Each year, our cul-de-sac throws a 4th of July party.  It is actually a two day event".  Our community has fireworks on the 3rd so we start our party a day early. This year we are planning a parents vs kids wiffleball game before the fireworks.  We will play in the cul-de-sac. After the game we will have "Ice Cream Window".  The kids (and adults) line up at my neighbors window and we serve ice cream to them. They can choose their ice cream flavor and toppings (rainbow sprinkles chocolate chips marshmellows etc.).  This year we have a machine that turns the ice cream into soft serve. After everyone gets their ice cream it's time for the fireworks to begin (we have a perfect view from the neighbor's front yard).  We crank up the broadcast live from the fireworks and cheer along. On the day of the 4th the real fun begins.  We have an obstacle course for the kids.  We have a swingset with monkey bars so our course starts there. The kids have to do the bars then throw 3 baseballs into a bucket get into a burlap sack and hop to the station to weave a soccer ball through the cones get into another burlap sack and hop to the hula hoop (do it 5 times) then to the jump rope(jump 10 times) and then run and slide down the Slip-n-Slide to finish.  The kids love it. We time them to see who the winner is. After the obstacle course we have a scavenger hunt.  We create a list of items that can be found around the neighborhood and divide into two teams (last year it was boys against girls with adult leaders for each group). The kids run all over the place looking for purple flowers bottle caps something red something white and something blue.  Oh and one rule-you can't go into anyones house to get an item.  It is a blast to watch.  After the hunt we start decorating the kids bikes for the "parade" around our block. Each kids decorates their bike using crepe paper flags curling ribbon cut out stars etc.  Most of them wear some type of hat (we usually make them earlier in the week using construction paper). We usually ride around the block a couple of times to let everyone see their handy work.  After the parade comes the cookout and swimming.  After dinner it's time for the water balloon fight.  We usually have 500 balloons for the kids and parents to throw.  It is always a good time. In past years we have also done a beach party relay (each team has a pile of floats beach balls noodles swimmies hats and glasses that they have to put on run down and come back and give all of the stuff to the next person on their team)and a sack race. After the kid games are done the adults play corn hole and just hang out. The kids usually swim. Our party usually starts at 1:00pm and goes until midnight.  By then everyone is tired."