Keep making those summer memories

Was it really that long ago when this approximate date on the calendar was met with such unbridled joy, anticipation, celebration and enthusiasm?

Of course, we are talking about the day when school let out for the summer.

Running out of the classroom, swinging the (mostly) empty schoolbag in the air. Unclipping the pre-made tie and pulling the shirttails of that white uniform dress shirt out of your pants.

Chanting, “No more pencils. No more books. No more teacher’s dirty looks.”

Every day for the next two months would be devoted to Little League games, swimming at the swim club, wiffle ball games in the backyard, family week at the Jersey Shore, a night or two with Dad at the Phillies game, the annual 4th of July picnic with the extended family (Uncle Joe always brought the whole watermelon) and, once again, attempting to build that tree fort.

Of course, there also was that “educational” day trip in the station wagon to places like Washington, D.C., New York City, the Kutztown Folk Festival or the Conowingo Dam. Unfortunately, those trips were usually “highlighted” by battling traffic, sunburn, taking a wrong turn and getting lost or somebody getting car sick.

Long-faded memories from the family photo album? They don’t have to be. This can be a new summer of adventure and activity.

And the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board is helping. They have put together a long list of summer activities in the area. Plus, they are putting their money where their mouth is.

The VFTCB kiosk, the branded Mini Cooper car and the popular Monty the Fox mascot will be at many events.

Of course, the big event in Montgomery County this summer is the new Volta show by Cirque du Soleil, which appears under the big top at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. It runs July 12 to Aug. 5.

But there are other options – on almost a nightly basis.

“We have an exciting summer tour planned,” said Ed Harris, chief marketing officer at the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board. “The tour is primarily focused across our backyard towns in Montco.”

A few of the stops – like the Trenton Thunder-Reading Fightin’ Phils minor league baseball game or the Normandy Farms Groove and Graze have already taken place. The VFTCB presence received a warm reception.

But a long list of activities

still exists. Don’t miss out on a chance to create some summer memories … that could last for many years to come.

Here is the list of the VFTCB summer activities:

•June 21 – Elmwood Park Zoo’s Beast of a Feast, Norristown

•June 23 – Pottstown Rumble, Pottstown

•June 26 – Landmarks in Lights, Bryn Athyn

•July 1 – iBall United’s Sports Carnival, Pottstown

•July 4 – Valley Forge National Historical Park Fourth of July Celebration, Valley Forge

•July 4 – Pottstown GoFourth!,

Pottstown

•July 6 – 8 – USA BMX Stars and Stripes, Pottstown

•July 7 – 8- Liberty Bell Challenge, Fort Washington

•July 12 – KOP Town Center Summer Event, King of Prussia

•July 19 – Normandy Farms’ Jazz on the Vine, Blue Bell

•July 22 – Pottstown Bike Race, Pottstown

•July 27 – Round Guys Beer Event, Lansdale

•July 27 – 29 – XpoNential Music Festival, Camden

•July 28 – Hatboro’s Moonlight Memories Car Series, Hatboro

•Aug. 3 – Lansdale First Friday, Lansdale

•Aug. 9 – KOP Town Center Summer Event, King of Prussia

•Aug. 12 – Main Line Bike Race, Ardmore

•Aug. 16 – 19 – Philadelphia Folk Festival, Harleysville

•Aug. 18 – Ambler Bike Race, Ambler

•Aug. 24 – Normandy Farms’ Gatsby-Q, Blue Bell

Add the long list of summer concerts at sites such as the Plymouth Community Center, Whitpain’s Wentz Park, Norristown’s Elmwood Park Bandshell, Lansdale’s White’s Road Park and it becomes easy to fill your summer with music. Don’t forget the Philadelphia Folk Festival in Schwenksville.

Or, choose one of the myriad of summer churchsponsored feasts in the area. Bridgeport’s Sacred Heart Feast just concluded but plenty still remain -Holy Savior, MSS, Mt. Carmel, Lansdale’s St. Stanislaus Festival.

Plus there is the 17th Montgomery County Amateur Championship – identifying the best golfers in Montgomery County on a number of different levels (www.montcoamateur.com). The Championship Division will be held Thursday, Aug. 2 at Blue Bell CC – 36 holes in one day to test the county’s best golfers. Also the Senior Division and Women’s Division will be contested on that day – but only an 18-hole event.

The Junior Championship returns to a familiar venue, Friday Aug. 3 … but under a new name. The former Plymouth CC is now The 1912 Club. Again, this is open only to county residents who have not reached their 19th birthday.

Open to anyone, from anywhere, with an attested handicap is the Individual Handicap Championship, Saturday, July 28 at Westover GC and the Better-Ball-of-Partners Handicap Championship on Sunday, July 29 at Raven’s Claw GC. Winners of each event claim a spot in the 2019 World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach.

All events, except the Junior Championship, are followed by a Taste of Montgomery County – with favorite food items from local restaurants and food purveyors. Players and their guests are invited, free of charge.

Bottom line: Don’t let the summer fly by without creating some new memories. Pick from the list of events in the area and make it a summer of activity.