The long winter is behind us, and finally we can look forward to summer and plenty of entertainment and community events to enjoy over the next three months.

Save some gas money and plan to stick around the Rugby area this summer. Here are several items to mark on your calendar.

-The Rugby Lions Club will start its 14th Music in the Park concert series on June 10. There will be 10 free concerts over the summer, held in Ellery Park every Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m.

-The Dale and Martha Hawk Antique Farm Show brings people from all over the area every June. The three-day event is June 12-14, and it is just a short drive to the Hawk Museum located northeast of Wolford.

-Village Arts, Inc. will be conducting its annual summer musical in June. This year’s musical will be “Suessical,” and it will be performed June 23-26.

-The Pierce County Fair will be held July 3-4. Last year’s event drew a nice crowd, and fair organizers hope to build on that success. A few crowd favorite events return, including the local talent show.

-Fourth of July fun in Barton. A parade, community meal and fireworks at dusk highlight this annual celebration.

-Prairie Village Museum’s Village Fair. Of course, the museum is open seven days a week throughout the spring and summer months, but the highlight is the annual Village Fair planned for August 9.

-The Geographical Center Speedway has six racing dates on the schedule (four remaining). This is the 22nd year auto races have been a fixture at the Pierce County Fairgrounds. Remaining race dates are June 5 and 19 and July 11 and 23.

-The Rugby Racing Association’s annual Balta Demolition Derby and Little Flower Corn Feed will be held at the Balta Dam Recreation area on August 2.

Plan to take in all or some of these events this summer. Your attendance will make these events successful and ensure our community will continue to host them in the future.