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Outdoor grilling has come a long way from camping days and hot dogs on an open fire. Some of today's grills are complete gourmet kitchens on wheels, with the focus of summer parties in the U.S. beginning with Memorial Day through the 4th of July to season's end with Labor Day.

In nice weather, an outdoor barbecue is the perfect way to entertain - relaxed and informal with plenty of delicious food, drinks and decorations to make the party festive.

Around the Web, get expert tips for invitations, barbecue clip art, party activities, games, and recipes, with more barbecue party ideas below...

More about barbecue party ideas around the Web:

Girls at the Grill - Backyard grrrrl power with tips and tricks from what to wear to what to grill, including how-to's on grills and hardware, recipes, menu ideas, a 'libation station' of what to wash it all down with, and don't miss a downloadable activity book to help get the kids involved.

BBQ & Outdoor Parties - Celebrations.com guide with a slew of ideas for cheap, fun outdoor entertainment including recipes and cooking tips.

Kid's Fun Barbecue Birthday - A kid's birthday BBQ party with a wild west theme is a big hit and so easy with these tips for everything from planning and invitations to games, foods and favors.

Outdoor barbeque - Grill up a perfect summer party - Barbeque Express - Plan a hot summertime barbecue with the scoop from the party girl and her party-ettes. Centerpiece and decoration ideas, a neat trick for getting guests to bring along favorite recipes and plenty of other simple, creative and fantastic backyard BBQ theme tips will help you get grilling without breaking into a sweat.

Canada Day Barbecue Party - These ideas for the perfect Canada Day party can be used for a Fourth of July outdoor gathering or an any occasion barbecue. Recipes for trifle and nachos and more with other easy planning tips will cool down those hot days of summer.

The Summer BBQ Party - Function Junction has sound advice for throwing a summertime barbecue bash. They'll help you decide how many hamburgers or steaks to grill, tips for toppings and sauces and grilling veggies. Be sure to click on the links for party recipes and drink recipes to see the great lists of suggestions for your outdoor party.

BBQ Party Games and Ideas - You'll find a brief overview of ideas for food and a couple of good game ideas here that don't appear on other sites. The focus is selling their party supplies.