July 4th is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for the biggest party of the summer. Prepping for a large party can be daunting, so we’ve created this checklist to help ensure your Fourth of July party goes off without a hitch.
Food and grill. After all, what’s a party without food? If you’re hosting a 4th of July party, it’s probably outdoors and that means grilling.
- Make sure to have all your meats ready for the grill. That means bought, defrosted, marinated.
- Bite-sized snacks like chips are a must. Dip is always a good idea, too.
- Stock up on refreshments.
- If you’re hosting a potluck, make sure people have what they’re supposed to bring.
- If you still find yourself caught up with party preparations with no time to get last minute groceries, you can get a Tasker’s help.
- Clean your grill. Unless you barbecue often, chances are it could use some scrubbing.
- Check if you have all your grilling supplies and that the grill works. You don’t want to run out of propane or coal or have it malfunctioning the day of.
- Have enough cutlery for your guests. More likely than not you’ll be providing plastic tableware and paper plates, so be sure to have plenty.
Backyard. Your guests will be spending most of their time outside, so it should look nice.
- Trim your lawn and weeds.
- Sweep up leaves, dirt, and other debris.
- Have ample lawn chairs for your guests. If you’re expecting a big party, make sure there are enough seats for everyone!
- In a similar vein, have some tables for people to put their food on.
- If you haven’t already, clean your chairs and tables. Spiderwebs aren’t the most welcoming sight.
- If you have a fire pit, check if you have enough firewood. You might want to have skewers for hot dogs and s’mores too.
House. Although the party will be outside for the most part, people will be coming inside if it gets chilly as the evening progresses and for the bathroom.
- Clean up. Vacuum the floor, couches, anything that might be dustier than you’d like. You might even want to scrub down your bathroom.
- Reorganize and rearrange furniture and belongings. This means fixing rugs, putting the couches in the right place, and putting away old newspapers.
- Kitchen check: aside from cleaning, ensure your sink and dishwasher are working and definitely not full of dirty plates.
Decorations. A Fourth of July party won’t feel right without the proper decorations.
- Buy red, white and blue decor. Lawn pinwheels, streamers, banners, flags.
- A tablecloth or centerpiece can always spruce up a table.
- String lights always add extra charm to an environment. They’ll also come in handy as the sky darkens.
Activities. A party isn’t much without some entertainment.
- Come up with some games your guests can play while waiting for food.
- If your yard is big enough and you’ve got kids coming over, water balloons and squirt guns will provide plenty of entertainment. Fill them up beforehand.
- Fireworks are quintessential to a Fourth of July celebration. Whether it’s watching them on TV, in person, setting off firecrackers, or lighting sparklers, make sure they’re part of your event.
Pool. If you’ve got a pool, chances are it will be the main attraction second to only the food (especially if kids are involved).
- Clean the pool. You can’t have people swimming unless it’s properly cleaned and filtered.
- Have pool noodles and floaties on hand.
Don’t wait until the last minute. Kick off your Fourth of July with the help of a Tasker.
