How To Host a Fabulous (and Fun!) Fourth of July at Home

Many of us have long-established Fourth of July traditions we look forward to every year, whether we're grilling out with extended family, watching the fireworks at a community gathering, or traveling with friends to the beach or lake for a relaxing long weekend. For many of us, those traditions take place at our own dwelling, be they a main residence or a second home, and there's no place like home to celebrate our independence.

We asked entertaining experts Katie Lee Biegel, Stephanie Booth Shafran, Kim Seybert, and Katie Jacobs to share their summer entertaining tips and tricks for throwing a festive and fun celebration for any and all ages.

Katie Lee Biegel is a television personality, cookbook author, and novelist who splits her time between New York City and the Hamptons. She released her fourth cookbook, It's Not Complicated: Simple Recipes for Every Day, earlier this spring. (Follow her on Instagram @katieleebiegel)

What has life been like the past year for someone who loves to entertain and gather people together?

Like everyone else, it’s been really hard not to see friends and family. We just miss having people gather around our table.

We have really enjoyed setting a nice table and treating each other to still feel like we are having a date night. One thing that one of my girlfriends has done for us a few times is sent us dinner from a favorite place, and we’ve done that for a few of our family members now. She sends an email saying your Thursday night dinner is covered and to be expecting a delivery between a certain window, and it’s so nice.

It’s also a great way to support small businesses you love—I sent my dad some special cookies from a bakery we both love in the city.

How would you describe your entertaining style?

I’m always really relaxed when it comes to entertaining, but especially in the summer. It just lends itself to being more laid back, so I’m never fussy with food or decor or any kind of party etiquette.

What are a few of your top summer entertaining tips?

Do as much as you can in advance so can have time to just enjoy yourself, whether that’s in your backyard, by the pool, or taking a picnic to the park. Seek to get as much prep done as you can the day before—or earlier when you can.

For the Fourth, I always season and prep the ribs and make my salad the day before. Certain foods, like potato salad, are better overnight in the fridge anyways, and will help you get all those flavors.

I love to make a fruit cobbler in the summer. Here in New York we don't get peaches until August, but I’ll start the summer with berries and then move into stone fruits. I use my grandma’s recipe, which is really simple and always a crowd- pleaser. You can make it ahead of time and everyone in your family will love it.

Where do you source beautiful, festive decorations and tableware?

I love to use Social Studies—the founder, Amy Griffin, is a really good friend of mine. It’s awesome for entertaining at home, even if it’s just your family and you want the day to feel special.

They send a kit with everything you need to decorate a beautiful table—even flowers—with a guide on how to set it. Then you just rinse off the dishes, pack it up, and put it back in the mail. It's so easy, and it frees up your storage space.

What advice would you give to someone who isn’t usually the entertainer but is looking to do more hosting?

I think it’s important to keep things easy on yourself. I’m always talking about comfort food and eating what makes you feel good, but this summer, that’s also extended to your safety and feeling like you’re okay.

Stephanie Booth Shafran is a celebrated Los Angeles hostess and author of You’re Invited: Classic Elegant Entertaining, published by Rizzoli. (Follow her at @stephanieboothshafran)

What has life been like the past year for someone who loves to entertain and gather people together?

This time for us has been all about family, so we were having lots of family dinners at the start. We would mix the linens and china, switching up the locations around the house for dinners at home. It was a way to create a setting for conversation to unfold and a special ending at the close of the day.

As the world is opening up, we are learning how to entertain with social distancing in mind. For us, that started with having just one or two couples over for drinks and dinner. Everyone’s perspective has changed in all this, giving more appreciation for entertaining, being home, and our friendships. All the more reason to bring out your china and linens right now!

How would you describe your entertaining style?

I’m very inspired by my home and my surrounding environment. We’ve spent part of our quarantine in L.A. and in Sun Valley, Idaho, and I’m so inspired by the seasons and the fact that everyone wants to be outdoors when possible. I look to my flowers and gardens and what’s natural and try to bring that to the table. I don’t like for my scenes to look too fussy; I care that people feel comfortable.

