THRILLING THURSDAY: Labor Day is six weeks out, and summer has a way of disappearing before you’ve actually enjoyed it. Before the backpacks and bus schedules take over, let’s make sure some real fun makes it onto the calendar too.
One adventure a week. Six weeks left. Let’s use them.
Week 1 (July 30): Waterpark or Splash Pad Day
Wisconsin Dells is the obvious pick, but plenty of local splash pads and pools do the trick too. This weekend, bring the whole crew, and let the day be about nothing but fun.
Week 2 (August 6): Drive-In Movie Night
Wisconsin still has a handful of drive-in theaters running through summer. Pack blankets, grab snacks, and catch a movie under the sky before the season ends.
Week 3 (August 13): Bristol Renaissance Faire
Kenosha’s Bristol Renaissance Faire runs weekends through Labor Day, and it’s the kind of over-the-top fun that’s easy to forget exists. Jousting, costumes, turkey legs, and a whole village’s worth of characters to wander through for an afternoon.
Week 4 (August 20): Lake Day
Pick a lake, pack a cooler, and spend a full day swimming, paddling, or just floating. It’s the kind of simple summer day that’s easy to keep putting off until it’s suddenly October.
Week 5 (August 27): Mini Golf or Go-Karts
A low-key, high-fun night out. Nothing serious, nothing expensive, just an evening built entirely around goofing off before schedules get busy again.
Week 6 (September 3): One Last Bonfire
Cap off summer with a bonfire — s’mores, good music, good company. It’s a small ritual that marks the season’s end on your own terms, right before Labor Day closes it out officially.
Why This Matters in Recovery
Fun isn’t frivolous. It’s part of what makes a sober life worth living, not just survivable. These are also easy nights to invite sober friends, family, or a support group along. Connection and fun aren’t mutually exclusive – they usually go better together.
Pick this week’s pick, get it on the calendar, and let summer actually feel like summer before it’s gone.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. Contact us at 844-WIS-HOPE, fill out our pre-screen application here, or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7).
