We've been waiting months for it to arrive, and now summer is finally here.
Granted, some will argue that summer begins somewhere around the Victoria Day long weekend each year, or they'll say it starts June 1. We've already had one summer-esque heat wave this year, but summer officially arrived on June 21, and the last day of classes for the schools is June 28.
It really is the most enjoyable time of the year. The days are long. The evenings are warm. Yes, we get those hot summer days, but when it's 25 C with only a light breeze, it's an absolutely perfect day to be outdoors.
We have all sorts of attractions to enjoy over the next two months. We don't always give ourselves credit for the things that we have to do. Camping, boating, fishing, golfing, exercising – there are lots of great activities for the people of southeast Saskatchewan to enjoy.
If it's spectator sports that you enjoy, you can take in the Estevan Motor Speedway's programs. The track is running programs on more weekends, with fewer doubleheaders, so if you're out of town for the weekend, you don't have to worry about missing two races.
A highlight for this summer at the speedway will be the Dakota Classic Modified Tour, which will be rumbling into Estevan on July 10, bringing top modified and stock car drivers from across the U.S. and southeast Saskatchewan to the Energy City for the first time in four years.
Another spectator attraction, the Souris Valley Theatre, is going to have an active summer this year, with productions and concerts that will be great for fans.
And there are lots of activities for the kids. Numerous organizations will be having summer camps over the next two months. History, arts, theatre, literature, sports, religion – all these interests and more will be covered in these camps. And you don't have to be there every day during the summer for these camps, so if you can make it work financially, the kids can attend more than one camp.
And then there's the city's playpark program. It's long been a gem in our community, with crafts and activities in the morning, and swimming in the afternoon. It's free, and there are four parks in the community, so they're always close by for families.
You can just go for a nice long walk in the area and capitalize on the sidewalks and pathways that connect our community, or visit Fresh Air Fitness. If history is your thing, then we have a couple of museums for you to tour.
Maybe you just want to sit out on a restaurant patio and enjoy a quality meal and a nice cold drink.
The great attractions, the fun spectator events, the enjoyable restaurants and the activities for children aren't just limited to Estevan. It seems like every community in the region has a museum, an organization that is offering activities for children, a restaurant that serves up great food or a campground. Many of them have a golf course.
You'll find regional parks and a provincial park in the southeast. You can find places to go for boating. You'll find events that provide entertainment for people in the community. And you'll find people who are willing to welcome you.
Or you can hop in your car, crank up the air conditioning and go for a long summer drive, and maybe see things you haven't seen in a very long time.
This is a fun, nifty time of year. So let's make the most of it. After all, in just a few months from now, it's going to be cool. We'll have more darkness than daylight. And while we'll still have lots to do, it just doesn't seem to be as much fun, especially when we're indoors.
