6 Family-Friendly Ideas and Activities for 4th of July

How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July this year?

Whether Independence Day falls on a Tuesday or Friday, the Fourth of July is a day for gathering with loved ones to enjoy exciting activities or delicious food.

Browse our top six ideas for the Fourth of July—fun, affordable activities to enjoy with any age group or crowd size.

1. Take a day trip out of town

Each year, more families hit the road during the 4th of July. In 2024, over 70 million people traveled 50 or more miles during the holiday! 

If you’re accustomed to celebrating the 4th in your backyard, consider moving to a new location this year to experience different festivities with your family.

Consider visiting a smaller town to get a front-row view of a charming parade. Or, venture to a bigger city to catch an extravagant fireworks show with live music. 

Read more: Family Road Trip Hacks to Make Travel a Breeze

2. Host a food contest 

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, potato salad—they’re all Fourth of July classics. If a backyard BBQ or potluck meal is part of your plans, how about gamifying it? 

Add a contest element to the meal by: 

• Choosing one food type (such as desserts, BBQ, or chili) for your contest for participants to compete in (be sure to keep costs low with dishes that use basic grocery store ingredients) 
  
  
• Assigning a panel of judges (think kids, neighbors, or other family members) to rank each dish
  
  
• Creating multiple awards to hand out (i.e., most unique ingredients, most aesthetic, best-tasting) 

3. Organize a tie-dye party 

Sure, tie-dye can get messy, but the results are well worth it! This ancient practice (which is surprisingly 6,000 years old) is making a comeback after its resurgence in the 1960s. Once you try it for yourself, it’s easy to see why.

For this fun activity, you’ll need one or more adults who enjoy fiber arts (and don’t mind a mess) and tie-dye supplies from Michaels, Walmart, or Amazon.

Create unique patterns featuring vivid colors with just a few rubber bands, paints, and white T-shirts. Keep it Fourth of July-themed by using reds and blues on your white tees.

Source: ritdye.com

4. Plan a July 4th prize hunt

If your squad enjoys an annual Easter egg hunt, recycle this family activity as a Fourth of July idea!

Hide small prizes like sparklers, noisemakers, party hats, or American-flag-adorned sunglasses in a safe, age-appropriate zone, whether that's your house, yard, or neighborhood. 

Then, choose a hunt style: 

• Shout “Go” for a free-for-all in the hiding zone
• Pair a map-reading lesson with a hand-drawn map that shows prize locations
• Use riddles to direct the search team to each subsequent hiding spot

Keep this activity budget-friendly by hitting a dollar store, Five Below, or Target for small prizes.

5. Make fireworks scratch art 

Need some quieter craft time? Kids and adults of all ages will enjoy creating handmade scratch art with dramatic fireworks designs. 

For this fun July 4th activity, you’ll need cardstock, crayons, black acrylic paint (with a bit of dish soap), foam brushes, and toothpicks. A quick order from Walmart or Amazon should take care of any supplies you don’t have available. 

Source: projectswithkids.com

6. Scope out new locations to watch fireworks

Some families have a route and schedule mapped out to reach their ideal fireworks perch each year, like a key spot along a river, a rooftop view, or a hill near an amusement park. 

If you usually stop on the road to get a partial view of a far-off fireworks display, consider planning ahead this year.

Ask friends and neighbors about their favorite fireworks locations and secrets, or check out online suggestions. Head out early with snacks, beverages, bug spray, and a bathroom break plan.