What you can do for one last hurrah of summer

Squeeze every last bit of summer while you can. We’ll soon be trading summer-evening barbecues for autumn-night pumpkin carvings, but for now it’s (still) time for summer.

Sip lemonade, take a dip in the pool, pack a picnic, curl up with a book in a porch swing.

Here are some ideas for savoring the last days of summer in metro Atlanta:

Outdoor movies

Nothing says summer like watching a movie outdoors, and a handful of summer movie series stretch well into September (or get pretty close). All of these are free.

Candler Park: Candler Park Movie Night, Aug. 22: "Pirates of the Caribbean"; Sept. 12: "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (starring Gene Wilder); Sept. 26: "Big Hero Six." 1500 McLendon Ave. (movies are by the pool house), Atlanta. http://friendsofcandlerpark.org.

Canton (Brown Park): GA Movies in the Park, Aug. 22: "Paddington." 223 E. Marietta St., Canton. www.facebook.com/GaMoviesInThePark.

Clayton County: Movies Under the Stars, Sept. 12: "The Book of Life" (Gerald Matthews Park); Oct. 17: "Rise of the Guardians" (Flat Shoals Park). www.claytonparks.com/news-events/movies-under-the-stars.aspx.

Note: Most screenings begin at dusk (about 7 or 8 p.m.) and some may also include pre-movie activities such as musical performances and family fun. While many locations allow you to bring a picnic, check each individual website for any restrictions on alcohol or the types of containers allowed. Also check each website for information on weather cancellations.

Music under the stars

From downtown to Lawrenceville to Marietta, grab a blanket and lawn chairs and enjoy outdoor music concerts. Most of them are free, but Centennial Olympic Park now charges for Wednesday Wind Down.

Centennial Olympic Park Wednesday Wind Down: From 5:30 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday through September, at the Southern Company Amphitheater in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, you can hear live jazz and contemporary music from local and touring artists. It's a $5 fee for entry (premium shows are more). Doors open at 4 p.m. and the box office is open 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday. Or purchase tickets online until 7 p.m. the day of show. For the full schedule, visit the website. Go to www.centennialpark.com and click on Spring/Summer Events under Plan Your Visit.

Lawrenceville Summer Concert Series: Visit the Lawrenceville Lawn (210 Luckie St.) for music under the stars on the last Friday of August and September. Parking is free in the downtown district. Bring a picnic or visit the food trucks on site. The concerts are free, but you can reserve a table for $65 if you wish by calling the Visitor's Center at 678-226-2639. The current schedule follows. Visit www.visitlawrenceville.com for updates and additional information: 8 p.m. Aug. 28, Shawn Mullins; 7 p.m. Sept. 25: Reuben's Bell.

Marietta Glover Park Concert Series: At 8 p.m. on the last Friday of each month through September, catch this free concert series on Marietta Square. Bring blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the free concert, but if you are looking for a front-row seat, you must reserve a table, which starts at $45. For more information, go to www.mariettaga.gov. The current lineup of bands still to come: Aug. 28: Electric Avenue ('80s hits); Sept. 25: Grapevine (oldies/R&B).

Note: Be sure to check the websites in each listing for lineup changes, weather cancellations and additional information.

SkyView Atlanta

Savor the last days of summer with a ride on a 20-story-high Ferris wheel that gives breathtaking views of the city of Atlanta. SkyView, one of the city’s newest attractions, is located outside the southern entrance to Centennial Olympic Park. The 42 climate-controlled gondolas offer a comfortable ride during these long, warm summer nights.

Flights vary but they are typically nine-15 minutes or four complete rotations.

Noon-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays; noon-11 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays. Discounted parking in LAZ parking deck off Luckie Street. $13.50 for adults; $8.50 for 12 and younger. Children 2 and under free. 168 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. 678-949-9023, www.skyviewatlanta.com.

Piedmont Pool

Many pools are still open and in many cases, the pools are less crowded, so take advantage of an opportunity to have more pool — and lawn space — to yourself.

The Piedmont Park Aquatic Center, for example, is open every day until Sept. 7 (Labor Day), and during the week, the pool remains open. So even though the kids are back in school, the pool is keeping its regular hours.

Overlooking Lake Clara Meer, the Piedmont Pool features a beach entry, four lap lanes, and a current channel. There are also concessions, a small splash pad for the little ones, locker rooms, showers and lounge chairs on a landscaped deck.

The 411: $1, children (5 and under); $2, children (6-16); $4, adults (17-54); $2, seniors (55 and older). Pool is open until Sept. 7. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; noon-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Piedmont Pool, 400 Park Drive, Atlanta. 404-875-7275, ext. 324, www.piedmontpark.org/do/swimming.html.

Ride a roller coaster

Close out the summer at Six Flags Over Georgia, which opened two new rides this year, the Joker Chaos Coaster and Harley Quinn Spinsanity, providing more thrills in Gotham City. The theme park is open on weekends and Labor Day, and its new water park, Hurricane Harbor, remains open on weekends through Sept. 13 (as well as on Labor Day). Hours vary, so check the website. $63.99; $43.99 for those 48 inches and shorter; free for ages 2 and under. Discounts available on the park's website. Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell. 770-739-3400, www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia.

Meanwhile, Six Flags White Water (with the all-new Dive Bomber, plus dozens of other slides and attractions) is open 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends through Sept. 13, plus Labor Day. $41.99; $36.99 for those 48 inches and shorter; free for ages 2 and under. 250 Cobb Parkway N., Marietta. 770-739-3400, www.sixflags.com/whitewater.