Chill out this summer in Fuquay-Varina

This article was written for our sponsor, Fuquay-Varina.

The summer season is the perfect time to get out and have some fun, but we know that summer days in North Carolina can get seriously sweltering. Luckily, the Town of Fuquay-Varina has got you covered with plenty of things to do and ways to chill out with your family and friends.

Check out some of our top summer picks – if you're a local, these options are worthy of a nearby outing. If you're from Cary, Raleigh, Apex or another neighboring suburb, these cool ideas are definitely worth the trip.

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Everyone loves ice cream on a hot summer day. That's why each year on National Ice Cream Day the Town of Fuquay-Varina puts on an epic Ice Cream Social.

"This is something we started a few years ago," said Jonathan Cox, director of parks and recreation with the Town of Fuquay-Varina. "It's done at the Fuquay Mineral Spring Park, which is a historic gathering place for the town. People can come out, socialize, and enjoy free ice cream, lemonade, and tea."

The Fuquay Mineral Spring Park is where the town began.

This year, the social will take place on Sunday, July 21 from 4 until 6 p.m. The cherry on top? You can cool off with your frozen treat while enjoying live music by saxophonist James Brown — bring the whole family!

Cool Off With A Show at the Arts Center

Can't take the heat? Enjoy some A/C and a show at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center. The newly opened center offers a variety of performances from live music to community theater, films, movies and more.

"We have everything from community and professional theater, to entertainment like comics and magicians, storytellers, concerts and all kinds of music," said Maureen Daly, director of the Arts Center. "We have a crew of almost 40 instructors and a huge variety of classes as well."

The calendar roster so far includes theater performances, an improvisational night of Broadway fun, a Beatles-esque tribute band and a magical performance by Joshua Lozoff — an illusionist known for mystifying and amazing his crowds.

A new gallery exhibit featuring local Apex artist Caroline Coven will also open to the public in July.

Check out the Arts Center box office to see what else is going on.

Do the Brew with Aviator

Cold beer is a great way to cool off on a hot day, and Aviator Brewing Company has so many unique ways to help you get your brew on. Whether you prefer your beer with beer, your beer with food or your beer at home, Aviator has you covered.

Chill out with friends at the Award-Winning Aviator Smokehouse BBQ Restaurant for an amazing meal and a perfect pitcher of summer ale.

Or maybe you'd prefer a visit to the Aviator Tap House where they keep the beer at the perfect draft temperature of 47 degrees, which is ideal for experiencing all the beer's great flavors, not to mention helping you beat the heat. You'll find a 38-foot mahogany bar and dozens of beers on tap – all housed in the historic renovated Varina train depot.

If you're a brew geek, get behind the scenes and take a brewery tour, which are offered Thursdays through Sundays. Tours take 30 minutes, and you'll learn details on the brewing process, packaging, fermentation, get a look at the cellar and more.

"We offer more of a neighborhood, corner-bar atmosphere rather than a sports bar atmosphere," said the owner of Aviator, Mark Doble, who takes a lot of his inspiration from his time living abroad. "It's more like an English pub. I went to college in Wales and brought that pub atmosphere into the Tap House. We have some of the same guys and girls come in, and they just sit at the bar, talk and socialize."

Finally, if you're a homebody – you're still in luck. The Aviator Beer Shop has a great selection of house-made brew — take home a six-pack and chill on the couch.

Cool Off At the Park

Did you know that Fuquay-Varina parks cover 430 acres of beautiful land? The Fuquay-Varina parks system boasts 22 great parks to choose from for all your summer fun. Whether you're a tennis fan, a greenway aficionado or just want to enjoy a picnic with the family, the parks of Fuquay-Varina deliver.

"We have several exciting additions to our park system currently underway," Cox said. "Fleming Loop Park is undergoing a $5.5 million renovation to add seven lit multi-purpose soccer fields. There will be a paved walking track, three play areas, a shelter and other amenities."

He added, "The expansion of Park-Depot Greenway gets underway this summer. When complete, the greenway will span approximately two miles and connect a large subdivision, Old Honeycutt Park, Willow Spring High School and a future elementary school."

From beautiful walking trails to playgrounds, recreational activities and much more, enjoying the outdoors is a great way to get out of the house. Beat the heat by getting an early start and taking a nature walk.

To cool off the kiddos, there's an incredible 6,000-square-foot splash pad featuring more than 30 jets of shooting water.

There's even a park just for your four-legged friends to hang out. The eight-acre Fuquay-Varina Downtown Dog Park is an off-leash park with water stations and lots of shade for your furry pals to enjoy some canine fun.

This article was written for our sponsor, Fuquay-Varina.