Barbecue - American style

If you want to have a really USA style barbecue, hold it on Independence Day, the Fourth of July and make the party a family affair by inviting everyone to wear red, white and blue.

Decorate your garden and table with an American theme. Purchase tablecloths, plates, cups and napkins in red, white and blue and remember other great American icons like the bald eagle and cartoon characters can add to the fun.

Play music like 'Yankee Doodle Dandy', 'America the Beautiful' and Sousa marches, especially 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' - but don't have them too loud or inflict them on your neighbours as a non-stop loop of Americanisms - intersperse them with more mellow music. Serve 'All American' foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, corn on the cob, watermelon, lemonade, and of course, apple pie and ice cream. But don't forget to have a supply of suitable vegetarian goodies too.

Remember Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoons and his lemonade stand? Freshly squeezed or pink lemonade are great choices for drinks.

Play games like baseball and basketball. Give American themed prizes to the winners and runners-up prizes to the losers, or somebody will get upset!

Have your barbecue early in the afternoon. Afterwards, take the group to a fireworks show, symphony concert or other community event nearby.

Remember to provide sunscreen and insect repellent.

If you display American flags on the Fourth, familiarise yourself with flag etiquette - you don't want to upset any visiting Yanks!

If you plan to use fireworks, make sure you know how to use them safely and warn your neighbours so they can get animals safely indoors.

Barbecue American photograph by Cyancey, used under a creative commons attribution licence.

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