Still Time for Post-School Summer Fun

The end of August has arrived, meaning , summer-only activities will soon close for the fall season and questionable temperatures will become part of our everyday routine. However, even if you didn’t get around to doing all that you had hoped this summer, there is still plenty of time over the weekends to enjoy summertime activities.

Here is a look back at some of my columns from earlier this summer, with a few new activities added to the list. In case you missed them the first time around, or you were putting them off, you get a second chance to successfully check them off your 2011 summer to-do list.

• Luckily, runs through October, allowing you plenty more time to indulge in local, fresh produce. However, the summertime berries and vegetables will soon be replaced with fall pumpkins and squash. Read up on how to make with what is left of summer produce.
• Nearby water parks and pools usually remain open until Labor Day weekend, allowing you two more weekends of swimming. Check out where you can , such as or .
• Most local watering holes remain open for fishing past the summer months, but you’ll need a sweater and jacket as time goes on. Enjoy the last few weeks of warm sunrises by staking out one of these .
• You don’t even have to leave your house this weekend to have summertime fun. What you can do is put together a with friends or family, complete with sprinklers, barbecue, ghost stories and tents.
• While camping out in your backyard, make sure you are well prepped for grilling. No kitchen appliances allowed during your day in nature! If you could use some barbecue 101, check out these , which will also come in handy come Labor Day.
• If temperatures drop a little too much for swimming, that means they are ideal for . If you haven’t tried disc golf yet, don’t let the summer pass by without doing so. After all, it’s a Mokena staple.
• Summer isn’t always sunny. The hurricane Irene rainfalls and earthquakes are proof of that! On a rainy day, head to for , an activity that is available year-round.
• This Saturday, you can enjoy a night out at the in New Lenox. From 6 to 10 p.m., women can shop from vendors such as Tastefully Simple, Mary Kay and many more. Fifty percent of the money collected will go to For the Love of Liz benefit, which is a brain tumor fundraiser.
• This is the last weekend for the musical , performed by the Joliet Drama Guild in Joliet. Show times are tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. You can find out more and purchase tickets at www.jolietdramaguild.org.
• This weekend is also the Will County Fair, located in Peotone. The first day of the Demolition Derby is tonight at 7:30 p.m., followed by tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Carnival rides are open each day, with rides costing just a dollar before 5 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday is the annual chili cook-off and the baby show. Expect bingo, agricultural exhibits, a beer tent and entertainment every day this weekend.