Shop the Look: Confetti glasses, Pier 1 Imports

What are your plans for the Fourth of July this year?

I grew up going to my family’s beach house, and we always made s’mores, so that has become a lifelong July Fourth tradition I continue with my family.

What are a few of your top summer entertaining tips?

Especially when it comes to Independence Day, it’s important to keep the food easy to eat. I like to offer little nibbles so that all the generations can easily wander off to different parts of the gathering.

I like to align my offerings to the season. I spent a lot of summers on the coast of Maine, so I love to serve lobster rolls and other nostalgic summer foods. I mix classic with unique, like serving my popsicles infused with berries and White Claw spiked seltzer.

The minute [guests] arrive, you don’t want them to worry about anything. I prep in advance so that I can do the same once the party starts.

When you’re outside and have a large area to entertain in, I like to have something going on in several designated spaces.

Shop the Look: Navy ginger jar, Lo Home. Lucite tray, Mark and Graham. Seersucker napkins, Dot and Army from Food52. White bowls, Crate and Barrel.

Where do you source beautiful, festive decorations and tableware?

A lot of different brands inspire me. Besides the ninth floor of Bergdorf and Gearys in L.A., we source a lot online. That’s where the variety comes from. I shopped Pottery Barn for my white porcelain plates and throws. I don’t do precious, especially outdoors in the summer.

What’s your go-to drink or dish that is both a crowd-pleaser and holds up well for summer events?

My favorite drinks of the evening are margaritas and vodka gimlets, but we are really enjoying negronis this time of year. It’s all about choosing food that can keep at room temperature so the timing doesn’t have to be specific if people want to sip their cocktails longer and just enjoy the conversation.

Shop the Look: Cocktail napkins, Julia B.

What advice would you give to someone who isn’t usually the entertainer but is looking to do more hosting?

Open your cupboards and linen drawers, go through your tabletop collection, and use what you have. See what’s missing but stay true to your taste, finding other pieces that complement what you already own. It’s all about the details, so get inspired by your own home decor and surroundings, and then run with it to make personal touches.

Hostesses have more confidence when they plan ahead and stay true to themselves instead of worrying about following trends or someone else’s style. July Fourth lends itself to fun informality, and it’s a classic American holiday, so have a cocktail an hour before and then enjoy!

The hostess really sets the tone for the party, so enjoy the process of planning with mood boards, set your menu ahead of time, but then make it a priority to simply enjoy being at home and having your loved ones over. It’s not about impressing people, but rather sharing your talents and passions.

Shop the Look: Pillow, Pottery Barn. Glasses, CB2

Kim Seybert is a fashion-turned-tabletop and home accessories designer whose namesake line is carried at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and other select luxury retailers around the world. (Follow the brand at @kimseybert)

What will your Fourth of July gathering look like this year?

This year, I’ll be celebrating with an outdoor BBQ around the pool surrounded by friends and family. To make sure everyone has the opportunity to catch the late-night fireworks, I love having everyone over in the early afternoon. We start off with cocktails around the pool where everyone catches up and afterwards sit down for an early dinner. Before everyone heads out I love lighting sparklers, ending the evening with fun for all.

How will you be setting your Fourth of July table?

I’ll start this year’s table with an ombre tablecloth in light blue which brings an airiness to the setting and is perfect near the pool. Since it is a Fourth of July celebration, red, white and blue are a must. However, I love incorporating these colors in an elevated way.

As a nod to the holiday, I’ll be using red, intricately beaded placemats, along with soft, blue linen napkins and handblown glassware with a white finish. I’ll complete the table with a warm and inviting centerpiece with subtle touches of miniature flags and confetti.

Shop the Look: Tablecloth, Kim Seybert

How do you find the balance between festive and kitschy when it comes to decorating for a holiday?

