4th of July goes global

When In Rome

A blowout event planned a year in advance, the American International Club of Rome’s 20th celebration is a patriotic tribute: potato sack races for the kids, swing-dancing lessons with live music and all the s’mores, hot dogs and hamburgers you can stand, said the club manager and event coordinator, Nina Farrell.

“When you’re away from home, it’s really nice to get together and celebrate and be a little bit American,” Farrell said.

The celebration will kick off at 5 p.m. with Americans and Italians alike at Marymount International School, ending at midnight with the crackling of sparklers. (Sorry, no fireworks allowed on the school grounds.)

For tickets, visit the AICR’s Web site at http://www.aicrome.org/.

Red, white and blue down under

Mary Botto believes it’s the little things that help a person become acclimated, and the Fourth of July celebration the American Society of Sydney, Australia, helps pull together is one of them.

Botto, the society’s president, said this year’s party will be held at the Hunters Hill Sailing Club, right on Sydney Harbour. The organization stays true to an American theme, from the food to the fireworks.

The one piece of American tradition Botto’s group can’t replicate is warm weather: July is winter in Australia, so most of the festivities are indoors, except the fireworks, which start around 6 p.m.

Everyone is welcome, and locals take part in the fun. “Australia Day here is huge and I think Australians really respect the fact that we still celebrate even though we’re not in our home country,” Botto said.

Tickets can be purchased at moshtix.com.au.

Independence in Argentina

It doesn’t take a bartender to know that beer is a top seller on Independence Day, and that’s not just in the United States. Crack a cold one in Buenos Aires, where a burgeoning pub crawl is poised to take over the Paris of South America.

Between the drinks, a diverse group of participants and the four frat boys from Georgia running the show, you’ll feel right at home. The company, 12th Gate Inc., has spent the past two years rounding up tourists, expatriates and the stray 70-year-old into one big, pub-crawling group.

Saturday marks their first Fourth of July event, and they’ve pulled out all the stops. “We’ve been living here for awhile, and we miss home,” said marketing and events planner Will Aquino. “We have the means to throw a great party, and we are.”

Instead of the usual pizza, the owners have upped the ante to provide more festive fare: hamburgers, hot dogs and red, white and blue Jell-O shots. You can even get a commemorative T-shirt with the $13 ticket price, which covers an hourlong open bar, food and transportation to three bars throughout the city.

There won’t be any fireworks, but participants will be supplied with sparklers and American flags. To secure a reservation, head to the 12th Gate Web site.