Get your family spending time together outdoors this Independence Day with these unique outdoor family things to do on 4th of July weekend!
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There’s truly no better way to have a fourth of July celebration, than to spend the long weekend outdoors. Nothing gets me in the patriotic spirit more than being out in the sun with my family, enjoying the summer heat during the day, and a colorful fireworks show at night.
Now we all love the classic July festivities that everyone participates in like a local parade with marching bands, fireworks show, pool party, or even a road trip to see family. There’s no doubt these are fun things to do to spend quality time with the family.
Sometimes, though, it feels good to switch things up. Especially if that means more family-friendly activities, more time spent in the great outdoors, and less time spent on social media.
That’s why I wanted to create this list so you can find the perfect way to celebrate America’s birthday outside this year whether you have younger or older kids.
These are the best ways to get your family bonding over time spent in summer sun, and they’re all budget-friendly!
So if you’re looking to have a great time and start new traditions the fun way, keep scrolling through this list of family things to do on 4th of July weekend for the best inspiration.
10 Outdoor Family Things to do on 4th of July Weekend
Related to Family Things to do on 4th of July:
- 15 Creative Backyard Barbecue Decor Ideas
- 25 Beautiful Rustic 4th of July Decor Ideas
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1. Build Your Own Movie Drive-In
An awesome way to get the family enjoying time together outdoors is to set up an outdoor movie night!
It would be a blast to go full drive in and put the projector screen on your garage door. Just set up one of your vehicles with picnic blankets and popcorn for a mosquito-free viewing experience.
If you don’t have a driveway, set it up in your own backyard with blankets or lawn chairs for seating! Go all out with string lights and tiki torches for a good time with the whole family.
2. Host the Yard Game Olympics
One thing about me is I’m going to COMPETE when it comes to outdoor games. If you have more competitive members in your family like me, host a yard game Olympics to foster friendly competition!
All you need is 3 or 4 yard games (think corn hole, badminton, totem tennis, or bocce). Set them up throughout your yard and set up the games tournament style with a bracket.
It’s even more fun if you create medals for first, second, and third place! This is great fun for just your family, or you can easily invite other families to be a part of the day as well.
3. Have a Water Gun Fight
There’s absolutely nothing better in the middle of July than a good old fashioned water gun fight. It can be hard to want to spend time outside when it’s so hot, but this is your solution!
You don’t need to spend a ton on fancy water guns. Buy what you can find at the dollar store, throw in some water balloons for a water balloon fight, and no one in sight will be complaining.
Water gun fights are especially fun with obstacles so think of ways you can either optimize your backyard, or a good local park near you with a great area to play!
4. Draw Driveway Launch Pads with Chalk
If you plan on letting off fireworks in your driveway with the family in the evening, spend the day creating fun launch pad designs with chalk!
Have your little ones create fun circular designs with big explosions and countdowns, then use their artwork for more fun during your firework display.
Bonus points, you can also use the chalk for safety measure by drawing “don’t go past this point” lines if you know some of your fireworks require distance.
5. A Backyard Barbecue Picnic
When it comes to family things to do on 4th of July weekend, a backyard picnic is certainly not a new concept, but they’re just so fun it has to be included!
I love backyard barbecues so much that I dedicated a whole post to my favorite backyard barbecue decor ideas to make your yard party ready.
The smell of hot dogs, a huge cooler you have to slice your hand in to find the coldest soda, and napkins blowing away in the wind are the recipe for a perfect summer afternoon.
6. Follow Your Favorite Food Truck
I’m the kind of person that finds my favorite food trucks and follows them religiously. I highly recommend this approach.
Food trucks easily have some of the best food you will ever find and there’s something so nostalgic about eating good food out of a cardboard boat. Most food vendors try to book events on the 4th due to the large number of people trying to get outside.
Find your favorite food truck, follow them on socials, and track where they plan to be for the holiday. This might be my favorite on this list of family things to do on 4th of July weekend!
7. Find Live Music
One of my favorite things about 4th of July weekend is how many outdoor concerts you can find around town. From carnivals to holiday festivals, most every town has some kind of event.
Because it’s such a family centric holiday, these concerts are usually very family friendly and a great way to get your little ones outdoors.
Check your nearest outdoor amphitheaters or you city’s parks and rec schedule to get a feel for the live entertainment planned around town for family things to do on 4th of July weekend.
8. Rent a Water Sport
Water sports with the family are SO fun, but most families aren’t able to do them enough to justify the cost of all the expensive equipment necessary.
Thankfully, this means that rentals for water sports are easy to find and often very affordable!
From paddle boarding to canoeing and kayaking, getting everyone together out on the water to beat the summer heat is my idea of the perfect July 4th. Especially if it includes an ice cream run once you’re back on land.
9. Take an Evening Leisurely Ride
Growing up in a small town, one of my favorite things to do for an Independence Day celebration was drive around in the evening when the air was thick with firework smoke.
Is it the best things for your lungs? Maybe not. But something about that smell will always stick with me and make me feel so nostalgic.
Give your entire family the gift of a happy childhood memory and opt for an evening drive around the neighborhood to try and spot fireworks with the windows down.
10. Plan a Block Party
Let’s bring back the block party! Everyone I know grew up watching Sandlot and I think we all know the classic 4th of July scene from that movie.
I have always wanted to have a block party that resembled the one from the film, but I’ve never seen or even heard of a block party happening near me.
So I’m on a mission to recreate this movie memory for myself this year and plan a good old fashioned family fun block party. To get in touch with your neighbors, leave invites in their mailboxes or even check if your neighborhood has a Facebook page for events.
Related to Family Things to do on 4th of July:
- 15 Creative Backyard Barbecue Decor Ideas
- 25 Beautiful Rustic 4th of July Decor Ideas
- Creative Cabin Activities for the Entire Family
