9 Dollar Store Finds and Party Supplies for July 4th

“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 also can be used any time, she adds.

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. Go to 99 Cents Only Stores for 14.5-inch galvanized metal buckets ($4.99) printed with “Happy 4th of July” or “Celebrate,” or find patriotic tin buckets with ribbon handles ($1.25) at Dollar Tree.

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 (12 for $1.25 at Dollar Tree) and big foil balloons in lots of designs and colors (three for $1.29 at 99 Cents Only Stores). Decorative balloon weights (99 cents to $1.25, at both retailers) keep balloons grounded on a windy day.

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.

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.

Sheryl Jean is a contributing writer who covers aging, business, technology, travel, health and human-interest stories. A former reporter for several daily metropolitan newspapers, her work also has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and The Dallas Morning News and on the American Heart Association’s website.

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