Things to do at the weekend in August

How to spend your August weekends

It’s the last full month of summer, so it’s time to make the most of the warm days and summer holiday activities, enjoy some downtime and soak up the sun as much as possible. Here are some ideas for things to do at the weekend in August.

Enjoying the late summer

While Southern Europe has been sweltering in a heatwave this summer, here in Britain it’s been a bit of a washout. Endless rain, cloudy days and lower than average temperatures do not a summer make!

But make the most of it we must, because summers in Scotland are SHORT, and it will be over before we know it. This time in a month autumn will be knocking at the door (and I’ll be sad and delighted all at the same time).

Before then though, we’ve got August. The month of never wearing socks, hot afternoons, well-used paddling pools and dried-out grass. Well, usually anyway. The last summer month that holds a hint of change and new starts in the air. That glorious combo of sunny days, final beach trips and back to school shopping. It’s a good month.

Things to do at the weekend in August

If you’re looking for ideas of things to do at the weekend in August, here’s some inspiration. A could-do list of things you might like to do this month.

1 Enjoy the bank holiday weekend

If you’re in the UK you can look forward to a long weekend this month, but when will depend on where you’re located. Here in Scotland it’s 7th August, while in England, Wales and NI it’s 28^th August.

Whichever one you get, enjoy this last free little summer holiday. Sleep late, go for a picnic, finish off your summer DIY projects, have a barbecue, go to the seaside for paddling, chips and ice cream. Whatever you do, drink in the sunshine and enjoy the end of summer to the full.

2 Get away from it all

While the weather is still warm, take the opportunity during an August weekend to get away from it all. If camping is your thing, head off for a couple of days of outdoor tranquility. If that doesn’t float your boat, go for a walk, drive or day trip somewhere remote, somewhere you can feel far away from the pressures of the daily grind. Appreciate the quiet. Unplug. Stargaze. Enjoy.

3 Have a park day

Choose a free day and head for your favourite park, and set up for an afternoon of relaxation. Meet friends, take the kids, or spend the day alone and completely relax. Pack a picnic, take the newspapers, stop by the ice cream van, relax under a tree, maybe feed the ducks. Enjoy doing as little as possible. If you have no responsibilities, drink a pre-mixed cocktail from a can. You deserve it.

4 Try some watersports

Sports such as kayaking and stand up paddle boarding have become hugely popular over the past few years. Paddle boarding is really flexible and you can do it on most bodies of water, including ponds, lakes and canals.

If you’d like to try, a quick google will probably reveal plenty of options near to you where you can learn safely with experienced instructors and all the right safety equipment. (Always take great care on open water!)

5 Make an Aperol Spritz

An Aperol Spritz might be the ultimate summer cocktail. Less bitter than a negroni, cheerily orange in colour and featuring a combination of Aperol liqueur and fizzy Prosecco topped up with soda. It’s refreshing but with a bitter-sweet after taste.

Have your own aperitivo hour this weekend and serve up the perfect Aperol Spritz. You don’t even need to know how to make it, as you’ll find all the measurements handily listed on the back of the Aperol bottle. Can’t go wrong!

6 Plant something

Your garden might still be in full bloom this month or might be starting to look a bit dry and past its best, depending on the weather! This year we’re in full drought mode so it’s all tinder dry. August might not seem like the ideal time to plant anything, but you can actually start planting some flowers now to prepare for next spring.

Get ahead and plant some poppies to flower next spring, or if you’re looking for winter colour, try planting some cutesy winter-flowering pansies.

7 Have a staycation weekend

If you’re using up annual leave or preparing for the back-to-school season, try having a staycation weekend. What you do with it is completely up to you!

If you’re desperately in need of some downtime, have a completely guilt-free weekend at home. Getting dressed is optional. Read, binge Netflix, bake cookies, do whatever chills you out.

If you’ve had quite enough of being home this year thank you, try being a tourist in your own hometown or nearest city. Take the tour bus, visit the museums, wander in the parks, people-watch at a coffee shop. Pretend you’re on holiday and you might start to feel like you really are.

8 Eat in season

All the heat-loving crops are in season at this time of year, which means you might have a glut of tomatoes and cucumbers on your hands. Beetroot, broccoli, courgettes and summer squash are all in abundance this month too, as well as plums, raspberries and blackberries.

If you’ve got a lot of tomatoes, try making a warming tomato chutney, or for an in-season summery treat, try these squash and halloumi flatbreads with chilli and beetroot jam.

9 Go to a festival

Most festivals are back in full swing after the pandemic years. So whether it’s a music, book, theatre, or any other kind of festival, it’s time to enjoy.

I’m not going to list them here as the info will be out of date almost immediately. Get googling for the latest info on events near you!

10 Have an outdoor nap

This is (probably) the last month of the year you’ll be able to enjoy an al fresco nap, so head for your sun lounger or take a blank under a tree and enjoy the kind of refreshing nap that only sleeping in the fresh air can provide!

11 Make your own ice lollies

Cool down with some amazing homemade ice lollies that taste way better than supermarket ice poles. The kids will love these Strawberry Milk Pops made with condensed milk, and for the grown-ups you can’t go wrong with a cheeky Gin & Tonic Ice Lolly .

12 Enjoy the last beach days of summer

I go to the beach all year round and am to be found there in all weathers, even on wellies and full waterproofs days. BUT summer beach days are clearly some of the best.

Take a trip to the beach this weekend, pack a picnic, and dip your toes in the water. Soak in the warmth of the sand, appreciate the brightness of the sky and the feel of the sea breeze. Listen to the waves and create a firm sunny memory that you can recall in the dark depths of winter.

13 Gather round the firepit

No, not like on Love Island (but enjoy the last week in the villa if that’s your thing. I’ll be watching!) If you’ve got a firepit or chimenea in your garden, gather round as the nights get cooler and enjoy the light evenings. Add some solar lanterns so you can stay out as late as you like, and you can even try making S’mores.

14 Go back-to-school shopping

New pencil cases, stationery, school shoes and lunchboxes. It doesn’t matter how old you get – these things always bring a tinge of excitement and a tidal wave of nostalgia.

If you’ve got kids, enjoy the back-to-school shopping trips (eye-watering costs aside) and while you’re there, treat yourself to a new water bottle or a smart new pen. And if you don’t have kids, buy yourself those things anyway – August demands it!

15 Start thinking about autumn

By the end of August, autumn will be getting really close and the bittersweet end-of-summer feeling will be here. Shorter days, cooler weather, kids back to school. Barbecues and paddling pools might have had their time for this year – but boots, scarves and all things pumpkin are on their way.

I hope this post has given you some ideas of ways to spend the weekends this August. If you have any favourite activities for this time of year, let me know in the comments!