EDITORIAL

The Advocate-Messenger

You may or may not like to hear it, but summer is winding down. In less than a month, students and teachers will be back in classrooms.

But summer fun isn’t over yet. There’s still time to get out and enjoy the weather, and in Boyle County, there are great opportunities this weekend: the fifth annual Back-to-School Block Party at Millennium Park is this Friday; and Perryville’s third annual Snappin’ Chaplin Turtle Derby festivities take place on Friday and Saturday.

The block party is 12-9 p.m. at Millennium Park, and it’s a great way to enjoy good food and fun in the park, while also giving families in need opportunities to sign up for assistance. Free lunches will be provided to children from 12 to 2 p.m. and food trucks will be there all day selling their specialties for adults to enjoy. Another free food event is from 4 to 5 p.m., when Vaughn Little will be cooking and doling out pulled pork and chicken.

Perryville’s Turtle Derby events run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. There will be “Dockdogs” competitions, with dogs jumping into pools; bouncy houses and a petting zoo for kids; kayak racing; and of course, the Turtle Derby at 7 p.m. Saturday, when “adopted” rubber turtles will be dropped en masse into the Chaplin River for a race downstream.

The weather is cooperating for a beautiful weekend, as well: There’s a small chance of rain on Friday, but it should be partly sunny with a high of 82. The sun will be out on Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the low 80s those days, as well.

Next weekend is the Soul of 2nd Street Festival, offering another chance to party before Summer starts to fade. The festival will be held in Constitution Square, and it always provides a great way to celebrate Danville’s African-American heritage and history.

You don’t have to go with the crowds, however — you can hit up Perryville Battlefield, the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge or one of Boyle County’s many trails on your own or with friends.

Whatever you do, don’t let the rest of this summer slip away without enjoying the community, culture and natural beauty that make this a great place to live.