I love party planning, especially cheap, homemade bashes. I'm not big on over-priced, commercial party supplies. Feels generic, somehow. Themed food improvs are my magnum opus. For a fun 4th of July picnic, how about All-American patriotic themed foods and red-white-and-blue recipes? Here's an appetizer-to-dessert menu. Patriotic Foods, Red-White-and-Blue Recipes for Memorial Day Parties