4th Of July Party Games With Sizzle And Bang Appeal!

FIREWORKS - If you live in an area where fireworks are allowed, then shoot off a few and put on a light show with some fun shells, repeating aerial displays, rockets, etc. If you're entertaining a younger crowd, be sure to have plenty of sparklers, fountains, poppers, and smokes.

WATER GUNS & SUPER SOAKERS - Invite your guests to bring all of their water guns and Super Soakers and let them cut loose. If you're looking for a more organized game, divide everyone into teams and let them play, as they would laser tag or paintball. If they are shot, they are out or down for the count of 10 or 20 and then back in the game. Obviously, their absence will make it tougher on their teammates.

WATER BALLOONS & WATER BALLS - Divide your group into teams and give each team plenty of water balloons or water balls with tubs of water for refills. Whichever team stays the driest shall be the winners.

FLAG RELAY - Divide everyone into two teams. For each team, place a bucket of sand filled with small American flags (1 per teammate) on the far side of the yard. On "Go!," the first person from each team races to their bucket, grabs a flag, and marches, as quickly as possible, back to their team (no running allowed). The game continues in the same fashion. Whichever team has all of their teammates, with flags in hand return to the starting line shall be the winners.

RED, WHITE, & BLUE FLAG TAG - Give everyone a red, white or blue strip of fabric and have them tuck it into the waist of their pants or into a back pocket. On "Go!", everyone runs around and tries to grab each other's flags. Whoever has the most flags at the end of the allotted time shall be the winner. You can either eliminate each person who loses their flag or allow them to continue to play. Once they obtain another flag, they must place it in their waist or back pocket. If they have more than one flag, if they happen to lose a flag, then they must put one of their "extra" flags into their pocket or waist of their pants.

EGG & SPOON RELAY - Divide your group into teams and give each team a wooden spoon and a bowl of raw eggs. On "Go," the first person of each team grabs an egg, balances it on the spoon (No more touching the egg), walks and runs to the finish line and back to their teammates, at which time they hand-off the spoon and egg. If they an egg is dropped, that person's turn is over and they loose a point. If they succeed, they receive a point. Whichever team finishes first and has the most points shall be the winner.

NAME IT! RED, WHITE & BLUE - Have everyone sit in a circle. The first person names something that is red (apple), the next person names something that is white (snowflake), and the last person names something that is blue (sky). The game continues in this fashion. Items named cannot be repeated and a person can't take longer than 5 seconds to come up with their item. If either of these infractions occur, that person is out. Game continues until only one person remains.

GATHER IT! RED, WHITE & BLUE - Give everyone a red, white, or blue poker chip. On "Go!," the kids run around tagging one another. When someone is tagged they must give up their chip to the person who tagged them. Whoever collects one red, white, and blue chip first shall be the winner.

All-American-Favorites

SACK RACE - Divide your guests into teams. The first person of each team puts both of their feet into a burlap sack, hops to the finish line, back to their teammates, and gets out of the sack. The relay continues with the next teammate repeating the above. Whichever teams gets through all of their teammates first are the winners. At all times, feet must remain in the sack, one hand must be on the sack, and the sack must not fall below the knees.

3-LEGED RACE - Divide your guests into teams of two and give each team one burlap sack. Teammates shall stand side-by-side and place the leg closest to the other teammate into the sack. On "Go!", the teams race to the finish line and the first one to arrive is the winner.

WHEELBARROW RACE - Divide your guests into teams of two and have one person from each team get down on all fours (the wheelbarrow) and the other person (the driver) hold on to the wheelbarrow's ankles. On "Go!", the teams "walk" to the finish line on the hands, with the feet being held up. The first team to cross the finish line shall be the winners.

BACKWARDS RACE - Divide your guests into teams. On "Go!", the first person of each team walks/runs backwards, while glancing over their shoulders to see where they are going, to the finish line and then runs back to their teammates. The relay continues with the next teammate repeating the above. Whichever teams gets through all of their teammates first are the winners.

PATRIOTIC STAR PINATA - Wrap bat with red, white and blue streamers and tie curling ribbons at the bottom of a bat. Blindfold each child and have them each take hits at the pinata.