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Go USA!

A Patriotic Summer Party

When summer comes along the best parties tend to be held outdoors, so we put together some great ideas for a patriotic backyard bbq that is all about having a great time. We will show you step by step how to throw a patriotic party that combines red, white and blue decorations, classic American food, and fun summer party games for a party full of patriotic pride! Go USA!

Go USA! Party Invitations

Invite your friends and family over to blow off some steam at your Go USA Party! It doesn't have to be a holiday for you to have your friends over for some good food and a bit of imbibing. Who says you can't have a party for the sake of having a ton of fun? Not the Party Girl!

A personalized patriotic invitation is a perfect way to get everyone excited about your party. A great invitation means a great party and will separate your party from the pack. Since summer is cookout  season (not to mention wedding season) send the invites out as soon as you can.

You can always make your own invitations. Stick with the patriotic theme by using red, white and blue paper, flag stickers or patriotic confetti to dress them up. Fun wording will let everyone know what the party is about -

Come and blow off some steam at our

Go USA Party

Where we will celebrate our great county with

BBQ, beer and a water balloon fight!

You can feature any activity you plan on having. Just remember, the only rule is to keep it fun!

Go USA! Summer Party Supplies and Decorations

Keep your decorations simple with just a few great eye-catching items. Crepe paper and red, white, and blue latex balloon bouquets will dress up any backyard without breaking the bank. Use uninflated balloons filled with sand for balloon weights and tie the bouquets off with coordinating curling ribbon. We also love this "We Love The USA" banner because it really enforces your theme.

Get your guests involved in the decorations. Have everyone leave a message with why they love America on a large piece of poster board or a personalized sign in board. You can set it on an easel or table and decorate the area with a balloon bouquet so that guests are drawn there to leave their sentiments.
 

Your next step is to decorate all of your guests. I believe it is physically impossible to have a bad time at a patriotic party when you are wearing a goofy hat and a necklace of some sort, don't you agree? Here are a few of our favorite red white and blue wearbles that are inexpensive so you can buy in bulk and dress all of your lucky guests:

• Skimmer Hat

• Patriotic Leis

• Red White & Blue Beads

• Patriotic Kit For 25

Once everyone has a hat and a horn to toot you can move on the the real reason everyone loves summer parties... the food :)
 

Go USA! Table Decorations and Menu

Outdoor parties are best served buffet style. You may want to consider going semi-potluck - you can provide the main course and guests can bring a side dish. Either way you want to offer some classic American food to you guests. Here is our vision of a perfect menu -

• Hamburgers and Hot Dogs with all of the fixings

• Fried Chicken

• Garden Salad

• Fries or Baked Potatoes

• Baked Beans

• Coleslaw

• Fruit Salad or Fruit Kabobs

• Cornbread and Rolls

• Red, White and Blue Layered Jell-O or Berry Flag Cheesecake

You can cover the tables in red and blue table cloths and serve the food on with disposable paper goods. Or use white plastic tablecloths and use these fun flag themed Stars & Stripes paper goods!

For you drinks fill coolers and buckets (or this inflatable flag cooler) with ice and serve an assortment of bottled beverages. A pitcher of ices tea and a pitcher of lemonade on each table is a nice touch. Think about serving one specialty drink to your guests. Here is an apple flavored martini that is very sweet with a surprise around the rim -

Rockets' Red Glare Martini

• Lime Wedge
• Package of Blue Pop Rocks
• 1/2 oz Butterscotch Schnapps
• 2 oz Vodka
• 2 oz Red Apple Schnapps
• 2 oz Cranberry Juice

Start with a chilled cocktail glass and rub the rim with a lime wedge. Empty a packet of Pop Rocks onto a small plate and press the rim of the glass into the candy to coat the rim. Pour the butterscotch schnapps, vodka, apple schnapps, and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker over ice, strain into the glass.

If you do one thing to dress up your drinks, get these patriotic drink holders and flag umbrellas. They are one of those little touches that will go a long way in making the atmosphere a festive one.

Go USA! Summer Party Games and Activities

An outdoor party is incomplete without a few games to liven things up!

Karaoke or Talent Show - This is my favorite party activity! You can do this karaoke style or break people into teams and let them do a performance. Hand out inflatable patriotic guitars and microphones so everyone can release their favorite rock star! Keep the playlist to a patriotic theme, here are a few ideas to get you started -

• Only in America - Brooks & Dunn
• Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash
• Proud to be an American, Lee Greenwood
• Back In The U.S.A. - Chuck Berry
• American Pie by Don McLean
• Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young
• This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
• Born in the U.S.A.- Bruce Springsteen
• Freedom - The Isley Brothers
• My Country ‘Tis Of Thee - Crosby & Nash

Water Balloon Fight - This is a great activity that will get everyone involved and cooled off at the same time! You get party planning bonus points if you can find red, white and blue water balloons because it is all about the details :)

Spam Sculpture Contest - A great American invention, SPAM will cost you about as much as play dough and be twice as fun to mold. Just give everyone latex gloves because it takes forever to get that chopped pork shoulder meat smell off of your hands. Seriously.

Pie Eating Contest - Simple, the one who can eat a whole pie before anyone else is the winner. Remember, no hands allowed! Apple is a classic choice, but blueberry will make for some interestingly stained faces...

Don't forget to reward the winners with a blue ribbon or a gold medal for they valiant efforts.

Round out the days activities with various outdoor games such as baseball, volleyball, bocce or tag. Check out our Patriotic Party Games and our Summer Party Games for more great ideas!

Patriotic Party Favors

As the sun goes down hand out a fun party favor, red, white and blue glow necklaces. I bet you will be surprised at how much everyone loves these things!

Another great party favor is a candy bar that has been personalized with a custom wrapper from Creations For You. With lots of patriotic choices you are sure to find a "sweet" way to thank your guests for coming.

Have a happy and safe summer and Go USA!

Patriotic Party Planning and Decorating Ideas from Party411.com

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