5 Red, White & Blue Snacks + DIY 4th of July Party Decorations

Whether you're hosting a 4th of July party of your own, or you're just in it for the afternoon BBQ and after-dark sparklers, Independence Day is one of those holidays that's fun for all ages.

And thanks to top NYC event planner Jove Meyer, you can make your own patriotic snacks and themed décor on the cheap.

Here are five red, white and blue treats and decorations that will add festive touches to your July 4th table.

1. SWEDISH FISH POPSICLES

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"It looks like the fish is swimming in the water!" Jove says.

You will need:

• Plastic ice pop molds
• Popsicle sticks
• Swedish Fish (1-2 per popsicle)
• Hawaiian punch or lemonade

To make boozy popsicles for the adults: 

• 2 ounces alcohol (tequila, vodka or blue Curaçao)

Directions:

1. Place 1-2 fish in each mold.
2. Pour in lemonade or punch.
3. Pour in 2 oz. of the alcohol of your choice (optional).
4. If mixing with alcohol, fill molds the rest of the way with punch.
5. Cover molds with foil.
6. Place one popsicle stick in each mold.
7. Put in freezer until frozen solid.

"The secret to getting your stick right in the middle and as straight as possible is to poke once and to poke decisively," Jove explains.

Pro Tip: If you plan on serving both boozy and kid-friendly popsicles, use two different colors so you and your guests can clearly differentiate between them. For example, if you're using blue Curaçao, make your alcohol-free ice pops using lemonade or red Hawaiian fruit punch.

Remember to always drink responsibly.

2. LOLLIPOP CENTERPIECE

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"You can get creative here," Jove says. "You can color block … or you can go crazy and just do red, white and blue anywhere you want. Start from the bottom, start from the top, [wherever]."

You will need:

• Floral foam (which you can find at most craft stores, hardware stores and dollar stores, according to Jove).
• Vase or plastic bucket
• Lollipops in the colors of your choice (Jove and Rach went with classic red, white and blue).

Directions:

1. Stick the lollipops in the foam however you like!

"The good news about this is it's something you can do before the holiday," Jove says. "So it's not something you have to do on the 4th of July."

Pro Tip: Do your children love to help decorate? Round up the kids and put them in charge of this super easy DIY!

3. INDIVIDUAL S'MORES KITS

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"Who doesn't love a s'more? You think of summer, you think of a s'more," Jove says. 

"The problem I find with s'mores is you go to the fire pit and everything is everywhere, and you can't get it all together. And it's usually dark," he continues.

Luckily, the event planning expert has an adorable solution.

You will need:

• Cardboard produce containers from a farmers market or grocery store; the kind used for berries
• Chocolate
• Marshmallows
• Graham crackers
• Napkins

Directions:

1. Pack clean baskets with everything your guests need to make their own s'mores — and voila! — you've got a perfectly compact, ready-to-go s'mores kit your family and friends will love.

This is also a great (and sort of sneaky) way to portion out the ingredients for your guests.

Pro Tip: "We always recommend a fun, festive napkin," Jove says, "because one thing that always is guaranteed with s'mores is sticky fingers."

4. SAND ART CANDLE CENTERPIECES

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"The fun part about this is you can be as abstract as you want," Jove says. "There's no wrong way to fill up your candle holder."

You will need:

• Colored sand in red, white and blue (which you can buy at most kids' stores, craft stores and dollar stores, according to the event planner).
• Glass votive or other clear candle holder
• Funnel
• LED candle

Directions: 

1. Place the LED candle inside the votive and turn it on.
2. Use the funnel to fill your votive with sand in whatever order or pattern you like.

"Mix some colors and just let it live its life!" Jove adds.

Pro Tip: Use an LED candle — it's safe around children and pets, and you don't have to worry about the wind putting out your flame.

5. CLOTHESPIN WREATH

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"Another fun project you can do in advance is a clothespin 4th of July flag wreath," the expert says.

You will need:

• Wire frame from any craft store or garden store
• Star-shaped cut-outs and double-sided tape (or star-shaped stickers)
• About 100 wooden clothespins
• Red, white and blue spray paint

Directions:

1. Once dry, clip the red and white clothespins around your wire frame in sections, so they look like the stripes on an American flag.
2. Clip the blue clothespins in a group at the top right of your wire frame and stick on your stars.

"You'll buy [the clothespins] in a natural wood color and you can spray paint them in bulk," Jove continues. 

Pro Tip: Put down a large tarp or enough newspaper to cover the ground before you spray paint. "It's always bigger than you think, because spray will spread," Jove says.

Happy 4th of Jove-ly, everyone! ??