The warm weather is finally setting in. You have your favorite pair of flip-flops out by the door, their vibrant colors waiting to match your equally-bright new sunglasses. You’ve been waiting for this moment ever since the first few icicles began to melt in February and the first flowers bloomed in March.

Summer has arrived. Break out the sunhats and grab your swimsuit because it’s time to celebrate the moment!

With sunshine blazing and beaches calling your name, you need to make the most of the summer months. But how? With countless options and time quickly filling up, you need to make sure to create your summer “to-do” list now.

Here are five events you have to try during this sizzling summer season (plus two bonus activities) Brace yourself, because the party is just beginning.

Make-Your-Own-Sundae Party

Cool down from the sizzling summer heat with ice cream delights

What You Need: Global and local toppings, ice cream types, bowls and spoons, and big appetites!

Remember when the ice cream truck would roll down the road and play those familiar jingles? Ice cream is a classic staple in summertime memories, so go ahead and continue the tradition.

Cultures all around the world have unique flavors and tasty concoctions. When it comes to ice cream, Japan is known for exotic flavors such as green tea. In Italy, gelato (which has a creamier, milkier consistency than ice cream) is a popular treat that has spread to other countries. India has a distinctive type of ice cream flavored with saffron and cardamom while Guatemala specializes in mint and avocado recipes.

Discover global tastes and combine them with hometown favorites! Have each of your friends research a variety of unique global toppings to bring to the party. Set up a bar on your deck, in your kitchen, (or while watching a movie inside) and get ready to indulge. Add some classic tastes like chocolate syrup, caramel topping, crushed cookies, maraschino cherries, sprinkles, peanut butter cups to help create your tasty masterpiece. This isn’t just an ice cream bar—it’s a make-your-own sundae buffet! Don’t worry, the beach body can wait a few more weeks…

A Mini Road Trip Adventure

Let your wanderlust guide you as you explore a new destination

What You Need: A map, a journal and pen, a camera to snap photos, and a sense of adventure

Have you ever wanted to just hop in the car and see where you end up? Summer is the perfect time to go on a mini road trip! Look at map (you know, those old paper ones that we all used to have stashed in our cars) and decide on a destination you want to explore. Want to see the sunrise over the ocean? Jump in the car and go! Need to see your state’s biggest tourist attraction? Block out a day and do it.

An adventure wouldn’t be complete without the perfect road trip playlist. Select a good blend of summer jams perfect for the occasion and you will be reminiscing for seasons to come.

One of the most rewarding ways to remember a trip is to share a journal with your travel companions. With different perspective filling the pages, it will be a fun, unique, and meaningful memory book later on. After it’s finished you’ll have a collection of insights, jokes, and memories you never want to forget.
The open road awaits you—why not explore it? Pack your bags, fill up the gas tank, and get ready. A road trip doesn’t have to be a month. It can be a weekend, or even a day, full of wanderlust.

Delicious Garden Picnic

Indulge in a garden feast that’s both fun and fresh

What You Need: Garden or market produce, small journal or recipe book, and a day perfect for a picnic

Summertime offers some of most delicious, mouth-watering garden produce of the entire year. Whether you have your own personal garden or live near a farmer’s market, bring the freshness to your table with a delicious garden picnic!

Make tasty salsas with home-grown tomatoes, sweet onions, and corn while adding a dash of cilantro to taste. Go to a local farmer’s market and select ingredients to create a refreshing fruit medley, pushing your taste buds into summery goodness. Add some olive oil to your green beans, broccoli, and mushrooms, toss in diced garlic, and roast them in the oven or on the grill. Make a vibrant side dish with avocado, red onion, tomatoes, orange peppers, and a balsamic vinaigrette mix. Combining fruit and vegetables can create some of the most refreshing tastes too (like this amazing watermelon salad you need to try). If friends want to join, have them bring a dish from their gardens for a fresh buffet of selections.

Create a recipe book just using ingredients from the market and your garden. Add on to it as you go, creating a deliciously fresh guide to use year after year.

Backyard Campout

S’mores, campfires, and adventure is only a few steps away

What You Need: Tent, pillows and blankets, flag fabric, fabric paint, food ingredients, and a starry night

You can almost taste the warm marshmallow oozing out of the graham cracker. Chocolate, rich and creamy, melts into a delicious coating. It’s time to go camping! It doesn’t have to be a weekend trip to the local state park—this adventure can happen right in your own backyard.

Food is one of the best parts of camping. Slice hot dogs, chop pineapple, and add both to skewers to create a summer kabob delicious for grilling. If you have pie irons, the pizza pie can be a delicious addition. Just butter bread, place in pie iron, add mozzarella cheese plus herbed tomato sauce, and cook in campfire until golden brown. And don’t forget the most important addition to any camping adventure—s’mores! Too hot for a fire? Get the same s’mores flavor with graham cereal, mini-marshmallows, and chocolate chips mixed together. (Add some peanut butter chips for a unique spin on the classic taste!)

The next step is for you to create your own campground flag. Get an old sheet (or purchase fabric from the local craft store) to create the most amazing flag your neighborhood has ever seen. Add some fabric paint into the mix and you’ll be waving your flag proudly about your campsite in no time.

With your tent in place and the stars twinkling above you, camping was never so easy (and so close to your own bathroom).

Game Day

Grab your gear and put on your game face because the competition is heating up

What You Need: Lawn games and/or board games, tie-dye supplies, ribbons or medals, camera, refreshments and snacks, and a day for competition

Did you know the Olympics are slated for this summer? There is no better time to throw your own game day!

Adults and kids alike can enjoy a day full of fun and at your fantastic lawn party! Classic yard games like bocce ball, horseshoes, and croquet are perfect for any backyard. Add discs, soccer balls, footballs, and more to create fun relay races.

Create ribbons or medals for the winners and make sure to snap photos of the champions for your own victory wall. (A simple corkboard works great.) You’ll never want to forget the moments when all your family and friends transformed into professional athletes for the afternoon!

A game day isn’t complete without team colors. Have some tie-dyeing fun beforehand to create team jerseys out of plain white shirts and tie-dye mix. (You can find this at your local craft store). It will help differentiate the players while also creating a great souvenir they can take with them.

Not into active games? Try having a board game party out on the deck or on blankets in the yard. Puzzle, strategy, word and card games are even more fun in the summer sun.

Don’t forget to keep refreshments ready for the hard-workers! Rejuvenate your players with fresh lime or lemonade and an array of fruits, veggies, and snacks.

Bonus Celebrations!

Outdoor Movie Night Extravaganza

Bring the theater outside for a magical movie night under the stars.

Roll out the red carpet because your outdoor theater awaits! Who needs to spend money on movie tickets when you can create your own theater right in your backyard? Read How>>

A Sangria Fiesta

Refresh with a Spanish favorite and celebrate the weekend right.

How often do you daydream about kicking back, lounging in the sun, watching the clouds roll by, and grasping a delicious chilled beverage? Make it a reality with a sangria party celebration! Read How>>

Now you’re officially prepared to take on this summer by storm! Are there any other ideas that we missed? Do you have a fun event you love to do during the summer? Let us know in the comments below.