Get Some Independence

• Show your holiday spirit by decorating your home in red, white and blue décor. From raising a flag in your front yard to setting the dining room table with themed flatware, give your house a festive facelift. Serve your meals for the weekend on red, white or blue plates. Drink from matching colored glasses for a subtle way to get in on the July 4th action.
  
  

Host a Barbecue

• Invite family and friends over for a backyard barbecue fully equipped with water games for the kids and board games for adults. Ask everyone to bring something special such as a blueberry pie or strawberry daiquiris to fit a color-themed event. Grill summer holiday favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers and corn on the cob. Challenge everyone to games such as a sack race or pie-eating contest.
  
  

Look for the Works

• The week before the holiday, search online and through your local newspaper events section for a list of community activities available in your area. From fireworks in the park to volunteer opportunities, make a plan to spend the weekend partaking in the Independence Day fanfare. End your days watching fireworks with a loved one or a group of friends.
  
  

Go to a Museum

• Go to a museum over the weekend. No matter if you've been waiting for a chance to visit an exhibit or take the kids to a history museum, soak up on the culture locally. Get kids in on the fun with a twist: assign them to learn a little bit about what independence means and give you a report. It doesn't have to be all work and no fun; print out coloring sheets of blank flags to color or create a story with illustration on their July 4th memories.