After a chilly April and soggy May, summer can’t come fast enough for most of us. Although the season doesn’t officially move in until June 21, the unofficial Memorial Day weekend kickoff sure was steamy enough to get us dreaming of what’s to come.
So here are our top 10 reasons why we love summer in Hinsdale.
10. The farmers market
The annual outdoor mart offering a range of products from produce and meats to juice and natural remedies opens this Monday along Chicago Avenue adjacent to Burlington Park and continues every Monday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 24 (read more about it on Page 17).
9. Outdoor dining
Have you seen the new black planters enclosing downtown outdoor dining areas with an embrace of refinement? No longer simply a COVID coping exercise, eating out — literally — is here to stay in Hinsdale. Time to make your reservations!
8. Free parking
The coin meters have been bagged and the new three-hour free parking policy has gone into effect in the central business district. No need to horde nickels, dimes and quarters in anticipation of downtown trips. Just move along before the license plate reader catches you overstaying your welcome.
7. Hinsdale Community Pool
The offseason work to renew this treasured facility was on full display as residents flocked to the pool this past weekend. Whether there for the fun and sun, as members of its swimming and diving programs, or earning money as a staff member, this is a destination for all to enjoy (see story on Page 7).
6. Pickleball
The sport sweeping the nation has gained a foothold in Hinsdale. The village is sponsoring a men’s and women’s mixed doubles round robin tournament Saturday, June 11, on the Brook Park courts, and pickleball lessons are available there all summer long. Check it out!
5. Fine Arts Show
The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce will again host some 85 artists in Burlington Park this Saturday and Sunday, June 4 & 5. There’s something for everyone at this event, another local harbinger of the unfolding season.
4. Live theater
The youthful casts of “Descendants: The Musical” (opening tonight) and “Bring It On!” (opening June 9) will provide a showcase of local talent while entertaining audiences, something to celebrate after the suspension of so many theater companies during the pandemic (see story on Page 9).
3. Family fun
The Lunch on the Lawn series begins Wednesday, June 15, with The Great Boodini Show in Burlington Park. Pack a picnic and soak in the fun — and do it again July 13 with Sarah Jayne Lane and Aug. 3 with Juggling Funny Stories. If movies are more your thing, watch “Sing 2” under the stars Friday, June 17, in Robbins Park, complete with Hinsdale Parks & Rec popcorn!
2. Uniquely Thursdays
Starlight City gets this popular weekly concert series rocking June 16 in Burlington Park and the music and fun continues through Aug. 18.
1. Independence Day Parade
Show your patriotism at this cherished tradition, known for a great lineup of marching bands, military reenactment groups, local notables and more.
So grab the sunscreen and get your summer on!
