4 Easy Ways to Celebrate Summer's End

When summer first started, I wrote about some easy (and fun) ways to celebrate the season. Since today (Labor Day) marks the “unofficial” end of summer, I thought I would write about some easy ways to celebrate the end of the season because there are still 18 days left of summer. That means it’s not too late to do some of the things you wanted to do.

As I wrote both last year, and this year, for me, summer is all about the food, especially fresh fruits and veggies like corn, watermelon, tomatoes, strawberries, and peaches and plums.

Labor Day is all about food for most people, and they usually mark the day with the last barbecue or picnic of the season. But why not host an end of summer potluck, picnic, or barbecue before the season is “officially” over? Make this event the last “official” one of the summer by highlighting the foods of the season. A few fresh vegetables and a food processor make delicious chilled summer soups. Tomatoes and cucumbers taste great this way. Grill your fresh veggies and make kabobs. Include some peaches and plums to add a touch of sweetness.

If you are a gardener, you can also exchange produce, or have a mini produce swap with your friends and family. Are your tomatoes, zucchini, corn and cucumbers done? Save the seeds and have a seed exchange.

While the weather is still nice, take advantage of the sunshine and take a day and go explore some local gardens or parks. Many local parks have outdoor concerts and movies with some going through the end of September.

Go for a moonlit hike or walk, even if it’s just around your neighborhood. The warm summer nights are a perfect time to stargaze and to see things from a different perspective. Organized hikes that overlook city lights are a memorable way to say goodbye to summer.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Heidi A.

6:11PM PDT on Mar 29, 2013

When I was in college, we had Star Gazer parties at Mount Laguna. I was introduced to the magnificent Perseid Meteor showers that occur yearly in August. It was really a fantastic show of celestial fireworks. Through the obersvatory telescope, I saw distant galaxies and Saturn with my own eyes. These images are forever etched in my mind. Seeing it yourself is far more amazing and awe inspiring than seeing on a documentary on T.V.