For little patriots, wearing red, white and blue this season is as classic as catching fireflies.

That's especially true on Tuesday, when kids of all ages will don these colors to enjoy Fourth of July festivities. Atlanta celebrations — a party for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race, a picnic in Grant Park or an outing on Lake Lanier — call for cool, casual, comfy styles.

The Children's Place (ENLARGE)

T-shirt ($4.75), hat ($5.50) and hair barrettes ($3.50 or two for $5) from the Children's Place stores.

Macy's (ENLARGE)

If stars and stripes are not in the stars for your kids, try red and white tops and denim. Looks from Timberland and Baby Phat — $22 to $49.50 at Macy's.

Wal-Mart (ENLARGE)

This cute striped cotton dress from the Toddler Kid Connection is $4.88 at Wal-Mart stores.

Talbots (ENLARGE)

This pint-size girl wears an Americana patchwork skort ($16), storybook T-shirt ($15) and reversible hat ($10). All from Talbots Kids.

Talbots (ENLARGE)

This girl wears an appliquéd star T-shirt ($18) over denim shorts ($19). At Talbots Kids.

Every year, the Children's Place stores unveil an Americana-themed collection. "There's customer demand for it," says Andrea McClarren, marketing manager for the chain. "We focus the collection on the essentials for the season, including graphic T's, flip-flops, baseball caps and hair accessories."

Other retailers, including Old Navy, Talbots and Wal-Mart, also get into the act with themed merchandise. The T-shirt, a staple of every kid's warm weather wardrobe, goes glitzy with patriotic designs that range from glittering flags to festive fireworks to shining stars. Other fun pieces for girls include halter tops, skorts, miniskirts and capri pants. Boys go all-American in shorts, T-shirts, jeans and baseball jerseys.

There are also plenty of options for independent types who might not want to wear stars or stripes on the Fourth. This season, festive patterns include dots, popsicles, butterflies, even cupcakes — all in red, white and blue. And patchwork plaid lends an old-fashioned air to up-to-the-minute dirndl skorts for little girls.

Betsy Thompson, spokeswoman for Talbots stores, says the red, white and blue color combo is fun all summer long, not just on a national holiday. "It's a cheerful, child-friendly combination," she says. "And it mixes great with denim and khaki, two child favorites."

Adds McClarren, "The appeal of this color combination is its symbolism.

"There's nothing more American than red, white and blue."