Patriotic > Crafts & Activities

Crafts & Activities

Everyone loves a parade! Especially if you're the main attraction! Ask guests to bring wagons, bikes and scooters for the big event. Provide construction paper, patriotic decorations, balloons and small flags so kids can decorate their "floats" - or if they'd rather march in the band, encourage them to bring drums, kazoos - even maracas! Give each band member a patriotic top hat and get the parade started! Ask parents and chaperones to lead the march (and bring up the rear!) so everyone on the parade route stays together! And don't forget to ask neighbors to approve the route BEFORE the parade gets underway!

Divide guests into teams for a Patriotic Relay Race! Give each team a small flag, patriotic pinwheel or a Jingle Flag Wand from Party City! Racers must pass the flag to each other as they head for the Finish Line - no starting before the flag is in hand! For an extra challenge, use a helium-filled balloon as the "baton" - but be careful that it doesn't fly away! Award fun prizes to the winners, like patriotic keychains, pens, pencils, tattoos and stickers!

Hooray for the red, white and blue! Especially when they're on a t-shirt! Help kids make Patriotic Tie-Dye shirts! Pick up inexpensive, white cotton t-shirts (and be sure to wash and dry 'em before the party!), plenty of rubber bands, rubber gloves and, of course, dye in red and blue! Make sure shirts are completely dry before going home and encourage kids to be creative with their designs. And the best part is - each one is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation!

No man is an island. But what if you could be your own country!? Let guests decorate their own personality flag! Give each little patriot a large sheet of paper and plenty of great arts and crafts supplies and let them show off their personalities, hobbies, interests and anything else they choose! Later, give kids an opportunity to explain their designs and share a little something about themselves!

Fill a large jar with red, white and blue candy (rock candy, M&Ms, gumballs, etc.) and let guests take a guess how many are inside! Before the party ends, award the jar (and its contents) to the person with the best guess! Ah, sweet success!