Bring on the Fireworks: 15 Fun 4th of July Activities for Adults

Fourth of July is a full day of fun, but the fireworks show doesn’t start until the sun goes down. So, how are you and your friends going to entertain yourselves in the meantime? We have a few ideas.

Since your guests are all grown-up (even if they don’t act like it), we’ve rounded up our favorite 4th of July activities for adults. If a few of your friends have kids, they can bring along the little ones. Many of these ideas are fun for the whole family — just make sure to label the adults-only beverages appropriately.

Speaking of adults-only beverages, we have America-inspired activities to test your knowledge of this nation’s favorite drinks, food, games, and beyond. Get ready to party like it’s 1776 — it’s America’s birthday, y’all!

15 Fun 4th of July Activities for Adults

These 4th of July activities for adults will inspire even the biggest wallflower in your friend group to get involved. We’ve also included a few suggestions for matching 4th of July party invitations — because there’s nothing we love more than an on-theme online invite. The text on all Greenvelope invites is customizable, so you can update it with your July party theme and details.

Once you’ve got your invites and activities picked out, your Independence Day soirĂ©e will be underway!

1. All-American Lawn Games

Design: Laura Bolter Design

Invite Idea: Let the Games Begin Invitations

One of our favorite 4th of July party ideas, there’s no better way to celebrate an American summer than with outdoor games. Set up stations for corn hole, ring toss, and croquet. You can also beat the heat with a water balloon toss, or you can encourage a little adult debauchery with some drinking games, like beer pong and flip cup.

2. Hot Dog Eating Contest

Design: Claudia Owen

Invite Idea: Hot Dog, It’s a BBQ! Invitations

Let’s be real: food is at the center of any adult party. And as far as we’re concerned, you’re never too old to play with your food. You can host a TV-style hot dog eating contest and see how many dogs your friends can down in two minutes, or you can offer a prize to the person who eats the most hot dogs throughout the day. If your friends aren’t into stuffing their faces, you can have a blindfolded mustard tasting contest and give a prize to the person who can correctly guess the most varieties of mustard.

3. BYO BBQ

Design: Jen Montgomery

Invite Idea: Red White BBQ Invitations

Ah, the classic backyard barbecue. This is a fun way to divide your party into two groups — the people who grill and the people who chill. The grillers can stand around the flames, making comments like “Oh, yeah. That looks ready,” while the chillers stand around the drinks table, making comments like, “I brought Jell-O shots!”

Organize your BBQ in the bring-your-own style, and ask everyone to bring their favorite grillin’ food. Then, throw each item on the fire when it arrives. It’s less work for you, and you get to try a wider variety of foods.

4. Low Country Boil

Design: Lisa Travis

Invite Idea: Classic Crustacean Invitations

Barbecues aren’t the only Americana cookout. For a Low Country boil, all you need is a big pot of boiling water, your favorite shellfish, sausage, corn, potatoes, melted butter, and Old Bay seasoning.

Boil it all up, drain it, toss it on a picnic table covered in newspaper, and get ready to get your hands dirty. Peeling all that shellfish is an activity in and of itself. Plus, you can spend the day making jokes like, “Don’t be shellfish, pass me some more shrimp” — because there’s nothing more American than a dad joke.

5. American Beer Tasting

Design: Jessica Williams

Invite Idea: Brew Bash Invitations

Fireworks won’t be the only thing getting lit this year. America is home to big brand brews and microbrews. And in case you’re wondering, our Founding Fathers drank a lot of beer. Celebrate this American tradition with a beer tasting. You can bring in some of your favorite local brews and taste them side-by-side with classic American beers, like Yuengling and Sam Adams. Have your friends comment on each beer like they’re the professional cicerones they think they are.

6. Red, White, and Blue Wine Tasting

Design: Anna K Design

Invite Idea: Sparklers & Spritzers Invitations

The best 4th of July theme is red, white, and blue. And we already know wine comes in red and white — that gets us two-thirds of the way there. But what about blue wine? It’s a thing.

Some European winemakers are creating a blue wine that’s naturally colored with grape must. But you can also stick with an American-wines-only theme by serving reds and whites from California, Oregon, or Virginia (one of the oldest wine regions in the U.S.), alongside some American blueberry wines.

