How TO CELEBRATE
INDEPENDENCE DAY

Between the parades and jaw-dropping fireworks displays, July Fourth means backyard barbecues or other down-home celebrations. Make yours a spectacular salute to the nation—right down to the table settings and menu offerings. Don’t forget to hang the real Old Glory, too. See right for how to fold it properly post-festivities.

A Fresh Fourth

• With its patriotic palette, Independence Day parties are as easy as red, white, and blue—or flag motifs. Light the grill, string the party lights, and chill the drinks—plus see the following ideas.

Create a common motif: Stars-and-stripes is an appropriate theme, of course, but that doesn’t mean going overboard. Buy striped linens, or DIY with the embellishments:

• Use craft paint and stamps (rubber or made from a potato) or stencils to decorate a tablecloth, runner, and/or napkins.
• Inexpensive glass tumblers, carafes, and pitchers can also be easily painted or stamped; same for serving trays.
• Fill mason jars with bands of red, white, and blue sand to hold votive or taper candles.
• A drop cloth from a hardware store makes a durable outdoor table covering; hang curtain clips, each strung with two or three fishing sinkers, from the corners (use pliers to pry clips open and closed).

upgrade the food: Aim for ease over effort, especially if you’ll be serving a range of ages.

• Update burgers and hot dogs by serving them with not-the-usual toppings, such as kimchi or chutney, chipotle or Sriracha mayonnaise, and house-cured pickles (see page 307), for just a few examples.
• Give grilled corn different toppings, such as chile powder, lime zest and juice, and chopped cilantro or softened butter flavored with fresh herbs or spices.
• Tweak potato salad by tossing grilled fingerling potatoes and scallions with olive oil, sherry vinegar, and copious fresh herbs.
• For an easy striped dessert, layer raspberry, coconut, and blueberry sorbets in a loaf pan (lined with plastic wrap for easy unmolding), freeze until set, then slice to serve.
• Or make a berry pie, cutting stars out of the top crust with a cookie cutter before baking (see opposite for another dessert).

rethink the drinks: Besides beer and wine, which can be chilling in several coolers around the yard, consider offering a signature cocktail.

• Red-wine sangria with sliced citrus, firecracker punch made with watermelon and vodka, Aperol spritzers, and Negronis are all aptly hued offerings. Margaritas and mojitos are always surefire crowd-pleasers.

keep pesky intruders at bay: Make sure flying pests don’t spoil all the fun.

• Run fans near where food is served and eaten; keep food and sugary beverages covered until they are served.
• Bees are attracted to sweet-smelling flowers (such as peonies and roses); best to avoid having these blooms as centerpieces.
• Place pots of peppermint, lavender, and lemon balm (all natural insect repellents) on the table, or combine in bouquets.
• Offer guests DEET-free insect-repellent bracelets, sprays, and wipes.

Flag Folding How-To

It takes two people to fold the flag properly, as it should never touch the ground.

1. Both people should hold out the flag waist-high, right side up, with its surface parallel to the ground. Fold the flag in half lengthwise, bringing the striped lower section over the canton (the blue field of stars).

2. Fold it again lengthwise, bringing the canton to the outside.

3. Start a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge up to meet the open edge. The outer point is then turned inward to form a second triangle. Continue folding the flag in this manner eight more times. These triangular folds bring the red and white stripes into the star-strewn blue field, symbolizing the day’s light vanishing into the darkness of the night.