The Best 4th of July Games to Play with Your Family
Updated: Mar. 26, 2024
Keep things hopping with these 4th of July games the entire family will enjoy.
You’ve spent weeks planning the best picnic ever and preparing 4th of July recipes. Finally, it’s the big day. Let the 4th of July games begin! These fun ideas will appeal to everybody—from the energetic youngsters to the adults who just want to relax in a lawn chair on their well-earned holiday. Now, let’s play!
1. Red, White and Blue Marshmallow Golf
Marshmallows—they’re not just for s’mores anymore. Divide a bag of jumbo marshmallows into three groups, then use food coloring to dye one group red and one group blue. Keep the third group white. Once the ‘mallows dry, let each player tee one up and swing away using a golf club or hockey stick. The participant who hits their marshmallow the farthest wins. Have one prize for the kids and one for the adults.
2. Water Balloon Toss
It’s a warm-weather classic. Teams of two toss water balloons back and forth. Have the distance between the pair increase with each turn. The last team standing with an intact water balloon wins. If the big kids are feeling more competitive, save some balloons for a game of dodgeball. We recommend this jumbo pack of self-sealing water balloons that let you fill up 100 balloons in under a minute.
3. Fourth of July Bingo
While the balloon tossers dry off, bring things down a notch with some July 4th bingo. After all, you’ve made a picnic table full of tasty recipes—you deserve a break. This red, white and blue set keeps things festive and relaxed. Lure the kids to the table by handing out patriotic cookies as sweet prizes.
4. Patriotic Yard Bowling
Start saving your cans! You’ll need 10 of ’em for this fun game. Use paint or red, white and blue tape to decorate each can. Then, stack them in a pyramid shape and let the kids knock them down with a wiffle ball.
5. American History Trivia
Who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence? Find out which of your guests knows their stuff with some American history trivia. Have a different set of questions for the kids and the adults. You can get some ideas from The Great Book of American Trivia.
6. Flag Hunt
Instead of eggs, hide tiny flags around the yard or picnic grounds for the kids to find. Mark one of the flags and give the finder a special prize.
Our Best Red, White and Blue Desserts
Patchwork Quilt CakeThis cake has a great homemade flavor and tender crumb. Be sure to pile on the buttery frosting, which adds a burst of vanilla. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Oatmeal Cookie Ice Cream SandwichesIf you’re tight on time, you can use store-bought cookies, but I highly recommend making these oatmeal chocolate cookies from scratch. The dessert sandwiches are pure fun. Sometimes I decorate the sides of the sandwiches with colorful jimmies, too. —Diane Halferty, Corpus Christi, Texas
Banana SplitA classic banana split is a nostalgic delight. Complete with bananas, three different ice creams, strawberries, pineapples, peanuts, chocolate sauce and whipped cream, it’s best served for two.
Berry, Lemon and Doughnut Hole TrifleAfter my son called and said he was bringing home his college roommates, I was able to whip up this quick yet impressive red, white and blue dessert in only a few minutes. It's been a family favorite ever since. —Ellen Riley, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Red-White-and-Blue Berry DelightLoaded with fresh strawberries and blueberries, this luscious red, white and blue dessert is perfect for any Fourth of July celebration! —Constance Fennell, Grand Junction, Michigan
Ensure your holiday weekend goes off without a hitch with these Memorial Day cookout recipes.
Patriotic PizzasHere's a pie-in-the-sky-idea—fruit pizzas you decorate like a high-flyin' flag! You can decorate it with stripes for the U.S. or with a maple leaf for Canada. Both designs consist of tangy fruit and smooth cream cheese over a tender crust. Since each version is simple to make, you can quickly create either one for a summer picnic or patriotic party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Star-Spangled ParfaitsThe best time for this red, white and blue dessert is midsummer, right after an amazing barbecue feast. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors.—Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts
Red, White & Blue Berry TrifleThis red, white and blue dessert tastes best if made the day before serving. Keep additional berries on hand for decoration. —Kaia McShane, Munster, Indiana
Bomb Pop CookiesThe sound of the ice cream truck has even my husband running out to the curb with money in hand. Our neighborhood has a big potluck on the Fourth of July, so I decided to make cookies that resemble Bomb Pops. These were a big hit! —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon. Looking for more ideas? Check out our collection of easy 4th of July desserts.
Easy Berry Cheesecake ParfaitsThese sweet little parfaits take everything that's wonderful about cheesecake and make it way easier. You get the rich creaminess, graham cracker crunch and bright berry flavor all in fun individual portions. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Springtime Beignets & BerriesI've always loved beignets, but never thought I could make them myself. Turns out they're easy! Sometimes I'll even make a quick berry whipped cream and pipe it inside for a fun surprise. —Kathi Hemmer, Grand Junction, Colorado
Two-Berry Fluff SaladThis fluffy salad is a welcome treat on warm Texas afternoons. Because there's a blueberry orchard near our home, we often pick up berries to use in this recipe and others. When blueberries and strawberries aren't in season, you can substitute frozen berries with equally good results. —Karen Wenzel, Conroe, Texas
Mixed Berry PieOur berry pie is the best way to use up those beautiful summer berries. Colorful, juicy berries are tucked into a homemade all-butter pie crust that dares not get a soggy bottom and stays perfectly flaky all the way through.
