How to Host Your Own 4th of July Party

 Fireworks shows, parades, and the wafting smells of barbecues filling the air – the 4^th of July is almost here! This year, instead of traveling to celebrate Independence Day, we thought we'd put together a few tips for hosting your own 4th of July in the comfort of your own home! Décor: Red, White & Blue Everything You can’t have enough red, white, and blue at a 4^th of July party. For those of you who enjoy crafting, Martha Stewart has some great craft ideas ranging from colorful placemats to a “monument” cake stand. Even the dog gets to party in a festive, hand-made collar. For those of you who’d rather get your supplies in a ready-made package, try Party City, Amazon, or Target. Festive Foods and Drinks Nature gives us a little bit to work with for keeping up with the red, white and blue theme. Make a fruit salad out of red berries, watermelon, blueberries, and jicama. Or, get the food coloring out and try some of these festive recipes from Tablespoon, ranging from Firecracker Cake to American Style Italian Sodas. Perhaps one of the most common traditions of 4^th of July is the barbecue. The days of throwing a few slabs of meat on the grill are gone. Nowadays, there are cookbooks and entire cooking shows devoted to the art of grilling meats, vegetables, and even some fruits – to perfection. Test out some of these barbecue recipes from Chowhound or Southern Living. Southern Living, you had us at Barbecued Deviled Eggs! Party Games From a game of tag to an Uncle Sam hat competition, to a good old-fashioned water balloon toss, here are 21 party games to choose from to keep you and your guests entertained. Or keep it simple, and opt for some laughs and conversation by the pool. Don’t forget the sunscreen! A Friendly Reminder – Fireworks are Not Permitted on the Property! As a friendly reminder, fireworks of any kind are not permitted at Weidner Apartment Home communities. Check your local listings for firework shows and events, arts and music festivals, parades and other festivities to round out your perfect 4^th of July holiday. From all of us at Weidner, have a safe and happy 4^th of July! -The Weidner Team