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Uncle Sam Wants You!

An Independence Day Celebration

Uncle Sam has become a symbol for America and all her freedoms.  Why not have a July 4^th celebration that features Uncle Sam (and Lady Liberty too!) as your guest of honor?  With Uncle Sam inviting your guests and then welcoming them at the door how can your Independence Day party be less than spectacular?  So here are some patriotic party planning ideas that are perfect for a fun and different 4^th of July celebration.

Invitations

There are many ways to have festive patriotic invitations. For this particular party you should consider Party411's Creations for You Uncle Sam invitation.  If you would like to purchase invitations at your local party store that will work also but make sure you get a patriotic party invitation with a whole lot of red, white and blue in it.  Or maybe a flag invitation that captures the spirit of the occasion.

My favorite way to do patriotic invitations is to create them myself. The only rule is that there really are no rules. Find red, white, and blue everything! Search your house for scraps of colored construction paper, blue hair ribbon, white sequins from an old dress or costume, bandanas, and of course that red pom pom from an old sweater. Make each guest a different (one-of-a-kind collage) invitation. If you have children that can handle glue and scissors, that's even better! Let the kids put their own twist on the invitations, and make it a family affair.

Try a small plant with red, white, and blue pinwheels or American flags stuck in it and tie your invitation around it with festive ribbon.

Welcome Area

The welcoming area at a 4^th of July party is often very important. Your party is probably  going to be outside in the back.  You can’t be at the door to greet everyone.  So what are some options?  Try one of  Party411’s Creations for You Uncle Sam cutouts.  (LINK)   Add a speech bubble to welcome and direct your guests.

Or have a big welcoming banner  hanging to greet everyone.  Want festive?  Thinks about adding some patriotic balloons.  It’s a great way to add some color and help people identify where the best 4^th of July party in the neighborhood is being held.

If you really want to dazzle everyone think about meeting your guests wearing this Fun Uncle Sam costume. A bit much for you? At least consider a collapsible Uncle Sam top hat. Or maybe Uncle Sam wig, goatee and eyebrows .   The hostess should consider a Statue of Liberty costume. Lots of fun.

Decorations

For a complete selection of decorating ideas for your patriotic party, visit our Patriotic Party Goods section.

The American flag is usually a customary decoration, but there is no reason you can't spice things up a bit. Remember that patriotism is about freedom and fun! You can decorate with the usual red, white, and blue crepe paper and streamers, and even a banner or two. Red, white, and blue plates, plasticware, napkins, and tablecloths are also pretty much expected, but get creative! Remember those who've served America and dedicated their lives to making the United States a place of freedom. Patriotic balloons are almost a must, too.

A life size Uncle San standee is an attention getter and a real good photo op.  For your yard consider an airblown Uncle Sam.  Don’t forget to decorate your guests!  Try our Spirit of America for 25 package. They're jam-packed with everything for a patriotic party!  Or think about the giant Uncle Sam top hat.  Another great photo op!  Patriotic spectacles are always a hit and very inexpensive. 

Centerpieces - Think of everything that reminds you of America. For me it is Coca-Cola, baseball, Uncle Sam's top hat, apple pie, Barbie, and a multitude of other things. For this party you probably want to go with Uncle Sam top hat. Place each icon in the center of it's own table (if you have kids, you might have to bargain with them to use their toys), and tie some bright helium filled balloons to it.  Or take the top hat and add shredz and American flags for an Uncle Sam centerpiece.

Try plants with red, white, and blue flowers, and tie bandanas around the pots. You can stick pinwheels inside as well as other patriotic icons such as the Statue of Liberty and the Liberty Bell.  Sprinkling around some patriotic confetti is always a nice touch.

Seating Cards - If you are using different symbols of America as centerpieces, you can glue items that represent the symbols on each seating card. For example, you can glue a Barbie shoe to represent that table, a baseball gumball to represent the table of this country's favorite American pastime, and a bottlecap to represent one of America's favorite beverages.

Menu

          Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, anything barbecued /grilled, Cole slaw, fruit salad, etc. For dessert you can have apple pie, and cake.

What about decorating your cake to resemble a flag, or use cookie cutters to make star, flag, and Statue of Liberty cookies.  Don’t want to bake a cake?  How about a USA cake to dress up the table?

Activities

Kids get a kick out of glowing light sticks. Hand them out and they'll amuse themselves. Kids also love blinking flag beads or red, white and blue beads.

"Pin the Hat on Uncle Sam" - Give each child a small paper top hat to decorate as Uncle Sam's hat. Then blindfold each child, and have him try to stick the hat on Uncle Sam. The child who comes closest to putting the hat in the right place wins a prize. Prizes may also be awarded for the "most creative," "most colorful," etc. hats.

Have all of the kids make top hats that will fit them, and have a decorating contest (awarding a different prize to all kids- "most colorful", "most elaborate", most creative", etc.). Then have a parade around the neighborhood (wearing the new hats) to a famous march. Don't forget the universal bike parade where kids use crepe paper and the like to decorate their bikes to show off in the neighborhood. Watching a parade is hard work, so give the adults an American Flag Folding Fan.

Party Favors

You absolutely would want a personalized Uncle Sam candy bar to give to your guests.  You not only get to personalize the front of the bar but we let you select your own “ingredients”.

You might want to consider a personalized water bottle. It's a fabulous way to keep your guests cool and give them a favor they'll use again and again.