The 90 Days of Summer

90 ways to cool off, pig out, run amok, drink up, chill out and party on, every day this summer.

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Courtesy Silver Dollar City The Big Swing is not, in fact, a Penthouse Letter. It's a high-flying ride at Silver Dollar City.

June 4

Party on a patio
Nothing says summer like a warm afternoon or evening drinking outdoors. Our favorite is Ebbets Field, because it is spacious, near Hammons Field, and they serve beer in plastic cups. Other great choices include Bailey’s, Big Whiskey’s, Galloway Station and (here’s a sleeper) Rodizio Brazilian Grill.

June 5

Pop a squat at trops
Springfield’s coolest drinkery, Topical Liqueurs is the ultimate summer hangout. Try the Bear Claw. 420 S. Campbell Ave., 417-832-9067

June 6

Rock at the Lake
Apparently happening in lieu of Springfield RockFest this summer, but we’re not complaining about a Friday night at the lake. Chevelle, Sevendust, 10 Years, Rev Theory, Thousand Foot Krutch and Red Line Chemistry are all at Stoneridge Amphitheater in Camdenton, near Lake of the Ozarks, tonight. Gates open at 3 p.m. 2367 N. State Hwy. 5, Camdenton, 800-585-3737; 3 p.m., $35 at the gate; startickets.com

June 7

Watch the WolfPack
Springfield’s indoor football team is pretty dang good this year. Cheer them on at Mediacom Ice Park against the Kansas Koyotes. 635 E. Trafficway, 417-866-7444; $7–$15 single game, 7:05 p.m.; springfieldwolfpack.net

June 8

Get Thee to Shakespeare
It’s the final weekend for A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Jordan Valley Park. 635 E. Trafficway, 417-831-5233; 6:15 p.m., Free; theskinnyimprov.com

June 9

Play at Silver Dollar City
Let’s forget for a moment that you’re in your 20s, 30s or older (thanks for reading!) and get honest: You love Silver Dollar City’s kids festival, even though you’re old enough to do grown-up stuff like drink and swear. Don’t worry: we understand the attraction of lots of primary colors, neat stuff to play with, magic shows, singing cucumbers, and—this year—a circus on ice. No sh*t! The Silver Dollar City children’s festival runs June 7 through August 10. 399 Indian Point Rd., 800-475-9370; $49.44–$5.59; silverdollarcity.com

June 10

Join a Pickleball league!
What is pickleball? It’s a combination of ping pong and tennis, played with wooden rackets and whiffle balls on a badminton-sized court with a low net. You can join a league right now at Doling Park, which plays every Tuesday beginning June 10. 301 E. Talmage St., 417-837-5900; $25/person; parkboard.org.

June 11

Tent Theatre begins
Missouri State University’s grand summer tradition. For a full schedule and show synopses. 900 S. National Ave., 417-836-7678; $10–$22; tenttheatre.missouristate.edu

June 12

Ride Roaring Falls
Indiana Jones will have nothing on you… once you ride Roaring Falls three times, anyway. Celebration City’s newest, wettest ride is a five-story, 55-degree drop. 1383 State Hwy. 376, Branson, 800-475-9370; $23.44–$29.02; celebrationcity.com

June 13

Drive-ins, with Dick
The Dick Clark Theater’s ’57 Drive-In is featuring movies this summer, and free ones at that. Tonight’s special: American Graffiti, complete with full concessions and a beer garden. 1600 W. Hwy. 76, 417-332-1960; Dusk, Free; dickclarksabbranson.com

June 14

Seussical: The Musical
Whoever said summer was theater downtime was obviously talking about July and August. SLT’s final show of ’07-’08 (running June 13-15, 19-22 and 26-29) is the classic Seussical, in which most of Dr. Seuss’s most-loved characters all get together and sing a bunch of songs. 311 E. Walnut St., 417-869-1334; $15-$25; springfieldlittletheatre.org

Photo courtesy Skinny Improv The Skinny's Celebration City crew: Too funny.

June 15

Take dad to the zoo
If there are two things we know dads like, it’s monkeys and baseball. Make sure your dad gets both of these this Father’s Day. Admission to Dickerson Park Zoo is free for dads today. Then, prior to the Springfield Cardinals 6:10 p.m. game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, kids can play catch with dad on the field. And, yes, this is okay even if you’re 40 and your dad is pushing triple digits. Just remember to add extra padding to your glove, whippersnapper. Dickerson Park Zoo: 3043 N. Fort Ave., 417-833-1570; $3-$7; dickersonparkzoo.org. Hammons Field: 955 E. Trafficway, 417-863-2143; 6:10 p.m., $5.50-$25.50; springfieldcardinals.com

