As summer comes to a close, I wanted to share some fun activities you can do to end your kids' summer with a bang. This time of year always brings excitement in our house as the kids prepare for school, but I find I don't want the fun summer times to end, so throwing in as many fun activities as we can helps me feel like we got everything out of summer that we possibly could.
If you're looking for a few last summer activities, check these out!
Movie party - This one is a classic. Grab some popcorn, mini M&Ms, throw some chicken nuggets or mini corn dogs in the air fryer, and invite all of your kid's friends to your house for a fun movie party. We do ours inside in the middle of the day, but if you've got a projector and screen handy, turn it into an outdoor movie party instead.
Campfire night - No need to go through the trouble of taking one last camping trip, just drive up into the mountains or down to the beach and spend an evening as a family roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire. The kids love doing this and it could easily become your family's favorite end-of-summer tradition. The best part is, you get all the fun of camping, but still get to sleep in your own bed.
Water balloons - Invite your kid's friends over to have a water balloon fight, then give them popsicles to eat on the lawn afterwards and maybe set up the sprinkler.
Slip-n-slide - For younger kids you can set this up in your backyard and let them at it. For older kids, find a huge hill in your neighborhood and consider setting up a giant tarp instead of a traditional waterslide.
Pool party - My kids love swimming and always enjoy a pool party with their friends. We don't have a pool, so we've never hosted one, but we love when a friend has an end-of-summer pool party.
Find a new park - This is a fun, easy activity to end the summer, and it gives you a great park to hit up during those nice autumn days.
Family picnic - My kids love having picnics in the backyard, but doing it at dinnertime makes it feel more special. Have a pasta salad or some chicken salad sandwiches for dinner and bring along some fresh watermelon and berries for a fun evening with the family.
Dessert night - Go out for ice cream, or if you're feeling really adventurous, you could let each kid pick where they want to go for dessert and make a night of visiting all of their choices.
County/State Fair - These are so fun to take your kids to, with petting zoos, carnival rides, and food trucks, it's a fun time for everyone.
Waterpark - If you don't go to the waterpark often, going to one on the last week of summer can feel like a special treat before heading back to school. I've found a lot of times they aren't as busy because people are doing other things and it can be a nice way to end the summer.
Rodeo - The rodeo can be quite a unique experience if you've never been. It could be a fun new end-of-summer activity that your kids will look forward to every year.
Ice blocking - Grab some big ice blocks, find a hill, and ride the ice block down the hill. This is a fun activity for older kids who have a bit more coordination because it's not always easy to stay on the block, but your family will have a blast figuring it out. You may want to bring a few towels to place on top of the ice block so that your pants don't get wet while you play.