7. Red, White, and Booze Popsicles

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invite Idea: Ice Pop Fun Invitations

Break out the popsicle sticks, it’s time to make some boozy ice pops. You can use tried and tested recipes in on-theme Americana colors, or you can challenge your friends to a “does it freeze?” contest. Start your party by having everyone mix up their own idea of an alcoholic ice pop. Then, pop them in the freezer. Toward the end of the party, take them out to see whose recipe worked. This adults-only July dessert will be the perfect send-off for a hot summer day.

8. Watermelon Tap Contest

Design: Claudia Owen

Invite Idea: Classic Watermelon Invitations 

Here’s another idea that will have your guests feeling the American spirit. For this one, start by hollowing out a few small watermelons. Save the fruit, and serve it as a side dish. Now, use a watermelon tapping kit, and add a tap to each melon. Then, fill the inside with beer or a watermelon-flavored seltzer.

Here’s where the fun begins. Have your friends partner up, and see which dynamic duo really knows how to get the party started. One team member will be the designated drinker, and the other will hold the watermelon above their partner’s head, open the tap, and pour the drink into their partner’s mouth. The team that empties their watermelon first wins.

9. American History Trivia

Design: Anna K Design

Invite Idea: Let Freedom Ring Invitations

Find out which of your friends is the best American with a little American history trivia. You can play this game as every person for themselves or have your friends split up into two or more teams. Hand out on-theme prizes for the winners, like mini American flags or Uncle Sam hats.

10. 4th of July Movie Quiz

Design: Stellax Creative

Invite Idea: Movie Popcorn Invitations

If your buddies are movie buffs, play short clips from some ‘Merica-themed movies, like “Independence Day,” “The Patriot,” and “The American President.” See which person can guess the most movie titles, and hand out a prize for the winner. An American movie screening is also a perfect way to take your 4th of July party indoors if it looks like rain.

11. 4th of July Song Quiz

Design: Bonjour Berry

Invite Idea: Party in the USA Invitations

Get your playlist ready with tunes like “Born in the U.S.A.,” “American Woman,” and “American Pie.” (Or work smarter and not harder by finding a pre-made playlist on Spotify.) Then, play 10-second clips of each song and see who can guess the title. If your friends are too far gone for a guessing game, try a sing-along instead. Nothing says, “It’s a party” like a bunch of adults shouting “Kids in America” at the top of their lungs.

12. 4th of July Crafts Table

Design: Annie Montgomery Design

Invite Idea: Patchwork Frame Invitations 

Hey, even adults like a little wholesome fun from time to time. Set up a craft table with a printable tutorial and supplies for Mason jar candle holders. Lay out some wreath forms with red, white, and blue ribbons so everyone can make door decor. Or select some stencils and T-shirt paints so your friends can design their own patriotic attire. The DIY-ers in your group will be entertained all day.

13. July 4th Photo Booth

Design: Claudia Owen

Invite Idea: Shimmery Fireworks Invitations

If it’s not on social media, did your 4th of July party even happen? Bring out your friends’ inner influencers by setting up a photo booth backdrop on one of your walls. It’s easy to do — just cover the wall in as many party decorations as possible. Add a few 4th of July photo props (you can even have everyone make their own props at your craft table), then ask everyone to strike a pose.

14. Glow Stick Party

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Invite Idea: Lit Fourth Invitations

If you wouldn’t trust your friends with sparklers — let alone a full-blown fireworks display — get all the fun without the fire hazard by hosting a glow stick party. Fill your party space with black lights, hand out red and blue glow sticks, and ask everyone to wear white T-shirts. Add some glow-in-the-dark shirt or body paint (just don’t get the two confused!), and you can light up the night with red, white, and blue.

15. Independence Day Bonfire

Design: Keen Peachy

Invite Idea: Bold BBQ Flame Invitations

Another glowing way to end your July 4th evening is with a bonfire to cook hotdogs on sticks or roast marshmallows for s’mores. Plus, it gives everyone a cozy place to gather after the fireworks show is over.

4th of July Just Grew Up

America is nearly 250 years old — we think she would approve of a few grown-up activities on her birthday. So, fill your 4th of July celebration with BBQs, beer and wine tastings, trivia, glow sticks, and bonfires. If you need more grown-up ideas, check out our favorite dinner party games and pool party ideas for adults.

Once you’ve decided on your favorite 4th of July activities for adults, find a matching invite on Greenvelope. With our online invitations, you can browse hundreds of designs, choose your favorite, and customize everything from the wording to the color scheme. Then, send your invites directly to your guest’s inboxes, and collect RSVPs without getting dozens of texts or keeping a manual headcount.

This 4th of July, declare your independence from paper invites! America’s forests will thank you for it.