So we’re getting into the dog days of summer.
And you’re probably sitting at home with the kiddos, looking for something, anything, to end the boredom. A card game isn’t working. The Xbox has been boxed up. You’ve pushed the children on the swings so often that your arms are sore.
But at the same time, you don’t want to break the bank on amusements.
Well, we’ve got some summer fun ideas for you:
Step into the sunflowers
These beauties are only in peak form for a bit, but you can drop by Innisfil's Edwards Farm Store (1574 9th Line) and tour their sunflower fields — the cost for parking is $10 per vehicle. Also, Laura’s Farm Stand in Cookstown (5590 County Road 27) has a one-kilometre-long sunflower trail; afterwards, you can tour the wildflower field and pick a bouquet. General admission to Laura’s is $9, with Flower Experience and season-pass options available for a higher price, but there’s free entry for kids two and under.
Pick out a farmers’ market to enjoy
Bradford (Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Innisfil (Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m.) have weekly markets with vendors selling fresh produce, meats and baked goods, as well as art and other items. Many weeks include entertainment and themed days, too. Innisfil, for example, will host Community Services Day today, with activities such as Dunking for Food (where local leaders will sit in a dunk tank and collect food bank donations) and a pie-eating contest. Bradford’s market is held at 425 Holland St. W.; Innisfil happens at 7883 Yonge St. in Stroud.
See some storyboards
As part of the Innisfil ideaLAB and Library’s TD Summer Reading Club initiative, staff have set up a Storywalk adventure along the portion of the Rotary Trail just east of the Innisfil Recreational Complex (7315 Yonge St.) — a self-guided, outdoor reading adventure featuring The Darkest Dark by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. This story, available in English or French, winds through a forested area with a paved pathway, features 22 storyboards and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
Splash it up
Cool off during the warm months at one of Bradford’s six splash pads, located at Alan Kuzmich Memorial, Green Valley, Henderson Memorial Community, Lions, Constable Devon Northrup Memorial and Ron Simpson Memorial parks. Innisfil has two pads of its own (Cookstown Community Park and Innisfil Town Square), which operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Drop into a library
Both the BWG public library and Innisfil ideadLAB and Library have great, affordable events planned for families in the coming weeks. See what Bradford has scheduled at bradford.library.on.ca or visit the Innisfil library’s website at innisfil.bibliocommons.com.
Catch some music in the park
Innisfil’s free Music in the Park series will extend into August. Enjoy some tasty treats from a local food vendor, but bring your own lawn chair because each show runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Upcoming performances include Rainstone (Aug. 6 at Innisfil Beach Park), Cruisin Vocal Band (Aug. 13 at Cookstown Community Park), 89 Klicks (Aug. 20 at Innisfil Town Square) and Cara & Leo Acoustic (Aug. 27 at Innisfil Beach Park).
Flip for an outdoor flick
The Innisfil library’s Fresh Air Flicks is already underway, with the next screenings happening on Aug. 9 (Megamind) at Innisfil Beach Park, and Aug. 23 (Elemental) at the Stroud Innisfil Community Centre. The fun begins at 7 p.m. with music and activities, and the movie starts at dusk. Admission is free, but pack lawn chairs and blankets. Movie goers are invited to bring non-perishable foods to be donated to the Troy Scott Community Fridge. Bradford, meanwhile, brings its family-themed Outdoor Movies nights back for six dates in August (the 6th, 8th, 20th, 22nd, 27th and 29th), featuring titles like Kung Fu Panda 4, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, The Lorax and The Little Mermaid. The shows are at the Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre (125 Simcoe Rd.), with games, food vendors and pre-show entertainment at 7:30 p.m. and movies beginning at dusk.
One more scoop
There are plenty of places to buy a tasty cone in South Simcoe. Thornton has multiple well-known venues situated along County Road 27, while Ref’s Pizza and Ice Cream (8056 Yonge St.) in Stroud offers more than 30 flavours and a specialty called 'ice cream nachos'. In Alcona, 'What’s the Scoop?' recently opened in the Crossroads Plaza (1070 Innisfil Beach Rd.), while long-time staple Jean’s Variety (921 Innisfil Beach Rd.) has been offering an assortment of great flavours and generous portions for years. In Bradford, try 3 Scoops (11 Barrie St.), an ice cream and general store that also sells chips, pop, candy and cake.
