4th of July always seems to conjure up childhood memories. Fireworks, parades, the taste of your favorite potato salad, visits to the family summer home or special vacations.  With 4th of July only two 2 weeks away here are some ideas and resources to make your celebration memorable!

Decorating Ideas: *Use stencils to trace stars on the top two thirds of brown paper lunch bags.  Cut stars out, fill the base with sand and add a votive.  Line walk ways or sections of your patio to create night time ambience.  *For an elegant or patriotic look, dress your table with a white, red or blue tablecloth.  Spray paint terra-cotta pots in a contrasting color of either red, white or blue and fill with white daisies or red flowers.  Be sure to line the pots with a heavy duty garbage bag cut to fit the inside before adding a piece of wet oasis or simply insert a vase inside of the pot.  For an added touch apply star appliques to the outside of the pots.  MainStreetSupply has a collection of metal buckets in red and blue which would work equally as well.  You could even use them on a buffet table to hold silverware, breads, napkins, etc.  *Fill buckets with sand and place a pillar candle in the middle and surround the base of the candle with small flags. *Punch a hole in the upper left hand corner of a place card and tie with a red, white or blue ribbon to 3 sparklers for interesting place cards that your guests can light as the sun sets.  *Hang paper starlights from the roof of your pergola.  *Oriental Trading Company has a wonderful selection of 4th of July goodies.

Famiiy Fun: *Download 4th of July coloring pages at Coloring USA or Coloring Book Fun and have a coloring contest for the kids.  *Have an old fashioned egg race or two-legged race. *Check out  4th of July quizzes.  A fun activity to see how well children and adults know their American history.  *Play Flag Tag Relay.  All you need is buckets, sand and flags.  *Balloon tag is a game for 6 or more.  You need red, white and blue balloons and string.  The object of the game is to pop the other players balloons while keeping the others from stomping on yours.  Last player left with their balloon wins. *Fourth of July Pinatas *As a way to inspire some spirited conversation around the 4th of July table place a few freedom quotes on cards around the  table.  Have guests read them and share what the quote means to them.  For example:  "Freedon is the last, best hope of earth."  Abraham Lincoln, "The secret of happiness is freedom, and secret of freedom is courage." Thucydides.  *Rent an Epson Movie Mate Projector and show patriotic movies outside while you watch the fireworks (Yankee Doodle Dandy - 1942, 1776 - 1972, The Music Man - 1962, The Stars and Stripes Forever - 1952). *Stargazing:  pull out your telescope or rent one.  Star Date gives weekly stargazing tips, a beginners guide, sky almanac and constellation guide.

Music: Set the stage by playing themed music for your 4th of July celebration.  This Land is your Land by Woody Guthrie, Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John, Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen, America the Beautiful by Kate Smith, United We Stand by Brotherhood of Man, It's a Grand Old Flag, Stars and Stripes Forever, This Land is Your Land, I'm Proud to Be an American by Al Green, John Phillip Sousa music. Amazon.com also has a selection of CD's such as Independence Day 4th of July Classics by the Patriot Players, 4th of July Party Music by the Hit Crew, 4th of July Extravaganza by the Great American Band or USA Music 101 - 4th of July Jams by American History Band.

Check out our article on menu ideas for your 4th of July celebration.

4th of July Parties and Fireworks:

Grant Park, 337 E Randolph, Chicago, IL, Friday July 3, 9:30 p.m. Millennium Park, 55 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, Grant Park Orchestra Concert, July 4, 1:30 p.m. Festival Hall At Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL, July 4, 9 p.m. Spirit of Chicago Dining Cruise, 600 E Grand Avenue, Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, July 3, 7:30 p.m. & July 4, 7:45 p.m.

Email your home entertaining questions or ideas for future articles to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .