Putting together a great Independence Day celebration is all about having solid Fourth of July party ideas... because the success or failure of your party will be all about how much 4th of July party planning you do.

The keyword in this case? PLANNING. While you can certainly throw a fun last-minute celebration, without the right planning, your party has a good chance of being a disappointment. You might find that your guests are already booked elsewhere and the food pickings at the nearest store look pretty shabby.

You'll find lots of Fouth of July party ideas right here. But there are also tons of recipes, decorating tips, planning help, and more at 4th of July Party Planning Ideas Central. So when you're done here, take a look at:

• 4th of July Party Decorating
• Picnic Games and Themes
• 4th of July Picnic Recipes
• 4th of July Appetizers
• Fun 4th of July Recipes for Cakes

Your July 4th: Getting Started Planning

So, you know you want to host a 4th of July party this year. So when should you start your planning? While you can leave it until two weeks or so if you have to, the best thing is to start putting together your 4th of July party planning ideas about six weeks ahead of the date

4th of July Invitations and Guest Lists

The most important Fourth of July party ideas to think out first? Your guests and your invitations, of course! While some people won't know what they're doing for the Fourth until the weekend before, some people plan way ahead! So be sure you get all the guests you want... plan your guest list and send out the invitations at least a month ahead.

Evite or Invitation? Online invitations and evites, are, of course, cheap (or free!) and easy. But real invitations can also be a lot of fun to send and receive. Below, you'll find a range of types of 4th of July invitations, from nice, customizable (and rather expensive) to fun and casual (and cheap) write-in invitations.

4th of July Party Theme Ideas

In order to get those invitations ready, however, first you need to determine where your party will be held, of course. But almost as important, you need to decide if you're going to have any party theme (other than red, white, and blue or patriotic, of course). Setting a theme for your party will help to lead all of your Fourth of July party ideas... and streamline all of your planning.

Fun 4th of July Themes. By far, one of the most customary and beloved "themes" for Independence Day is a 4th of July barbecue. This is an easy way to cook for a group, and if you use paper plates, cups etc., clean up is a breeze!

Some other good 4th of July party theme ideas are:

• Luau Party
• 60's or Hippie Party
• Disco Party
• Patriotic Scavenger Hunt Party
• 50 States Party (Everybody dresses/acts in character as somebody from a different state)
• Mexican Food Fiesta
• Christmas in July
• "White Trash" Party (not very PC, but fun!)

Check here for Fourth of July party ideas and all kinds of games and themes for a summer BBQ or picnic here!

Your 4th of July Party Menu: Getting it Started

Of course, some of the most important Fourth of July party ideas are going to revolve around... food!

Once you have your guest list made, you'll want to take an initial look at your party menu. No, you don't need to nail it all down six weeks in advance. But you do want a loose idea of what you'd like to have on the menu. Why? In case you want the guests to help out.

Who's Bringing What?Before sending out invitations is a good time to decide if you'll be asking your guests for food contributions. If you do (and I always suggest it, because it makes your life a lot easier on the day of the party-- and you want to relax, right), be sure to say so as part of the invitation.

If you like this 4th of July party planning idea, be sure to ask guests (or a few chosen guests) to tell you what they're making when they RSVP (that way you don't get 5 Flag cakes and 3 pots of beans). Or even make menu requests (one of my favorite Fourth of July party ideas when you want to keep things simple). Making requests won't come off pushy... it's just smart.

Planning Your 4th of July Recipes and Dishes

Gone through all your Fourth of July party ideas, and got a good idea of who's bringing what, and what you'll need to make yourself? Now that your 4th of July invitations have gone out, it's time to start planning your 4th of July party menu.

Main Dishes for the Fourth

When planning a main dish, one of my favorite Fourth of July party ideas is to use the grill! It keeps the cooking outside, lets the guests get involved, and is festive and fun.

Exactly what you plan to bring to the grill is really open to your taste buds and creativity, but be sure to provide a few simple crowd pleasers, as well, such as:

• Simple chicken grilled with BBQ sauce
• Cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and sausages
• BBQ Ribs
• Grilled Steaks and/or pork chops

Some other fun and creative summer recipes for the grill (and some picnic style recipes to eat cold) are:

• BBQ Turkey Legs (so fun to eat!)
• Beer Can Chicken
• BBQ Salmon or other fish
• Healthier Southern Style Fried Chicken (eaten cold, picnic-style)
• Picnic Sandwiches
• Chevre, Leek, Shallot Tart (eaten cold)
• Antipasto Platter

4th of July Side Dishes and Veggies

If your guests are bringing sides and dessert, all you have to focus on is having enough hot and cold storage for everything and suitable layout space. If, however, you're in charge of all or most of the party food, then you might want to look to side dishes that can sit out without too much worry.

