Things to Do Before School Starts in the South Suburbs

Summer break winds down fast once August hits, and it's easy to let the last few weeks slip by in a b

lur of packing lunches and shopping for supplies. Before the bell rings, carve out time for a few of these south and southwest suburb favorites — some are one-last-hurrah fun, others are the practical stuff that makes the first day of school go smoother.

Squeeze in One More Splash Pad or Pool Day

Most park district outdoor pools and splash pads across the south suburbs stay open through Labor Day, so there's still time. Check your local park district's site (Orland Park, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, and Homer Glen all run seasonal splash pads and pools) for closing dates before you assume summer hours are over.

Hit the Library for Back-to-School Prep

Local libraries across the south suburbs typically run end-of-summer reading program wrap-up parties and back-to-school prep events in early-to-mid August — things like backpack tag crafts, school supply organizing sessions, and "meet your teacher" style prep activities for younger kids nervous about the transition. Call or check your library's event calendar directly, since these vary branch to branch and year to year.

Get School Supplies Without the Chaos

Shopping early — the first week or two of August — beats fighting crowds and picked-over shelves closer to Labor Day. A few south suburb spots worth checking for sales and tax-free weekend promotions:

• Target and Meijer locations in Orland Park and Tinley Park often run early back-to-school promotions

• Local school supply drives run by area churches and community groups pop up in early August — worth a quick search for "[your town] back to school supply giveaway 2026" since these are organized locally and change yearly

Get Ahead on Sleep Schedules

Not a place to go, but worth saying: starting the bedtime shift 1–2 weeks before school starts (rather than the night before) makes the first week dramatically easier on everyone. Small, gradual shifts — 15 minutes earlier every few days — work better than an abrupt switch.

Take One Last Weekday Adventure

Before schedules fill back up, use a weekday (less crowded than weekends) for something that feels like "summer" one more time — a forest preserve trail day, a trip to a local splash pad, or an ice cream outing. The south suburbs have plenty of forest preserves through the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and Will County that are quieter on weekdays and free to visit.

Get Haircuts and Photos Out of the Way Early

Back-to-school haircuts and picture-day-ready trims get busy the week before school starts. Booking early in August avoids the back-to-back rush at local salons and barbershops.

Have a south suburbs back-to-school tradition, event, or favorite spot we should add to this list? Let us know — we update this guide every year.