flop. Imprint the invitation message on these cut outs and send to people you want to invite.

Image via: The Tarson Belly Flop

Set up a Theme

Setting up a theme increases the appeal of any party. A Fourth of July party will definitely be based on patriotic theme. You can create the mood by choosing a flag-striped tablecloth for the center table. Add a few red and blue centerpieces, balloons, and banners. If possible, try to use plastic ware, cups, napkins, and paper plates highlighted with red and blue colors.

You have to decorate the pool too. Throw half dozen red, blue, and white beach balls in the pool and change the mood instantly into a fun and festive one. You can use some bright-colored pool floats too. Install pool lights either inside or around the pool to increase its beauty. If possible, set up a shower cabana where the guests can rinse off before and after pool activities.

Image via: Modern Party Ideas

Planning a Great Menu

Apart from the main food items, a poolside party needs lots of appetizing snacks because swimming and splashing in the pool consume much energy. Tender and juicy grilled steaks, potato or fresh fruits salads, a strawberry dessert are part of a traditional Fourth of July menu.  However, hot dogs and kielbasa are also all-time favorites. Veggie-lovers can be entertained with corn-on-the-cob, zucchini, grilled mushrooms, pasta, and rice. Stagetecture has all the summertime menu ideas you need!

Pool Games for the Kids

A pool party is not just about swimming and eating. Arrange for some pool games that will keep your guests engaged for hours. Pool volleyball games are all-time favorite but you can also add floating blackjack or beer pong table. For kids, add diving toys, water guns, and giant beach balls.

Image via: Pool Fun for Everyone

Summer days give people ways to sunshine, shady trees, sunflowers, and swimming pools. Swimming is one of the most comforting and pleasant activities in the summer season. The fun becomes manifold when it turns into a pool party with family and friends on the Fourth of July.

For more summer ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

The 4th of July holiday is a celebration of our nation’s first steps toward sovereignty and freedom when the Founding Fathers drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. Every year families and friends gather together congregating in the backyard for fun, food and good times. The smell of delicious and flavorful foods being cooked over the grill drifts through the air and into the olfactory systems of everyone within the area.

Image via: Pottery Barn

Because the 4th of July is all about traditions, values and freedom, many backyard get together feasts consist of old, reliable and comforting dishes like hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, deviled eggs, and apple pie. Often the decorating and tableware reflect the event of the day with red, white and blue items and US flags hung for all to see. This color theme is generally carried over into the dessert dishes to liven up the festivities and enhance the significance of the day.

Now to get down to the nitty-gritty purpose of this article – creating a memorable and delightful 4th of July culinary concoctions certain to bring a smile to all your guests and have them begging for seconds.

Image via: Bower Power

Condiments and dips 

Fresh hamburger and hotdog buns, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, sweet and/or dill pickle relish, iceberg lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, butter/margarine, seasoned salt, BBQ sauce, sliced red onions, cheese slices assortment (American, Cheddar, Swiss and Monterrey Jack), guacamole (see recipe below), sliced pickles, chili con carne (get your favorite brand), and salsa (again, get your favorite brand). Have all of these items prepared and laid out like an assembly line with the plates and cutlery at one end so your guests know where to begin fixing their plates.

Hamburgers

Get enough raw hamburger meat (preferably ground chuck) to feed at least one 5 – 6 oz. patty to each person. In a large bowl crumble up the raw hamburger and then add the following ingredients for each 2 pounds of meat: 1 – egg, 2 – T black pepper, 1 – T onion powder, 3 – T Worcestershire sauce, 3 – dashes of salt. You will want to get the BBQ grill started and hot before consider cooking. A hot grill will sear or seal in the juices of the meat. Be sure to not pack the patties too hard or tight and also place a small thumb indentation in the center of each patty. Once the grill is good and hot, place the patties on there and let them cook for 5 to 6 minutes on side – only turn once and DO NOT smash or squish the patties with the spatula as this will cause them to dry out. A good burger is moist and juicy not charred and dry.

Hotdogs 

Grilling hotdogs is relatively easy and affords no preparation work. Choose your favorite hotdog brand at the grocery figuring 1 to 2 dogs per person (I recommend getting the “all-beef” marked). Again, you want a hot grill before you begin cooking. Place the hotdogs individually separated on the grill and let them cook. Turn them every 2 minutes until they reach a nice pinkish red color, a plumped up and have grill or char lines on them.