A green salad or pasta salad are two good options. There's also spicy-sweet baked beans that are good hot or cold, some type of slaw, baby sausages or meatballs in a crock-pot with sauce, marshmallow treats, carrot cake, and so forth. Try to have a nice balance, and focus heavily on items that people can easily pick up with their fingers or a toothpick and then go to socialize.

Some more great Fourth of July party ideas for side dishes are:

• Marinated Grilled Veggie Skewers (put a different variety of veggies on different skewers, so guests can choose what they like best!)
• Grilled Pineapple (fresh or canned both work well)
• Cold Summer Gazpacho (make ahead!)
• Tangy Roasted Tomato Salad
• Cole Slaw
• Green Salads
• Potato Salad (I like this creamy roasted garlic version)

Truth is, there are lots of great Fourth of July party ideas out there for veggies and side dishes (on the grill and otherwise). One of my favorites? Corn.

Grilled Corn on the Cob. Want to know how to make corn on the grill? You can certainly just toss whole ears of corn on the grill once you soak the husks, but there's another option too. Soak the husks, and then open them on one side (be careful to leave them intact). Take softened butter to which you've added a little chipotle, salt, limejuice and perhaps garlic. Wrap the cob back up, securing it together with cooking twine. In no time you'll have Tex-Mex style corn on the cob hot off the grill for guests to enjoy.

Or try this wonderful recipe for Hoisin Grilled Corn on the Cob.

If you plan to set up your Fourth of July food buffet-style, check this page for tips on setting up and decorating a buffet table for a party.

4th of July Party Desserts

Of course, no 4th of July party is complete without a festive patriotic dessert! IFortunately, I've got tons of 'em right here at Divine Dinner Party. For a bunch of fabulous patriotic desserts for the Fourth of July, check out:

• THE American Flag Cake: Both Traditional and Not-so-Traditional!
• 4th of July Cake Ideas
• 4th of July Patriotic Cupcakes
• Fun and Festive 4th of July Desserts
• Creative 4th of July Cakes
• Cake Recipes for the Fourth
• Fourth of July Dessert Ideas and Recipes

4th of July Decorations and Preparation

Now that you've got all your 4th of July party planning ideas for food together, it's time to decorate!

Decorations, Indoors and Out

Looking for some Fourth of July party ideas for good decorations? You can get as elaborate as you wish in setting up your party area. The 4th of July is a casual occasion, so you don't need anything too fancy. This event is all about festive fun.

Red, white and balloons or streamers are very easy adornments in your Fourth of July party ideas "arsenal" that won't cost an arm and a leg. Want to get creative with your decorations? Check out the following pages:

• 4th of July Decorating Ideas
• Homemade 4th of July Decorations
• Fourth of July Yard Decorations
• 4th of July Centerpieces

Fun and Entertainment for a July 4th Party

While hanging out, eating, chatting, and watching the fireworks will be enough entertainment for most parties, sometimes you want to do a bit more to keep your guests entertained. For your party, you may want to pull out some lawn games, like croquet, horseshoes, or a cornhole game to help keep the kids busy till the fireworks begin. You can also play party games, such as:

• Icebreaker Games
• Drinking Games
• Scavenger Hunts
• The Cereal Box Game
• "Hot Camera" Game (like hot potato, with a camera)

You can find more ideas for games to play at Party Games Central.

Fourth of July Party Music. Rounding out the Fourth of July party ideas you need to think through, don't overlook the role of music. You don't need anything too loud, but it's fun to pick out selections with a U.S.A./Patriotic theme to match you're party's purpose. It brings everybody together and makes the whole event a ton of fun! A few good song ideas for a 4th of July party playlist are:

• American Woman - Lenny Kravitz
• American Girl - Tom Petty
• America - Simon and Garfunkel
• Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus
• Living In America - James Brown
• R.O.C.K in the U.S.A. - John Mellencamp
• In America - Charlie Daniels Band
• Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
• Surfin' Usa - Beach Boys
• God Bless The U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood

Party Seating and Set-Up

Seating. While it's fun to come up with lots of creative Fourth of July party ideas for cheerful decorations and silly games, there are some practical things to plan first... like seating! If you're planning to sit outside so you can watch fireworks, remember to get some chairs, lawn blankets, and perhaps dot the lawn with tiny Flags. If you know you'll be short on seating, ask those who can to bring their own chair for the festivities, or at least blankets they can sit on.

Plates and Service. In terms of buying enough paper goods, you need about 2-3 napkins per guest, 4 plastic cups per person (particularly for outdoor gatherings), 2 small bowls and two sturdy picnic plates, and enough cutlery so everyone can loose a fork or two and not worry. Check here for some tips on setting up your 4th of July buffet. LINK

Drinks, Coolers, Trash, etc. When you're setting everything up, make sure to put coolers in a location where there's easy access. Likewise, have trash cans in several spots to encourage guests to keep up with their own garbage. This will ease end-of-day cleanup greatly.