So you’ve decided to throw a 4th of July barbecue party, with complete families from the grandparents to the folks to the kids. Good luck.

But if you need help, here are some suggestions to keep everyone occupied while you tend the grill and wait for the fireworks.

Note: All these activities can be done by anyone in the family. Best to have teams with all groups (kids, parents, grandparents) represented.

United States Puzzle

Note: This takes some time to prepare as you will need a pre-drawn map of the US, as well as pre-cut figures of the US states.

Arrange the materials beforehand, number of materials will be dependent on the number of teams you plan to have. Pin the maps to the wall, in front of the teams. Remember to pin, not tape, because taping it might cause the map to fall when the game starts. Give the pre-cut states to the teams and tell them to arrange all the states on the map. First one to put all the states correctly wins.

Flag Tag Relay

Divide into two or three groups. Have the team members line up to form a line. Place a bucket (or box or container) of sand filled with flags. One by one, the members must march (not run) to the bucket and retrieve one flag. They march back to their team and tag the next member. First team to have all members with a flag wins. Make it more fun by mixing other flags from other countries in the bucket.

4th of July Pictionary

We all know how Pictionary works. But, instead of using the board, just use a big sketchpad and a marker for the teams. Arrange the topics according to Action, Person/Place, etc and include only topics about US history and/or the 4th of July.

Don’t forget to decorate the place with flags and other 4th of July-appropriate decor, including fireworks-shaped decorations and stars and stripes banners.

Every summer holiday has one thing in common – I celebrate with a cookout. Memorial Day? Cookout. Flag Day? Cookout. My wife’s birthday falls in June, so it’s a cookout.  Indepedence Day?  Obviously.  Labor Day? Last cookout of the summer.

If you’re celebrating… anything… this summer, a cookout is the way to go. All cookouts are pretty great, but there are some things you can do to ensure that your summer festivities are extra special.

1) Repel the bugs. A fine summer day can devolve into an itchy bugfest with the onset of dusk. Setting a bottle of Off on the picnic table isn’t enough to protect your guests and your reputation as a host. Prepare your yard ahead of time with a lawn spray. You can generally get a full day of bug free living with one application.

2) Food. Cookout time is no time to worry about diets. The grill is meant to cook meat, and lots of it. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and various sausages are the preferred fare. You can supplement with salads and fruits and such, but don’t neuter your BBQ by taking away the good stuff.

3) Plan for the Weather. You can’t control the weather, but you can mitigate its effects. Consult the Farmer’s Almanac when picking the date. If you live in an area prone to late afternoon showers, move the party earlier in the day. Work around the things you can’t control.

4) Shake things up. It’s easy to plan one great cookout. Planning a string of them over several months year after year requires a little more. You can’t just do the same thing every time. Adjust the theme for each event. Aunt Betty’s 70th birthday party should feel distinctly different from your Memorial Day celebration.

5) Piñatas. If you’ve got kids at the party, you can’t go wrong with a piñata. Just remember two important things: Make sure you’ve got a video camera and keep out of the way. Trust me on this one.

July 4th is the holiday where we celebrate our independence as a nation, but it’s also the day where everyone likes to get together and celebrate with a cookout.

This the the perfect excuse to invite your neighboors and just chill out in the sun while enjoying grilled kabobs, barbeque chicken, pasta salad, and a few ice cold beverages. After lighting up sparklers with the kids, its time to enjoy a little dessert. This year instead of serving ice cream cones, why not suprise your friends with a unique sweet treat? Read below for a few super creative and tasty ideas to satisfy your guests’ sweet tooths!

Build-Your-Own Parfait
This is a win-win idea for both children and health-conscious parents.Bring out several varieties of yogurt (both plain and flavored), cottage cheese, fresh or frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, bananas,raspberries, etc.), and granola, and let everyone create their own custom dessert. Don’t forget to bring plastic cups, spoons, and paper napkins.

Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas
Starting with a bulk of ripe bananas (make sure they are not too soft), cut each one in half and place them on wax paper. Using a clean popsicle stick, stick each half-banana in a chocolate sauce mixture (melt two cups of dark chocolate chips in the microwave) until each banana is covered.Take the chocolate bananas and freeze them for several hours, or until they are thoroughly frozen, before serving.

Easy Strawberry Shortcakes
This dessert is so simple! Just take a small poundcake, fill it up with freshly chopped strawberries, and spray on a dash of whipped cream. Add a little something extra and garnish each shortcake with a little bit of coconut.

Fruit Salad
Here’s another crowd-pleaser that is easy to make. Start with fresh fruits like apples, grapes, bananas, watermelon, or whatever else you want. Chop the fruits to bite size pieces (you can also use a food processor for this), and mix them in a bowl.

July 4th is a day to celebrate the country’s independence with your closest family members and friends. For many people it is a day to throw a party, eat lots of good summertime food and enjoy laughter, conversation and some fireworks to round out the day.

Patriotism is high on this most important of American holidays. It is a day to be proud of the red, white and blue. There are lots of ways you can celebrate Independence Day that are equally special. For many people July 4th is an excellent day to also celebrate summer with a picnic in the park or a barbecue. Let us hope for sunshine for the holiday.

Perhaps you have been telling your loved ones for years that this year it will be your turn to throw a barbecue in your own backyard. Well, maybe this year is that year! A barbecue is an excellent way to have some fun on a summer holiday.

The July 4th barbecue is a classic for many people. Nothing says July 4th more than stars, stripes, loud and colorful fireworks and blueberry pie. If you want your barbecue to be a smashing success, then it is best to stick with tradition, but you can add a few surprises if you like.

You also need to make sure that there is plenty of food to go around! Everyone loves to eat- especially on a holiday! You will find that most of your guests enjoy the tried and true while others may be curious about what new items you have added to the menu.

Some traditional food items are all too familiar to you. These include hamburgers and hot dogs, ribs, potato salad, corn on the cob, and plenty of munchies to get the barbecue off to a good start, such as potato chips and dip.

Incorporate some of the colors of the day into your menu as best as you can. Offer red pepper slices with a blue cheese dip or blue tortilla chips with salsa. Offer blueberries and strawberries with a dollop of whipped cream (for the guests that have a sweet tooth!).

Make sure you offer plenty of choices in beverages and use red, white and blue dishes at every opportunity. Most of all, have fun!

Enjoy your July 4th celebration!