All across the United States, on the Fourth of July, families pause for a day to celebrate their precious freedoms: among them, the freedom to barbecue all afternoon, dress in silly hats and parade through neighborhoods singing off-key.

With a little planning and a lot of red, white and blue, any family can organize a fabulous festival to honor the founding of our country. To help you get started, we've rounded up some creative ideas, from cul-de-sac parades to patriotic potluck suppers. So circle the lawn chairs, slip on an Uncle Sam hat and get ready for your neighborhoods best-ever Fourth of July blast.

Writer Maryellen Kennedy Duckett is a frequent contributor to FAMILYFUN.