In between work, school, and everything else you have going on, it can be difficult to find a chance to gather together everyone you care about. But the holidays offer an opportunity to slow things down and spend time with family and friends.

In a few days is the Fourth of July, where we celebrate our country’s independence. The Fourth of July is always a joyous affair, with many hosts going the extra mile by serving food that relates to the theme. You’ll often see a menu dominated in red, white or blue, as well as dishes served with little flags or cut into stars.

Because the holiday falls right in the middle of summer, many opt to spend the day at the beach, while others prefer the excuse to host an outdoor barbeque.

Whichever way you decide to spend it, hosting a celebration means putting time into preparations. Here are some ways to set up your Fourth of July celebration for success:

How to Prepare for Your Fourth of July Party

Aside from the company, another essential ingredient for a great party is the food.

However, before deciding on the food, you have to decide whether you’re hosting an afternoon party or a dinner party. Another consideration to make is the type of menu. Typically, Fourth of July parties serve barbeque or All-American dishes, but you can certainly opt to deviate from the norm.

Lastly, decide whether you want to prepare the food yourself or have someone else take care of it. Between planning a menu, preparing food, and entertaining guests — the holiday won’t feel like a break if you have to do all the work.

So consider outsourcing the hard work. Catering by Michaels has over 30 years of experience under its belt to ensure that you have everything you need to make your Fourth of July party go off without a hitch!

Perfect Fourth of July Picks from Our Seasonal Menu

For a Fourth of July party, menus are typically made up of picnic fare — think grilled meats, salads, desserts, and fruits. Catering by Michaels offers both delivery and full service menu options. With full setup, you can customize our standard offerings and we’ll take care of all the little details — yes, even cute Fourth of July flags! All you have to do invite your guests, and we’ll take care of the rest (including cleanup).

Our summer catering menu changes year-to-year and is created based on the availability of local, seasonal ingredients. For an American-themed barbeque party, we’d recommend starting off with our Pulled BBQ Chicken Quesadillas and Pigs in a Blanket. Top it off with our Summer Grilled and Chilled Marinated Vegetable platter to add some freshness and color to your table.

For the main dishes, choose from Bone-in BBQ Marinated Chicken, a Beef Tenderloin Display, or a Smoked Paprika Flank Steak Display, which go well with sides like corn on the cob, asparagus, or cornbread muffins.

No All-American party is complete without our classic White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese, a no-frills option for kids and picky eaters.

For afternoon picnics, cool off with our freshly squeezed lemonades and agua frescas. These are just as refreshing as the Watermelon and Feta salad, a crowd favorite. A new salad we’re introducing this year is the Chipotle Chicken Cobb salad, which has chipotle-marinated chicken breast, strawberries, bacon, sweet corn kernels, and diced avocado — tossed with California greens.

Don’t forget to pick from our assortment of desserts. It’s simply more fun to watch fireworks with something sweet in hand, be it cookie dough lollipops or our homemade twinkies.

Final Thoughts: Celebrating Fourth of July

No matter how you spend it, make your Fourth of July—and summer long celebrations—fuss-free and worry-free by handing over food preparations to a trusted Chicagoland caterer.

Give us a call, and we’ll help you plan your Fourth of July celebration.