That wasn’t an earthquake earlier this week, it was the collective stomping of feet as kids across the city realized they had to head back to school. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to put away the boogie boards and summer fun quite yet! This long (extra long, for LAUSD kids) weekend gives us plenty of time to pretend it’s still summer. Here are 15 ways to squeeze every drop of sunny fun out of this weekend.
photo: Jeremy Austin via flickr
1. Go picking! The ultimate summer activity is picking fresh produce and devouring it, still warm from the sun. This weekend you can pick a peck of tomatoes, blackberries or even get some early apples (if you want to get a jump on fall!).
2. Dive into summer at a nice cool pool. One of these natural ones would be our pick; they’re icily refreshing.
3. Hit the LA County Fair! Rides and fried foods and animals, oh my! Stay late; you can sleep in on Monday…
photo: Sarah C. via yelp
4. Eat some ice cream. Each and every day.
5. Chill out when you sing along with Elsa and Anna. Enough time has passed that this won’t make your eardrums bleed, and the AC interlude is bliss.
6. Long weekends are for BBQs, but in the spirit of taking the Labor out of the weekend, we suggest eating at these kid favorite Q joints instead of firing up the grill.
photo: Erin Harris
7. Speaking of taking it easy, relax with an icy brew at this new kid friendly suds spot.
8. Shakespeare summer nights draw to a close, but the Bard is back with Midsummer Night’s Dream in Topanga and a return of Romeo and Juliet at the Old Zoo.
9. Last weekend to see the Butterflies at NHM, before the Pavilion turns to spiders to get ready for Halloween.
photo: Meghan Rose
10. Watch the sunset over the city as you sip wine in the shadow of an architectural gem and watch the kids play on the lawn. Tasty, relaxing, perfect.
11. Make some jazz hands when you picnic and play at LACMA this weekend. Friday Night Jazz continues at the Museum, while Saturday Night wraps up Latin Sounds for the summer.
12. Say E-I-E-I-O at Kidspace, where everyone is a farmer for the weekend.
photo: The Skirball Cultural Center
13. It’s the last weekend of Family Amphitheater performances at the Skirball, and you can catch some Sukey Jump on Saturday or a comical blend of rock, country and folk on Sunday.
14. Nothing says summer like a little Hula, so pretend you headed to Hawaii and start your hips a swayin’ at the E Hula Mau Festival.
15. If you can’t decide between spending this weekend at a pool or the beach, you can do both! Seaside Lagoon and the Annenberg Beach House are both getting ready to shutter for the season, but are open this weekend where you can dip in a pool by the sea.
—Meghan Rose
What is your favorite way to send off summer? Share your Labor Day Weekend “must-do” list in the comment section!
Need some fresh ideas?
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