FOURTH OF JULY POOL PARTY

When Independence Day arrives and the weather is hot, there’s no better place to enjoy the spoils of summer than by the pool. Adults and children alike slip into their swimsuits and take a dip in the cool water for fun family memories that last a lifetime.

Throughout the summer we take full advantage of my parents’ beautiful pool. To say Emmaline is a water baby is an understatement—romps through the sprinkler fill our weekends, and for my fearless child, diving headfirst into the pool has never been anything but sheer joy.

By the time the Fourth of July rolls around, summer is at its peak, and I’m in party mode—ready to celebrate not only the season but also an America that has afforded us the opportunity and freedom to do so.

GET THE LOOK

Invite friends over for poolside fun late in the afternoon when the intense heat of the day begins to die down. No need to worry with a bunch of fussy decorations; let the pool be the star. Be sure to put out fresh towels for guests, and always appoint a designated adult to watch swimmers.

For this Fourth of July celebration, I combined brightly colored summer decor with traditional red, white, and blue for a super fun update. I displayed food outside on a blue-and-white gingham tablecloth, hung paper lanterns under colorful umbrellas, and stuck handfuls of American flags into potted plants. Mason jars made for great relaxed glassware, red bandanas served as napkins, and blue-and-white enamel plates were beautiful (and, more importantly, unbreakable) serviceware.

If you don’t have access to a pool, don’t sweat it! Use inflatable pools and a sprinkler to create a homemade splash pad for the kids. Turn on a bubble machine and some music, and let kids play while the adults socialize. Or, if you have a yard with a hill, use a tarp to make an oversized slip-n-slide and watch the adults beg the kids for a turn.

THE MENU

We ditched the traditional burgers and hot dogs for a more sophisticated (but still unfussy) menu. Tomato, mozzarella, and arugula pizzas with prosciutto and a balsamic glaze were irresistible served alongside mini Caesar salads topped with homemade Parmesan crackers. Watermelon wedges were made handheld by adding mini Popsicle sticks and then drizzled with fresh lime juice, chopped mint, and sea salt. I made a big batch of fresh lemonade for the group and cucumber watermelon margaritas for the adults.

ENJOY THE PARTY!

Don’t feel like everything has to be homemade all the time. Store-bought or catered treats can be a great stress reliever for the host. It’s all about the presentation—making sure that anything store-bought matches the look of the rest of the party.

For this party, in lieu of making dessert, I surprised guests mid-party with a gelato cart from Nashville’s Legato Gelato. Owner Terri-Ann served up mango and strawberry sorbetto alongside dark chocolate and Madagascar bourbon vanilla gelato on sugar cones. For summertime parties like this, I also like to include throwback Popsicles and ice cream novelties (think Bomb Pops, strawberry shortcake ice cream bars, and ice cream sandwiches) and serve them in a galvanized tub of ice. These are always instant hits with the adults, who love reminiscing about their own childhood favorites.

When dusk arrived, I set out vintage enamel buckets filled with sand and sparklers plus bubbles for kids who were too young for fireworks. Long red, white, and blue tubes of bubbles also served as party favors for the little ones to make leaving the pool a little less upsetting!