June 16

Shrek at Branson Landing
Watch Shrek, Donkey and the gang under the stars on Branson Landing’s promenade. 100 Branson Landing, 417-239-3002; 9 p.m., Free; bransonlanding.com

June 17

Skinny Improv in Branson
Springfield’s favorite comedians take the show on the road to Celebration City every Tuesday this summer. 1383 State Hwy. 376, Branson, 800-475-9370; $23.44–$29.02; celebrationcity.com

June 18

Hunt For the Terrorist
Where in the World in Osama bin Laden, Morgan Spurlock’s new doc, opens today at Moxie Cinema. 408 W. Walnut St., 417-429-0800; 7:45 p.m., $8; moxiecinema.com

Courtesy Dr. Zhivegas The Good Doctor comes to the Isle of Capri (for only $10) on June 20.

June 19

GOnection
Join the GO Team at our monthly happy hour/networking get together, this month downtown at Trolley’s. 107 Park Central Sq., 417-799-0309; 5:30 p.m., Free; springfieldgo.com

June 20

Dr. Zhivegas at Isle of Capri
Now here’ s a road trip worth taking. Perhaps the best party band in the state, Zhivegas will light up the stage at Boonville’s floating casino. Tickets are only $10, which are odds we’ll take any day. 100 Isle of Capri Blvd., 660-882-1239; 7 p.m., $10; isleofcapricasinos.com/boonville

June 21

Justin Guarini: Live!
We can hear the sixteen-year-old girls screaming already. Of course, they’re twenty-four now. But that shouldn’t dampen the American Idol Season One nostalgia one iota. Justin takes the stage at 7 p.m., capping off a day of fake snow, military exhibits and other parks randomness. 635 E. Trafficway, 417-866-7444; 4-9 p.m.; Free; parkboard.org

June 22

Bearded Clam dive-in movie
Movie nights are the new black in the lazy-summer-patio circuit, and none are cooler than the outdoor flicks at The Bearded Clam in Kimberling City. Every Sunday, you can kick it by the pool, enjoy a few well-earned adult beverages, yell at a few rug rats and watch a cult-classic movie (they’ve already shown Tommy Boy!). 12051 Hwy. 13, Kimberling City, 417-739-4440; 9 p.m., Free; thebeardedclameatery.com

June 23

Take a Ridez in Branson
Here’s something different: At Branson Landing’s coolest new toy shop, RideMakerz, kids of all ages can build custom radio-controlled cars (think Build-A-Bear with shocks and struts). 100 Branson Landing, 417-866-5874; prices vary; ridemakerz.com

June 24

Cats at Hammons Hall
Meeeow! A traveling version of this famed (and, we’re not gonna lie… fairly creepy) Andrew Lloyd Webber musical makes Hammons Hall its personal litter box June 24 and 25. All cat jokes aside, this is one of the biggest-ticket local theatre events of the summer. 525 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., 417-836-7678; 7:30 p.m., $15-$50; hammonshall.org

June 25

Texas League All-Star game
Last year’s playoffs notwithstanding, this is the biggest day in Hammons Field’s history that doesn’t include the St. Louis Cardinals. The best of the best from the Texas League’s eight teams will square off today. And don’t miss the Home Run Derby, scheduled for before the game. 955 E. Trafficway, 417-863-0395; gates at 5 p.m., $6 and up; springfieldcardinals.com

June 26

Ozark farmers’ market
Farmers’ market held amid the shopping and dining of historic downtown Ozark. Just head to the square, and you’re there. 417-582-6246; 6 p.m., Free; ozarkmainstreet.com

June 27

Be Sociable
The Sociables, the GO Music Award winner for best hip-hop group, plays The Outland tonight.  326 South Ave., 417-863-9779; 9 p.m., Cover TBA; myspace.com/springfieldoutland

June 28

Firefall
Say what you will about Springfield’s annual concert in the sky; you’re not a true 417-lander if you’ve never been. We suggest getting there as late as possible (if you drive) and as early as possible (if you take the shuttle from the Missouri Entertainment Center).  2801 N. Aviation Ave., 417-864-1049; all day, $10 per car, $20 per RV; springfieldfirefall.com

June 29

OOVVDA wine weekends
North Springfield’s neighborhood winery offers tours and tastings every weekend this summer, or you can join their wine club for only $20 a year. Seriously. A fun fact to know and tell: OOVVDA stands for Overboe’s Own Viking Vintner’s Distinctive Alcohols. 5448 N. Berry Ln., 417-833-4896; noon-dusk, F–M, prices vary; oovvda.com

June 30

Ride the Ducks
The best way to see Branson without burning your own fossil fuels: These open-air, amphibious vehicles. For extra glee, quack at people in convertibles as you pass. 2320 W. Hwy. 76, 877-887-8225; $19; bransonducks.com

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