Last summer, our resident well-being blogger Stephanie Villinski wrote a blog urging Illinois lawyers to take advantage of their last chance to soak up summer. Did you take her advice?
Putting work responsibilities aside to focus on summer fun is not always easy for lawyers. The emails and client demands do not stop when the warmer weather hits.
However, summer does not end until September 22, so you still have time to try to fit some fun in.
In addition to summer events held by your bar associations, law schools, and civic organizations, we have compiled a list of some ways to maximize what is left of summer across Illinois.
Summer no matter where you are
- Enjoy outdoor patio dining at your favorite restaurant
- Read that book you have been meaning to read all year
- Wake up an hour earlier and take advantage of the morning quiet
- Run or walk a 5K (Chicago Volunteer Legal Services’ Race Judicata is August 29!)
- Shop at your local farmers’ market
- Visit historical state sites and national sites in Illinois
- Cheer on your favorite local sports teams
- Take in a local art or book fair
- Get a ClassPass membership and try new exercise classes
- Visit local or state parks, the nature conservatory, botanical gardens, or bodies of water
- Go to the theatre or see live music
- Have fun at a local festival (Festival Guides and Reviews has a great list of festivals across Illinois)
- Break your routine and plan a weekend getaway
State and county fairs
Summer and fairs go together. Here are a couple of upcoming fairs to check out:
- Illinois State Fair – August 8 – 18
- Winnebago County Fair – August 14 – 18
- Stark County Fall Festival – September 21 and 22
- Macoupin County Historical Society Fall Festival – September 21 and 22
Northern Illinois/Chicago
The northern part of the state has several activities that Illinois lawyers should take advantage of.
- Music at Ravinia
- Free museum days
- Anderson Japanese Gardens
- Bristol Renaissance Faire
- Weekly fireworks at Navy Pier
- Visit historic Galena, Ill.
Central Illinois
The middle of the state does not disappoint with ways to enjoy summer.
- Abe’s Amble 10K/5K – August 18, Springfield
- Fighting Illini Football – Multiple dates in August and September, Champaign
- Hoopskirt and Haber-Dash 5K Fun Run – August 24, Springfield
- Central Illinois Cultural Fest – August 24, Springfield
- 45th Annual Cultural Fest – August 24, Bloomington
- Downtown Decatur Music Festival – August 30 and 31
- Founder’s Day celebrating the Peoria Park District – September 7
Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois has many options to help Illinois lawyers have fun this summer.
- Centralia Balloon Fest – August 16-18
- Mount Vernon Thursday Night Live – Thursdays through August 29 at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
- Pioneer City Rodeo – August 30 – September 1, Palestine
- Sparta Stampede Rodeo – September 6 – 7
- Other events in Southern Illinois
Of course, tell us what we missed. What are your plans to have fun for the rest of the summer?
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Lessons for Lawyers from ‘Mr. Pommel Horse,’ Olympian Stephen Nedoroscik