As the sound of the last fireworks fades away from Independence Day celebrations, we enter the long stint of the some of the hottest days of the year with no holidays on the calendar until the first Monday in September. The Dog Days of Summer are officially recognized as the 40-day period from July 3 – August 11. With back to back 31-day months, and daylight hours still stretching from about 6am – 8pm, that’s a lot of summer to fill! A few years ago my mom gave me a unique book, Every Day A Holiday: Celebrations for the Whole Year by Silvana Clark. Each page has ideas to celebrate designated days with fun, crafts, and food. I’m sharing a few ideas from the book along with some others to give you some inspiration to enjoy a few special moments with your kids in this season.
National Ice Cream Month
Americans lead the world in ice cream consumption, with a yearly average of 20 quarts per person! July is the time to celebrate our love for ice cream. Schedule a factory tour of the Blue Bell Creameries in Sylacauga, AL. Whether or not you decide to tour, you can observe the ice cream packing from a 2nd-floor window, visit the gift shop, and enjoy $1 scoops of ice cream! For a double holiday celebration, you can have Summer Sweets With Santa at OTown in Opelika on July 18th from 10am – noon. From the book, Clark suggests hosting an ice cream potluck with friends. A good day for that would be the third Sunday in July, which is National Ice Cream Day. Kids can have fun making their own ice cream in a baggie, inventing their own flavors, or watching the Ice Cream Rolls YouTube channel.
Harry Potter’s Birthday
July 31st is Harry Potter’s birthday, according to the first book in the series, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling. July and August would be a great time to read (or re-read) one or more of the books, and watch the movies. You could bake and decorate a cake like the one Hagrid made for Harry on his life-changing 11th birthday, or whip up other magical treats like butterbeer or sorting hat cupcakes. Challenge fellow Potterheads to take this trivia quiz or try your hand (and wand) at some potion experiments.
Not Back To School
While most of society celebrates the return of school in August, some of us are not sending kids back to school, perhaps because we homeschool. Some homeschoolers also celebrate back to school, but I propose celebrating NOT back to school. Embrace the freedom of homeschooling by doing something that traditionally-schooled counterparts couldn’t necessarily do once their school is back in session. Some ideas are a weeknight sleepover, a trip to blissfully less-crowded destination like nearby Great Wolf Lodge (which now also offers day passes), or just going out for breakfast or lunch.
National Family Day
The first Sunday in August is designated as National Family Day. In the book, Clark suggests making the day festive and fun by playing games together, eating special or favorite foods, or taking a day trip together. You could write a family mission statement or set some family goals like trying a new hobby together, saving and planning for a family vacation, or taking on project. If your extended family is nearby, you could invite them over, take pictures together, and share family stories from the older generation to the younger ones. If they’re not nearby, you can share pictures and videos of them with your kids and perhaps arrange a video call to bridge the gap.
National Bowling Day
The second Saturday in August (August 10th this year) has been National Bowling Day since 1956. Bowling is fun for all ages, so it’s a great game to play with your whole family. You can bowl two free games at AMF lanes if you sign up for their email list ahead of time. Can’t make it to the lanes? Set up your own alley at home or in your backyard. I love this idea for glow in the dark bowling!
Wizard of Oz Day
August 15th is marked as Wizard of Oz Day, but I imagine you could also celebrate it on August 25th, which was the release date of the classic film starring Judy Garland. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the movie! I’m not sure my 16 year old has even seen it, so that’s going on my list of activities for sure. I’ll probably make up a batch of Chex Mix because I remember eating it when the Wizard of Oz was broadcast on TV annually when I was young. I’ve never read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, so I’m listening to it now on audiobook through the free library app. Author Silvana Clark proposes creating a yellow brick road that leads from your child’s bedroom to the breakfast table. If you have Amazon Prime, your kids might enjoy the Amazon Original Series Lost In Oz. And if you’re a real fan, you could plan a trip to the Autumn at Oz Festival in North Carolina in September!
I hope the second half of your summer is sprinkled with many fun family memories!
