Summer always seems endless, but August has arrived and it’s time to pack in those quintessential summer activities you haven’t yet had time for. Here are five summer activities around Upper Valley; try one (or two) before the summer ends!

Norwich Farmers Market

Nothing says New England summer like a trip to the farmer’s market at the Norwich market is a community staple, open every Saturday, May through October, from 9 am to 1 pm. Hours change in the winter, so go while the weather is warm; there’s something for everyone, whether it be food, coffee, craft materials, or handmade jewelry. Grab a gourmet grilled cheese or a signature salad at Griddle and Groovy, or a drink from Abracadabra Coffee Co., and enjoy the shade. Savage Hart Farm sells colorful skeins of yarn, rain or shine, and Empty Nest Sewing provides their usual selection of handsewn, rainbow baskets. Find them at 300 Route 5, or call 802-384-7447 with questions. 

Maple Creamees at Mac’s Maple

If you’re looking to upgrade your regular grocery store ice cream, try Mac’s Maple Creamees from Mac’s Maple Sugarhouse at Macnamara Dairy in Plainfield, New Hampshire. Mac’s delicious maple ice cream is homemade and topped with maple candy crumble. This summer, you can buy creamers from the drive-through on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm. Customers interested in in-store shopping should stop by from 9 am-12 pm Tuesday through Sunday. Otherwise, you can browse Mac’s full selection of maple products on their website here for online purchase. 

Fairlee Drive-In Theater

Drive-in movies have always been a summer staple, and with today’s concerns about COVID transmission, they’re also a safe way to spend time with family or to see friends in an outside environment, with plenty of space to social distance. Visit the Fairlee Drive-in (1809 US-5, Fairlee, VT 05045) for timeless outdoor cinema and great concessions: they stock all the classics, including burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, fries, and more. You can view their menu here, and check their website for weekly showings, start times, and movie ratings. Adults pay $10 per ticket, children ages 5-11 pay $6, and children under five are free. The Fairlee Drive-in is cash only and does not accept checks. 

New London Barn Playhouse

Established in 1933, the New London Barn Playhouse has been bringing summer theater productions to local audiences for over 89 years, placing it among the oldest summer theaters in the United States and earning it a spot on New Hampshire’s Register of Historic Places. The shows continue today, and the playhouse remains committed to theater education for young actors across the state and beyond. This year, theater productions will occur in a tent outside, on the field behind Ivey Science Center on the Colby-Sawyer College campus. View upcoming shows for summer 2021 on the website, check their calendar for dates, or buy tickets now on sale online here. 

Make a Frozen Treat

People turned to baking during the beginning COVID quarantine; bread, especially sourdough, seemed to be a particular favorite. If those first few months didn’t already kill any and all love of cooking, it might be time to try again, and King Arthur Flour makes it easy with an easy Summer Cookout Recipe collection online here. Their icebox cake, frozen custard, and ice cream sandwiches are especially good for days when you don’t want to turn the oven on, and these recipes receive nothing but five-star reviews.