How to Have a Fire Crackin' 4th of July

4th of July is a great time to get together with your family and friends and above all else, remembering the men and women who fight for the freedom you have to even have a 4th of July. Celebrate by having a fun and festive time!

You can have a 4th of July get together inside or out. If having it outside you can have your 4th of July pool side, if you have a pool. You can also put up a tent for some shade if you do not have any trees nearby outside that can offer some shade.

The menu is an important part of your get together. You can work out the details on who brings what dish or if you like, you can be in charge of all the fixins. Here are some tasty menu ideas for your party. If grilling, bbq chicken is always a great idea. You can do bbq ribs or even hamburgers. Kbobs are also a good idea. You can stack shrimp, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and steak and grill. Very yummy! If it is season how about a crawfish boil? Not into crawfish but like seafood, then have fish fry! Some great side ideas are coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans. Homemade ice cream makes a great dessert! Plan for the kiddos! If you have picky eaters throw some hot dogs on the grill.

Speaking of the kids, it's always fun to have some activities around that they can enjoy. If you have a pool the kids will have lots of fun swimming and splashing around. Be sure and have adequate supervision! A kiddy pool is fun for the wee tiny ones. Bubbles are very inexpensive and fun. Grab a big supply of bubbles and all kinds of wands and let the kids have at it! Don't be surprised though when the adults want to get in on the fun too! You can buy a kid horseshoe kit to go along with an adult horseshoe kit. Being as it is 4th of July it wouldn't be the same without some fireworks! Of course, you want to have caution when doing fireworks, but when done correctly they are fun for all ages! Maybe even load up everyone and go check out your towns local fireworks display. Check out your local sporting goods store for more great outdoor fun ideas.

Decorating is a fun part of throwing a 4th of July party. You can find all kinds of decorations out there! Your local party store and even the internet can provide you with all kinds of decorations and ideas. Flags are a great addition to your decorating. They represent the very reason you are celebrating. You can use red, white and blue balloons and streamers and red, white and blue banners, If you are having your party outside you can buy themed citronella candles. Tiki torches also are a great decorating tool. They not only provide decoration but they also provide some light at night. When decorating for any party my saying is to think outside of the box. Look around your house for things you already have that make a great decorating idea. For example, take that awesome mirror hanging on the wall and use it as a table centerpiece to hold glasses, or whatever you choose. Trash cans make great ice buckets to hold your favorite drinks. Weird and wacky, the better! Maybe you have left over red decorations from Valentine's that could double as 4th of July decorations. Remember, your imagination is your only limit!