A good old backyard picnic is a great way to celebrate America's independence. It’s a perfect time to usher in summer and relax with family and friends.

And like most celebrations, there are some components you need to make it a hit with everyone: food, drinks, entertainment, and decorations are all important parts of the successful backyard 4th of July celebration.

In this piece, we look at what you need to put on a 4th of July party that people won’t forget.

Safety above all!

First of all, you need to make sure that your swimming pool is ready for this summer. If your railings wobble when you grab hold of them, you’re compromising the safety of loved ones and friends,who could get injured from the unstable banister. These are warning signs that you need to maintain your swimming pool before even thinking about throwing pool parties this summer.

Decorations

The first thing you need for a backyard 4th of July picnic is decorations, but thankfully, it’s easy because you can keep things simple with red, white, and blue items. Streamers, flags, candles, and even flowers are ideal decorations for celebrating America’s independence. But, if you really want to get creative, try asking everyone to wear red, white, and blue.

In the swimming pool, throw in some patriotic beach balls and noodles so the kids can get in on the fun too.

Games

What would a celebration be without games and entertainment? Games keep the fun moving and keep people interested. The good news is you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun party games. One game that’s always a hit with both adults and kids is outdoor bowling. You can set up the “lane” with pool noodles, grab some plastic 2-liter bottles, and use rubber balls for bowling fun.

Another favorite — especially with the kids — are water balloon fights. Practically every kid has memories of chasing down their friends and launching a water balloon attack. You can even set up teams with adults versus the kids, and everyone will have a great time. To add to the mood, use red, white, and blue balloons.

Food

Next to fun and games, the most important part of the backyard party is the food. For your 4th of July party, you can include the staples of the backyard picnic: hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and potato salad. To mix things up, however, try tacos, ribs or grilled chicken.

Another neat idea to incorporate is a sandwich bar. Lay out all the ingredients such as cold cuts, condiments, and bread. This allows people build the sandwich they want. It keeps your guests engaged and ensures they get the sandwich that suits them. Don’t forget the red, white, and blue toothpicks either.

Dessert

To cap off a perfect meal, you need a perfect dessert, and thankfully, there are plenty of great choices for your 4th of July party. Of course, the old standby, apple pie, is a good choice, but you can also opt for a red, white, and blue cake. Or how about vanilla ice cream with blueberries and strawberries?

For drinks, there’s always a good beer or wine, but to mix it up, try a sangria, which is both refreshing and adds a bit of color to your party table. Also read more on these few simple steps for pool owners to conserve water while you enjoy summer time.