The 2026 Summer Fun List

I went for a run by means of a close-by woods yesterday, and I saved catching whiffs of honeysuckle. It is that point of 12 months once more — early summer time — and whereas we nonetheless have some cool nights, and faculty goes to mid-June, I’m declaring it summer time for me.

To that finish, I’m posting my Summer Fun List. Longtime readers know I’ve performed this yearly for most likely a decade (perhaps extra! Here’s 2016 and 2022, which additionally has hyperlinks to a number of different years). The concept is to make a summer time bucket checklist of kinds. These are issues I need to do that summer time to make summer time really feel like summer time. These lists positively evolve through the years however I nonetheless like interested by this. And I usually hope to get to the top of summer time having crossed most issues off. Here’s what’s on the checklist this 12 months.

Go strawberry choosing. I didn’t suppose this may occur as we now have moved out of our fruit-picking-as-entertainment period for probably the most half. But I satisfied my little man (and my husband) to go on Memorial Day. We went to Maple Acres Farm, which is about 20 minutes away, and had a reasonably relaxed stroll by means of the rows choosing berries. And now we’re consuming them. The picture accompanying this put up is from their farm stand. I hope to hit a number of farmers’ markets this summer time as nicely.

Smell the honeysuckle. My little boys and I like wandering to a patch close to the driveway. I confirmed them find out how to style the nectar and they’re massive followers. Nature’s sugar!

Bike. Always a favourite summer time exercise. I’ll do some solo rides plus some with the children. My 16-year-old has a motorcycle tenting journey arising along with his Scout troop.

Do sizzling tub + pool TOAD time. This occurs most nights now. The little boys wish to play within the pool, which is lastly as much as a balmy 75 levels. I sit within the sizzling tub since I don’t wish to be chilly! But it’s going to get hotter quickly. This is a good way to spend the time after dinner and earlier than bedtime and means much less display time (for all of us).

Go see the Phillies play. Possibly greater than as soon as. Baseball video games are the quintessential summer time exercise and my youngsters have gotten to the age the place they’ll largely take pleasure in a recreation, particularly for the reason that pitch clock means it’s not everlasting. So this could be a household exercise.

Host the church choir get together. This has change into one thing of a convention. We arrange on the patio with fried rooster and sizzling canine and folks convey appetizers/drinks/desserts. Here’s hoping for no rain! (Though if it does rain we’ll simply transfer inside). I’m additionally planning to host some smaller cookouts/swims — must get these on the calendar.

Do a Father’s Day brunch at Talula’s Garden. We are actually in our “brunch era” as a household — so we’re going to strive a fancier one and see the way it goes. We had brunch at First Watch the opposite day and survived, although that’s fairly informal, and did Founding Farmers a number of weeks in the past.

Drink my espresso exterior within the mornings. Since camp begins later than college for many of my youngsters, theoretically the mornings needs to be slower. It is feasible I’ll simply use the time to sleep later (and keep up later) although the early solar tends to drag me off the bed. Anyway, when doable, I hope to take pleasure in my first cup of espresso out on the porch.

Host SHU plus observe the July 4th/250th. Philly goes to be a bit nuts for the Fourth of July this 12 months, for apparent causes. Sarah can even be right here so I hope to make this a enjoyable weekend.

Go see Sarah McLachlan in live performance. This is my outside live performance for the official summer time season (although I even have tickets for Melissa Etheridge in September). Outdoor live shows are one other quintessential summer time exercise and so fingers crossed it received’t rain.

Go to the Philadelphia Zoo’s Ale Fest. I’ve tickets for this — normally I put “go to a beer garden” on my checklist however I believe this can take its place. We’re going to see the brand new bear exhibit in June as nicely. I’d make it to a beer backyard another evening however in any case, the outside beer consuming will probably be lined (between this and the Phillies).

Enjoy our seashore traditions. We’ll be again to the Jersey Shore for 2 weeks in August. This is similar home as regular, so we’ll go to all our previous haunts: Day’s, Toast, Cousins Maine Lobster, the pinball arcade, plus hopefully the brand new eating places in Asbury. I intend to run alongside the boardwalk many days as nicely.

2 very cool worldwide journeys. I’m all the time superstitious about speaking about these earlier than they occur however I will probably be touring twice this summer time — as soon as with a pal, and as soon as to present a speech — to locations I’m excited to see. More on that once they occur!

Camp? I hesitate to place this on right here, however I’ve contemplated tenting within the yard some evening as a strategy to dip my toe into the water of tenting. I believe my 6-year-old would take pleasure in this, however after all this implies I’ve to decide on an evening the place I don’t care if I truly sleep…We shall see!

What’s in your checklist?