10 Dollar Store Finds for a Patriotic July Fourth

4. Tablescapes

If you’re picnicking or hosting a lot of guests, it may be easier to use disposable tablecloths and covers. For only about $1 at Dollar Tree and Dollar General, you can get those that are red, blue or feature a festive design. You’ll also find plenty of tabletop decorations — from artificial bouquets to star sculptures.

Courtesy Dollar General

5. Dinnerware

Most dollar stores have everything you need for dining — plates, bowls, cutlery, cups, glasses and napkins — from $1 to $5 for sets. They are typically paper or plastic and come in colors like solid red or blue or various patriotic designs.

Notable items include matching stars-and-stripes tableware from Family Dollar ($1.25 for a set of eight paper plates or 16 napkins); red, white and blue reusable star-shaped straws from Dollar General ($2.50 for six) and ice-pop shaped serving trays ($1.25 each) from Dollar Tree.

Cernak, whose YouTube channel has more than 250,000 subscribers, likes to buy timeless tableware that is reusable at other times of year.

“If you buy red products [for the Fourth of July], you can tuck them away for a couple of months and bring them back out for Christmas and Valentine’s Day,” Cernak says. To add elegance to a tablescape, consider getting gold, silver, faux wood or blue-and-white buffalo check charger plates at a dollar store that work for July Fourth but can also be used during other seasons to extend their value, she adds.

6. Buckets

OK, buckets aren’t exciting, but they come in handy for filling with ice to keep beverages cold; as a bin for lobster, clam or crawfish boil discards; or to hold large quantities of just about anything. Head to Dollar General for galvanized metal buckets ($6) featuring patriotic designs, or find simple plastic storage tubs with handles ($1.25) at Dollar Tree. Family Dollar offers large inflatable coolers ($5) to keep food and drink on ice — plus they’re easy to deflate and store for your next gathering.

7. Balloons

Balloons can add a pop of color to your party while providing fun for the children in your group. You’ll find a variety of small latex balloons (10 for $1.75 at Dollar General or 25 for $1.25 at Family Dollar) and big foil balloons in lots of designs and colors (red, white and blue star-shaped balloons are $1.50 each at Family Dollar and can be inflated at your local store). Decorative balloon weights (starting at $1 at both retailers) keep balloons grounded on a windy day.

8. Shiny decorations

Add some bling to your celebration site by hanging tinsel wreaths, garland or streamers in red, blue and silver — from $1 to $5 at most dollar stores. Dollar Tree’s blog features a tutorial on how to create a red-white-and-blue floral wreath for July Fourth that’s made entirely from items purchased there.

Courtesy Whitney Cernak

9. Gnomes

Gnomes are showing up as home decor for an increasing number of holidays, including July Fourth. Decorate fireplace mantles and table tops with them to give guests a chuckle. Dollar Tree offers 12-inch soft-bodied patriotic gnomes with tall red-white-and-blue hats for $1.25 and flat-cut hangable gnomes for walls and doors, also for $1.25.

10. Wearable party favors

Accessories such as patriotic bandannas and sunglasses do double duty as decorations (use them to adorn place settings and other surfaces) and party favors for loved ones of all ages to wear and take home. Grab red, white and blue glow-stick necklaces and patriotic bracelets from Dollar General for $1 or festive headbands and bow ties from Dollar Tree for $1.25. Looking to splurge? Give each guest their own American Flag beach towel ($8 at Family Dollar).