Throw an Independence Day party under wide open skies.

Decorations: It's all about the red, white, and blue!  Play it up big with everything from paper lanterns to tableware. Roll red, white, and blue bandanas around cutlery sets for your buffet table, and drape that table in a red and white checkered tablecloth. Fill red, white, and blue buckets with ice for the bottled drinks. And don’t be shy about asking everyone to wear their thematic best.

Playtime: Assert your freedom to be a kid again! Fly kites, throw water balloons, and build sandcastles. Set up classic lawn games like touch football, horseshoes, croquet, badminton, etc. Create or purchase Statue of Liberty headgear and take photos of your guests posing as Lady Liberty. When night falls, light up hurricane lamps and votive candles, and hand out the sparklers. Safety first, of course!

More Tips: Outdoor parties require lots of ice for keeping food fresh and drinks cold. Large, inexpensive aluminum pans are widely available and make excellent reusable ice beds. Borrow lots of coolers--it's that ice thing again. It's a good idea to have extra sunscreen and insect repellant on hand. And don't forget the picnic blankets for lounging under the stars and watching the fireworks display.