We’re already approaching the end of July and this summer is flying by.

Because we still have a lot of great summertime fun planned, I wanted to update you about all the wonderful things you can do with your days off still ahead. There is no need to leave our beautiful city, when you are searching for those fun and entertaining things to do with family and friends.

There are many events on the schedule. Pick and choose from theater performances, concerts, tours and fundraisers —you just may be able to attend them all.

Tuesday to Aug. 4: Summerset Theatre will present the play “Cash on Delivery!” by Michael Cooney at Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. This play is recommended for the entire family. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students 16 and under. Call 433-0595 or go to summersetaustin.org.

Thursday: Ann Zimmerman returns to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Ann’s concerts tell stories and paint portraits and backs her rich voice with piano, guitar and the audience itself. A Summer Senior Special Concert will be 9 to 9:30 a.m. and a Family/Children’s Concert will be at 1:30 p.m. The evening concert is set for 7 p.m. All three concerts are free and open to the public. Please RSVP by Wednesday at 437-7519 or jchnatur@smig.net.

Friday: Y Family Fun Night from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Open gymnastics, kids gym, family swimming, crafts, light meal and healthy snacks. Food is served at 6 p.m. Free to Y members, $15 for non-member families. Call 433-1804 for more information; Seibel Center Presents Sweets and Sounds. The Seibel Center is offering a night of musical performances showcasing local artists and decadent desserts that will treat any sweet tooth.

This will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Door prizes will be given out throughout the night. Call 434-0934 or go to www.paramounttheatre.org.

Aug. 4: Free tours of the Mayo Medical Mobile Research Unit at Bandshell Park from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This is the latest addition to Mayo Clinic Health System’s clinical research enterprise, the Research Vehicle, which includes two exam rooms, equipment for lab tests, laboratory, and more.

Aug. 4 and 5 : Annual Mower County’s Relay for Life will be held. This fundraising walk for cancer research takes place at Veterans Pavilion/Bandshell Park and starts at 3 p.m. The opening ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., with a luminary ceremony at dusk.

Closing ceremony will be at 6 a.m. on Aug. 5. There will be entertainment, food, and kids games. Call Linda Baier 440-1024 for information.

Aug. 7-12: The 128th Annual Mower County Free Fair.  Fair week will be filled with livestock shows, free stage entertainment, grandstand shows, arts/crafts/horticulture, carnival rides and your favorite fair foods. Get the fair’s daily schedule at www.mowercountyfair.com.

Aug. 30: The Hormel Institute will host its final summer open house from 4 to 6 p.m.  Open in 1942 by Jay C. Hormel to help the health of the world through medical research, The Hormel Institute is a world leader in cancer research prevention.

In addition to all the events listed above, don’t forget to take a spin on the Spamtown Belle, our city’s own paddlewheeler that will take you on a tour of the East Side Lake.

Visit the beautiful Historic Paramount Theatre for a performance this season. Have you taken time to see the amazing “Ghost Towns” display at the Mower County Historical Society yet?

This is well worth a special trip out to the fairgrounds during the open hours of MCHS, but if you forget, be sure you check it out during fair week, when all MCHS buildings will be open special hours.  You can tour Tuesday to Saturday until 8 p.m. that week, and until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Take in a game of golf, since there are several course choices in and around Austin.  Dine out at any of our delicious and varied eating establishments.

Ride the bike trails in our city or take a walk around the Nature Center’s many trails. Take a cool dip in the Austin Municipal Swimming Pool. Stop by for a family picnic at one of our 29 local parks. Take in a race at Chateau Raceway.

Take in a sporting event since Austin is fortunate to have several outstanding sports complexes.

Enjoy the heavenly constellations at the Sola Fide Observatory.

Last but not least, make sure that while you are being a tourist in your own town that you include another visit to the Spam Museum. It’s 16,500 square feet of anytime fun.

Contact us at the Austin CVB at 437-4563 for details on any of the activities that I’ve just mentioned.

You can also check out our website at www.austincvb.com, email us at visitor@austinmn.com or check out our official Facebook page.