Labor Day Weekend: Top 5 spots for family fun - MetroFamily Magazine
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Labor Day Weekend: Top 5 spots for family fun

Beat & Bites Festival at Riverwind Casino

by Erin Page

Reading Time: 2 minutes 

Like many of you, my kids are several weeks into the new school year. And they are fighting and bickering and whining nonstop at home. I know it’s because they are working as hard as they can to follow the rules and be kind during the school day, which means they’ve “run out of nice” by the time they get home (a common phrase in our household this time of year). While I’m grateful to be their safe place, it doesn’t make managing the unleashing of all those feelings much easier. Even though it’s still (very) early in the school year, I’m ready for a tiny break from high emotions, dragging bleary-eyed kids from their beds and rushing out the door in the mornings.

Enter my newfound favorite holiday. Labor Day weekend: you are a welcome gift, a little oasis in the chaos of back to school, that I didn’t appreciate nearly enough until I became a mom. You’re a delightful respite from the intense mom-ing I’ve been doing the past few weeks.

While my family will definitely be taking advantage of our three-day weekend by sleeping a little later, staying in pajamas well into the morning and soaking up the last of the summer sun, we’re seeking some family fun around the metro, too. It seems fitting that we celebrate getting through these first few weeks of school. And while I’m usually sad to see summer go, I’ll happily celebrate the end of this season if it means we can start ushering in some fall-like temps.

For family adventure this Labor Day weekend, check out:

  1. Go to the Payne County Free Fair this Labor Day weekendAug. 27-Sept. 1 – Payne County Free Fair at the Payne County Expo Center (4518 Expo Circle E, Stillwater) features livestock shows, a wide variety of agricultural exhibits and more. See website for schedule.
  2. Aug. 31 – FREE Fishing Days at OKC Lakes & Ponds (various locations). The City of Oklahoma City offers FREE fishing on the first Saturday of each month. No city permit is required, however, a State license is for anyone 16 and older. Regular fishing regulations apply.
  3. Aug. 31 –FREE Guided Gallery Tours at Oklahoma Contemporary (11 NW 11th St) features a free guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions. Gallery Guides lead inclusive, conversational tours that encourage curiosity. Preregister. 1-2 p.m.
  4. Sept. 1 – Core to Shore 5K at Scissortail Park (300 SW 7th St) features a certified course through the park to experience the gardens, lake, playground and other attractions, in honor of the park’s 5th anniversary. $35 before Aug. 1; $45 after. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
  5. Sept. 1 – Beats & Bites Festival at Riverwind Casino (1544 W State Hwy 9, Norman) features an outdoor concert by Dylan Scott and Connor Smith, plus food trucks and more. $10; kids (12 & under), free. 6 p.m.

MetroFamily’s Labor Day Fun Guide is a comprehensive list of all things family fun this weekend. Find a list of metro pools and splash pads to squeeze in one last visit before many close after the holiday. Plan a weekend getaway to one of our top 10 Trips on a Tankful.

From my family to yours, may your Labor Day weekend include no more labor than finding family fun together.

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