Ain’t that the truth. It seems like only a week ago that I still had the heat on, and now…? Air conditioners are humming. Apparently, Mother Nature finally got the memo, and while May was a bit on the chilly side, June has been positively sultry for the last few days.

Even though summer doesn’t officially begin for another week, folks are already flocking to the Upper Delaware River region to get a head start on what promises to be a fun-filled season of parades, shows, concerts and lazy, hazy days floating down the river while fireworks fill the night skies. As Dharma and I continue to fight the ravages of Lyme disease, (check for ticks!) my calendar fills exponentially. And although I’m supposed to avoid the sun while on antibiotics, I don’t want to miss out on the myriad of events that help define summer in the Catskills.

It seems like only yesterday that I was writing about the 10th anniversary of the NACL Theatre in Highland Lake, NY (www.nacl.org), but an email this morning informed that their 20th year has begun, and it looks like an exciting season of innovative, thought-provoking and incredibly entertaining offerings that promise to stimulate in a way that only this troupe can.

Several members towered above the crowd last Saturday as the stilting corps led the Trout Parade in Livingston Manor, which as always, was fantastical fishy fun. The River Reporter was one of many booths lining Main Street during the festivities. In between chatting with fans of the newspaper, I managed to snap photos of the floats, the bands, the kids and the hundreds of revelers dancing in the streets celebrating CAS (www.catskillartsociety.org) and the wonderful programs they present throughout the entire year.

Avoiding the blistering sun, I stayed indoors the next day and missed the (always fantastic) tractor parade in Callicoon, but took advantage of the time to make out my schedule for the coming months, which are shaping up to be nothing short of amazing. The next week alone is loaded with opportunities, including Honesdale’s Roots & Rhythm Festival which draws thousands each year (see page 15). I’m also pretty excited about the 2017 season at the Forestburgh Playhouse (www.fbplayhouse.org), which begins this week and includes several of my favorite shows. “Funny Girl,” “Bye-Bye Birdie” and “The Graduate” are on the bill, along with a few offerings that I’ve never seen, like Disney’s “Newsies” and “The Little Mermaid.” So rest assured, I’ll be taking my seat (Wonder Dog at my side) with the rest of you as the curtain rises on their 70th season presenting professional theatre in a beautiful setting nestled in the woods.

Last summer, a new tradition was born, in the form of the Kauneonga Block Party, and it was so wildly successful that this Sunday’s “fun-filled day of music, entertainment, food and special events” promises to be even more so. Both the NACL Theatre and the Forestburgh Playhouse will again be on hand, and the Father’s Day crowd will be able to enjoy the many artists presenting their wares, Rosehaven’s Alpacas, pony rides for the kids, Tweed’s Gymnastics and music, music, music on the shores of the beckoning pristine lake.

Kauneonga Lake will also be home to the brand-new Bethel Lakeside Music series (find ‘em on Facebook) beginning on June 29 with fan favorite band Yasgur and presenting weekly sunset concerts at the Gazebo Community Park all summer long. If you have yet to discover Kauneonga Lake and the increasingly popular “Restaurant Row,” I would highly recommend checking it out.

“Where the heck is Kauneonga Lake?” Funny you should ask, since that catchphrase has become their motto. It’s connected to White Lake, in Bethel, NY—adjacent to that other concert venue: the world-famous Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which coincidentally (what are the odds?) opens for business this week. Headliners Neil Diamond, John Mellencamp, Rod Stewart, Blondie and The Goo Goo Dolls are just a few of the stars to appear under the stars this summer, and country crooners Luke Bryan, Brantley Gilbert and the wildly popular Zac Brown Band are also slated to return. Look for The River Reporter’s 2017 Season Preview (on newsstands everywhere) for the full roster of events and “like” us on Facebook to see photos of your favorites all summer long. To paraphrase: Fasten your seatbelts. It’s gonna be a wild ride. IMHO.