Need some more ideas of activities to do this summer?

Plenty of options await, from the traditional events like the fair and the Fourth of July.

The mainstays

Believe it or not, the big Mower County events are right around the corner. Freedom Fest is less than a month away. We know: Let that sink in a minute.  It’s June 30 to July 4. Then the fair will be Aug. 8 to 13. The ArtWorks Festival is Aug. 26 and 27.

Small town festivals

Consider attending the festivals in the small towns around the region. They are a happy slice of Americana and provide a festive-yet-relaxed atmosphere.

The people who organize the festivals have put a good amount of time and effort into making their town shine, and a lot of pride is on the line. We salute the organizers for getting things rolling and the volunteers for all their hard work.

Many of the festivals include parades, car shows, activities and even fireworks.

Two area festivals are celebrating milestones, as Blooming Prairie and Rose Creek will celebrate the towns 150th birthdays.

Here are the upcoming small town festivals:

•June 9-11: Adams Dairy Days

•June 17: Dexter Sunflower Daze

•June 23-25: Meadowfest, Grand Meadow

•June 24-26: Lyle Independence Day Celebration

•July 2-4: Blooming Prairie Old Fashioned Fourth and 150th Celebration

•July 6-9: Rose Creek Fun Days and Sesquicentennial Celebration

•July 6-9: Uff Da Days in Ostrander

•July 14-15: Hayfield Chicken Fry

•July 14-16: LeRoy Summerfest

Plenty more

These community celebrations represent just a fraction of all the events going on in Austin this summer. Summer Theatre, for example, will kick off its 50th anniversary season next week with “Peter and the Starcatcher.”

If we didn’t name your event, don’t worry, we highlight events daily in our Page 4 community calender, which is also on the Herald website, www.austindailyherald.com/community-calendar.

And the weekly Best Bets piece features many of the community events each week. So keep checking back and get out to enjoy the summer festivities.