Hear that tick-tick-tick?  YUP, it’s Summer 2013 winding down. 

 In May, the promise of summer stretched out in front of us, as bright as the sun, and as far as they eye could see. But now, with only three weeks til Labor Day, you may be inclined to rue the days passed,  and start making resolutions for next summer, while shopping for real shoes, and corduroys.

NO!! RESIST!! There are still plenty of Summertime things to do in Westchester, but  you must plan NOW!

Here are some ideas (and links) to help you make the most of these next few weeks. Free, to inexpensive, most easily accessible within Westchester. Some are out of the area, and a few could morph into long weekends…as you wish.  SO-grab your calendar and phone; make plans with those friends you haven’t seen in forever. You’ll be really glad you did.

Be entertained, learn how to do neat things and eat a WHOLE lot of stuff you might not find anywhere til next August…in otherwords, go to a County Fair! Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck  8/20-25, Columbia County Fair in Chatham 8/28-9/2.

Visit a Farmers Market.

Shakespeare! NYC’s beloved Shakespeare in the Park (ends 8/18) or the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival at Boscobel,  in Garrison.  And there’s always the classic  Renaissaince Faire in Tuxedo Park is running weekends, through September 22nd.

Did you know that membership to one local museum gets you in free to seven others??  Updates to the Hudson River Museum’s Planitarium are almost complete, but via this ongoing program via the Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance, you get the newly renovatged Neuberger, Wave Hill, Katonah….for a whole year.

OHHHH and AHHH at the fireworks on Wednesday and Friday nights at Playland Park in Rye.

Baseball fans can journey to the Cooperstown Hall of Fame; or spot some future stars at one of the minor league parks. All the local teams have good homestands left: Rockland Boulders, Wappinger Falls’ Hudson Valley Renegades,  or the Brooklyn Cyclones. A lot of fun for a fraction of the price of well…you know.

Do at least one of the quintissential summer food things now.  BBQ, dine somewhere waterfront, have a picnic. Buy a few watermelons while they’re still available. Keep in a cool place, your mouth will still think it’s summer come September.

View some free-form sculptures  in NYC’s Madison Square Park. Occupying 4500 square feet, and made from 1.4 million feet of lobster-fishing rope, on display until Sept 8th.

Catch a  movie under the stars-free at  various locations through Westchester County,  or for purists, or at Orange County’s  Warwick Drive-In.

DANCE to the MUSIC!  From Cheech and Chong(and WAR!), to  Matchbox 20, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffet, Gladys Knight, and Yo-Yo Ma, a myriad of outdoor concerts still on the schedule for places like Jones Beach Theater, NJ PAC and Danbury’s Bethel Woods.

There are also still two pages of free, or nearly free Outdoor Concerts on ArtsWestchester’s list. From the intimate to the grand, and for almost any age and taste. Pack some snacks, bring a blankie, and you’ll have a blast.

Juried Fine Arts Festivals await, in abundance: Next weekend (17th-18th) in Garrison, Montauk, and Saratoga Springs. 24th-25th Long Beach,  and Labor Day Weekend (8/31-9/2) in  Amagansett, Cooperstown and New Paltz.

 Remember, Summer’s only over when you say it is!