Image via: HWTM

Corn on the cob

On your kitchen stove, heat a large caldron of water to boiling. Add in ½ cup of sugar and stir until dissolved. Now place as many ears of corn as possible (leave room for movement – do not stuff them in there solid). Once the water begins to boil again, start your timer at 8 minutes and let the corn cook. After the time ends, remove the corn from the pot and spread and roll the butter/margarine all over the ear of corn. Add seasoned salt to taste.

Potato Salad

Use 4 to 5 pounds of red potatoes. Remove the peeling and slice the potatoes into the size of 1” to 2” cubes. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add 2 – T of salt to the water. Once boiling, add in all of the chopped potatoes. Let them boil until tender (about 15 minutes). Place 2 eggs in another pot of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and remove from the heat and let the eggs steep for 12 minutes. Place the now hard-boiled eggs under cool running water and let me cool off until you can pick them up and peel the shell off. Chop up one small red onion, 4 celery stalks, and a small (16 oz. jar) of sweet pickles. Pour the potatoes out of the pot and into a colander and them return them to the empty pot. Add in the chopped eggs, red onion, celery, sweet pickles, 1 cup of mustard, ¾ cup of mayonnaise, 1 – T of salt and 1 – T of black pepper. Use a large spoon to mix everything together. Pour the potato salad into a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 5 hours to cool.

Deviled Eggs

In a large pot of water, place 1 dozen eggs, 1 – T of vinegar and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, cover the pot and remove from the heat. Let the cover pot stand for 12 minutes so the eggs will be hard-boiled. When done, place the pot of boiled eggs in the sink and run cold water over the eggs until they are cool. Now, remove the shell from each egg and slice each one in half lengthwise. Gently remove the yolk from both halves and place them in a small bowl. Using a potato smasher, mash up the cooked yolks and then add in 1 – tsp salt, 1 – ½ tsp red pepper, ¼ cup sweet pickle relish, 1 – ½ tsp onion powder, and 1 – ¼ cup mayonnaise. Mix all together and spoon mixture into each egg white half where the yolk was. Sprinkle each deviled egg with paprika. Place in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours to cool and set.

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Apple Pie

You have already made several wonderful homemade dishes, so why not buy a nice frozen or freshly made apple pie at the grocery or bakery.

And there you have it – the quintessential 4th of July menu – all favorites and all easy to do.

For more 4th of July ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy DIY Saturday! Today we are talking about the 4th of July, and after fireworks what is the best part about the holiday? (Well except for being off of work))…. FOOD!! Whether you are having a barbecue in your backyard or you’re visiting your neighbors party make sure you don’t show up empty handed.

Image via: Skinny Taste

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I think patriotic red, white, and blue desserts are the best! There are so many ideas to create simple and delicious treats for your friends, family and neighbors. Today, watch a video from Hershey’s Kitchens for creative desserts, and then take a look at Martha Stewart’s ideas for some festive 4th of July desserts!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Video – Patriotic Recipes from Hershey’s Kitchens

Image via: Party City

4th of July Desserts from Martha Stewart

Red, White and Blue Berry Trifle

Image via: Martha Stewart

Ingredients

Directions

Cook’s Note

We used cake sparklers on this trifle. They should only be used outdoors, according to package instructions; alternatively, look for sparkle candles, which will give you a similar look. Both are available from many online baking-supply stores. Recipe via

Fireworks Cookies

Image: Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• FOR THE COOKIES

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Coarse salt
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Make the cookies: Sift flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a large bowl.
2. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, then vanilla. Refrigerate dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out dough to a scant 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Cut out cookies using a 1 3/4-, 2 1/4-, 2 3/4-, or 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, rerolling scraps once. Transfer to a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
4. Bake until edges just start to brown, 17 to 19 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely.
5. Decorate the cookies: Pipe an outline of white icing around edge of 1 cookie, leaving a 1/4-inch border, then “flood” with more white icing to cover.
6. Immediately pipe a red or blue dot in the center of cookie. Then pipe concentric rings of colors around the center dot (using the same color as the dot, or alternating colors).
7. Immediately drag a toothpick through the colors to create bursts, starting from the center dot and working toward the edge, then alternate dragging inward and outward as you work around the cookie. (Or drag around the cookie in 1 direction or curve the lines for a pinwheel effect.) Let dry. Repeat with remaining cookies and icings. Recipe via

For more 4th of July crafts, ideas, and recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

For more DIY Saturday ideas, see Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel!