The countdown until summer is nearly over, and the abundance of free time that summer provides brings plenty of possibilities. For many seniors the final summer before adulthood means maximizing your time before heading into “the real world”. Here’s what’s on the class of 2026’s summer bucket list. 

Explore Chicago
The class of ‘26 is looking forward to seeing the sites of the city. Some popular spots include Oak Street Beach, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Shedd Aquarium and Grant Park where Evan Bradford likes to skate with his friends.

Watch a sporting event
There’s nothing better than sitting in a ballpark with a steaming hotdog or some popcorn. Declan Klyn knows what I mean. He says he can’t wait to watch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.
You can also catch a WNBA game, a soccer match or NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend (July 1 and 2.)

Discover a new city
Cayla Tucker is excited to visit her friend in England.
“I’m excited to see the different botanical gardens. We’re going to the Queen’s Gardens,” she says.
Mahal Reyes can’t wait for her trip to the Philippines. Other grads going global include Alice Nguyen who’s visiting Italy and Douwe Groen who’s going to Germany.

Check out a new book
Kate Gleason has a ‘BookTok’ with her friends Ruby Zeman and Flannery Marak (c/o 2025). They recommend checking out “Shark Heart” by Emily Habeck, “My Friends” by Frederick Backman, “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt and “Poison for Breakfast” by Daniel Handler this summer.
You can log your reading time for raffle tickets to win prizes on the Homewood Public Library website. Their summer reading challenge begins June 6..

Go for Yoga
Senior summer can be filled with lots of emotions. One way to stay active and practice mindfulness is to try yoga. If you’re not very flexible, you could also try meditation.

Grow a Garden
Nikolai Lawrence is famous amongst his friends for his glorious garden.
“I manage my garden with my mom, and together we grow tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, and a lot of hot peppers,” he said.
According to online blog Urban Farmer, some plants that grow well in summer are cucumbers, melons, herbs, and beans.

Go to a music festival
Joslyn Simmons is excited for Summer Smash and plenty of students are counting down the weekends until Lollapalooza.
There are also plenty of free festivals if you’re on a budget. The Grant Park music festival, the Millenium Park Summer Music Series, and the Chicago House Music Festival & Conference are all happening this summer in Chicago.