I’m a big believer that there are some holidays where tables can be kitschy and the Fourth of July is one of them! So often summer celebrations involve the whole family, and I want to make sure everyone enjoys the setting—kids included. To keep the evening festive, I love incorporating elements such as silver mint julep cups to hold flowers or making sure items such as the placemats or napkin rings feature intricate detailing that adds interest and excitement. This year, I’ll be spreading some star confetti on the table that I’m sure the kids are going to love!

What are a few of your favorite florals to decorate with for the Fourth?

I love using flowers that add a welcoming element to the table. This year’s flowers will be red geraniums and verbena planted in silver mint julep cups. I feel combining these two strikes the perfect balance between a glamorous and casual get-together.

Shop the Look: Linen Napkins, Napkin Rings, and Placemats, Kim Seybert

Do you have any go-to summer dishes or cocktail recipes that you love to serve this time of year?

The summer heat calls for a cocktail that’s light and refreshing, which is why I always serve a Beretta’s Pamplemousse. It’s a great combination of gin, grapefruit juice, lemon and elderflower liqueur. Perfect for a hot summer day! Miraval Rose is my go-to summer wine. It’s refreshing and instantly makes an occasion feel festive.

My go-to dish is a watermelon salad with feta and mint. It’s so easy to put together and people love it.

Shop the Look: Wine Glasses, Kim Seybert.

Katie Jacobs is a Nashville-based tastemaker and author of So Much to Celebrate. She is also a stylist, photographer, graphic designer, and founder of Styling My Everyday, a popular lifestyle blog. (Follow her at @katiejacobsnashville)

What has life been like the past year for someone who loves to entertain and gather people together?

When everything first started, I got cabin fever pretty quickly, so keeping the kids entertained was my biggest goal every day. The lack of something to look forward to was the hardest thing for all of us, whether it was a birthday party or just a fun event at school. We started throwing a family party at home every week, where a different member of the family got to pick the theme. It was all about spending good time together—we would look up cake recipes and make it together on Friday night or hatch butterflies and do a big release. There was never anything to do with actual events and celebrations going on, but we made a reason to celebrate every week.

How would you describe your entertaining style?

I would consider my style to be elevated casual. I’m always trying to make the scene super relaxed and laid-back, which is funny to some people because I tend to go over-the-top in my planning.

What are a few of your top summer entertaining tips?

I always set up the food indoors. I just think it’s near impossible to set up a buffet outside and not have to worry about it the whole time. People will be in and out anyways.

I also always set up something outside for the kids to keep them from wandering around the house and within sight, like a bubble machine or craft. Last year we made hand-printed T-shirts that looked like American flags that the kids put on in time for the fireworks once they dried. Sprinklers are always fun too!

I like to keep a bucket of “guest comfortability” items outside, like bug spray, sunscreen, wipes, bandage, so that parents can grab them as needed, and you’re not having to run in and out of the house when you’re trying to make a cocktail and breathe.

Where do you source beautiful, festive decorations and tableware?

For the Fourth especially, I love to pull in antiques, and that adds a fun, throwback element, keeping things classy and not too kitschy. I love white enamelware with red rims, galvanized buckets, and I always love some fresh white hydrangeas. I keep things really simple and traditional.

What’s your go-to drink or dish that is both a crowd-pleaser and holds up well for summer events?

Cherry limeade is not only fun for the kids, but you can spike it with a little vodka for the adults and you have an instant crowd-favorite. I like to run by my local Sonic and get their amazing ice to give that extra nostalgic touch.

Homemade Cherry Limeade (from So Much to Celebrate)

Makes approximately 8 servings

1 (2-liter) bottle lemon-lime soda

1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1/2 cup grenadine

Gravel ice (from Sonic, if desired)

Maraschino cherries and lime slices for garnish

1. Combine the lemon-lime soda, lime juice, and grenadine in a large pitcher, and stir. Chill. Pour into individual glasses filled with gravel ice, and garnish each with cherries and limes.

Make it ahead: You don’t want to make this too far in advance so the soda doesn’t go flat, but you can make it just before guests arrive and store in refrigerator.