Let Your Hair Down: A Bucket List for Some End-of-Summer Fun!

By: Tessa Piccolo

Hey ladies! With Summer almost behind us, I think we can fully throw ourselves into the last minute summer fun before the sun is gone! But if you’re anything like me, you always get so caught up in the beautiful sunny days and before you know it, the leaves have changed colour and you find yourself wondering what you’ve been up to all through the summer months. So to help you make the absolute most of the last of the sunshine, we’ve curated the ultimate guide for some end-of-summer fun:

1.Charcuterie on the beach  

I feel like this one needs no justification. It's not too late to get a group of your girlies and make each of them responsible for an element of the charcuterie. Get an old tablecloth, some pillows, a big cutting board, and maybe a few flowers for that extra aesthetic. And don’t let the confines of traditional charcuterie confine you- candy charcuterie? French fry charcuterie? Let your imagination run wild.

2.Go to a cafe to NOT study 

This one might sound a little wacky but for those of you who spend much of your year lugging your laptop to a cafe to grind out a term paper, the beautiful weather is the best time to be at the cafe just for the fun of it. Go to a cafe unburdened by your laptop and the stress of school. Meet up with a friend or go alone. Bring your book, journal, crocheting or knitting kit, drawing, or whatever it is that makes you happy. Reclaiming these spaces in the summer can turn out to be very therapeutic. 

3.Go fruit-picking 

Whether you live in the city, a small town, or the country, fruit-picking is an undoubtedly fun way to spend the day outdoors! Do a little research on a farm close to you that offers 'pick-your-own' and then enjoy as many fresh fruits as you please. Plus, it's a way of supporting our essential local farmers- talk about a win-win!

4.Try some new sports 

I feel like I’m just one of many who have been itching to try tennis after seeing Zendaya in Challengers. And luckily after a quick Google search, I found a sports complex close to me that offers free court time for both pickleball and tennis! And don’t worry if neither of those are really up your alley, there are plenty of other sports to try out before summer is over. You could go lane swimming at your local pool. You could go golfing with friends. You can get a team together and check out the volleyball courts on the beach. There’s probably even a just-for-fun soccer league that operates close to you. Regardless of what it is, or whether you’re really even a sports person, you don’t have to be a pro to have a good time!

5.Fill your downtime with something other than your phone

We always think about how we want to spend our active time but what about the evenings when we don’t have plans? Instead of getting sucked into the vortex of TikTok, only to find that somehow you’ve spent hours staring at your screen, stay busy with a fun activity. Put on an awesome playlist in the background and learn how to crochet, pull out a puzzle, make bracelets, or paint! These are all healthy ways to unwind and make the most out of what's left of the summer days. 

6.Go people-watching 

I promise this one isn’t as creepy as it sounds. The summer is a beautiful time for all to enjoy and sometimes just watching that enjoyment can be entertainment in itself. Get a coffee or ice cream, go to the park and just observe all the beautiful life around you. Trust me, you will wish you did more of this when summer is over. I have a friend who used to ride the bus or subway, even when she had nowhere to go, just to observe all the activities that we miss on regular busy days. Late summer is a perfect time to slow down and enjoy these little moments when we’re not so worried about staying bundled up and warm indoors!

7.Have a theme night (and fully commit to it)

This suggestion is a bit more open for creative interpretation. Get a group of friends together to see a movie and dress on-theme or as movie characters. Go thrifting and pick out funny outfits for each other and then go out for dinner. Dress up like grannies and hit the town. Whatever you and your friends feel like doing, do it. You’re never too old to have some silly fun. 

8.Go to festivals and concerts 

Perhaps the best part about summer is the endless stream of outdoor concerts and festivals for us to enjoy. As summer ends, there might not be a lot of festivals and concerts left to attend, but it's still worth a shot to look up available events near you. A stand-alone concert is a perfect nighttime event and a festival can be the ultimate weekend getaway. And don't worry if you don’t have the spare money to see a big artist (we all know how crazy expensive tickets are these days). There are always small artists playing local gigs and bandshells for cheap or free so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

Well, that’s all from us but we’d love to hear your ideas too. If you can think of more end-of-summer essentials, share them with us on Instagram at @empowherto! Happy end-of-summer!