Patriotic Cookies & Cream CupcakesBring on the red, white and blue with these creative cupcakes. They're the perfect Memorial Day dessert. With some delicious and colorful frosting and a careful arrangement, your sweet display will be a patriotic nod to our great American flag. —Rebecca Wetherbee, Marion, Ohio. Make sure you check out our collection of 4th of July cupcakes.
Berries & Cream TorteIt's so easy to see why this fruity dessert always impresses dinner guests. I sometimes substitute the berries with sliced bananas.—Tina Sawchuk, Ardmore, Alberta
Berry TartletsBring red, white and blue together in these delectable miniature tarts. Raspberries and blueberries both work well with the whipped cream and lemon curd mixture—or choose your favorite berries instead. These sweet treats are great for a ladies tea, brunch or patriotic celebration. —Mary J. Walters, Westerville, Ohio
All-American Sheet CakeMy sweet and tangy sheet cake piled with fresh whipped cream and juicy fruit is so good, you might just want to eat it for breakfast. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Red, White and Blue Frozen LemonadeThis red, white and blue drink is as pretty as it is delicious. With cherries, blueberries and lemon juice, we created a striped lemonade that is perfect for a Fourth of July celebration. —Shawn Carleton, San Diego, California
Peach Blueberry CobblerEveryone loves a peach blueberry cobbler. This one is the perfect, scrumptious treat! If you're taking it to a party, you might want to make another one for yourself. There won't be leftovers! —Laura Jansen, Battle Creek, Michigan
Creamy Layered Blueberry Ice PopsThese delicious ice pops can also be made with raspberries or blackberries. The rosemary sprig and lemon zest bring another layer of flavor. The pops are quick, easy, kid-friendly and freezable. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
Crispy Star PopsThese red, white and blue patriotic pops are a hit at our annual Fourth of July get-together. Serve them as an after-picnic dessert. Or slip them into cellophane bags, tie on ribbons and give them as favors. —Colleen Sturma, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Chocolate Cherry Layer CakeThis luscious cake is really versatile for all-year fun. I've changed the design on top to a heart for Valentine's, a pumpkin for autumn and a tree for Christmas. —Flo Burtnett, Gage, Oklahoma
Patriotic Frozen DelightMy husband and I pick lots of fruit at berry farms in the area and freeze it to enjoy all year long. This red, white and blue dessert has a refreshing lemon flavor. —Bernice Russ, Bladenboro, North Carolina
All-American PieWith apples, cherries and blueberries, this patriotic slab pie even tastes American. If the day doesn't call for stars and stripes, feel free to use any shaped cookie cutters you like for this awe-inspiring potluck dessert. —James Schend, Culinary Deputy Editor, Taste of Home
Patriotic Gelatin SaladAlmost as spectacular as the fireworks, this lovely salad makes quite a "bang" at our July Fourth meal. It's exciting to serve, and our guests loved the cool fruity and creamy layers. This salad really added to my patriotic theme. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Lemon-Berry ShortcakeThis simple lemon shortcake is tender and not overly sweet. Enjoy this summertime classic with a generous layer of whipped topping and berries. —Meryl Herr, Overland Park, Kansas
Patriotic Ice Cream CupcakesThese frosty cupcakes are practically a fireworks display on their own. The little treats feature red velvet cake, blue moon ice cream, a creamy white topping and star-spangled sprinkles. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Red, White ‘n’ Blue TorteMy guests see fireworks when I turn a frozen pound cake into a patriotic pleaser! Assemble this red, white and blue torte early in the day and keep it in the refrigerator until it's time for dessert. It's the best way to end your summer BBQ. —Margery Bryan, Moses Lake, Washington
Patriotic PopsMy kids love homemade ice pops, and I love knowing that the ones we make are good for them. We whip up a big batch with multiple flavors so they have many choices, but these patriotic red, white and blueberry ones are always a favorite! —Shannon Carino, Frisco, Texas
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice CreamAfter sampling this flavor at an ice cream stand, I kept trying to duplicate it until it was just right. This blueberry cheesecake ice cream is a hit! —Melissa Symington, Neche, North Dakota
Red, White 'n' Blue SaladOur striking "flag" salad drew plenty of attention at our Independence Day party. The shimmering stripes are formed with distinctive gelatin layers. It makes you want to salute before spooning some up! —Laurie Neverman, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Originally Published: June 08, 2020
