Summer officially starts early next week, which means more hot weather on the horizon. Temperatures have already crept up to high levels this past week, and there will be little to no relief from our Texas heat in the coming months. ERCOT also sent an alert this week for Texans to conserve energy where possible. It's important to keep in cool areas during the hottest times of the day and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Wear loose, light clothing outdoors and avoid heavy exertion during the middle part of the day to later afternoon. Here is some additional advice from our Emergency Management Coordinator to help protect yourself and others from the excessive heat:

If you have these signs, move to a cooler location and drink plenty of water. Take a cool shower and/or use a cold compress.

If you have these signs, seek emergency help immediately. Keep cool until treated.

Click here for some additional information on protecting yourself and others from the excessive heat during the summer season.

A series of special summer events for the family starts this evening, along with a variety of summer camps for your little ones to enjoy. Here are some activities and camps you can expect in the next few hours, days and weeks to follow:

The City of Lakeway Parks & Recreation Department has special in-person outdoor free "Rhythm and Reels" events planned for the entire family, and the first one starts tonight! This three-part series will feature treats, live music and movies at our popular parks. The first event will happen this evening (Friday, June 18) starting at 7 p.m. Food, treats and games will be set up starting at 7 p.m. at Ranger Field (502 Hurst Creek Road). Ice cream and burgers will be available for purchase. Corn Hole, Giant Jenga, Spike Ball, Can Jam, Ladder Ball and other games will be available to enjoy as well. At 7:30 p.m., enjoy a live musical performance by The Lost Pines, a local premiere bluegrass and classic country band. Then, at 8:30 p.m., relax on some lawn chairs or on a blanket to a special movie screening of The Sandlot. Future events are being planned for Friday, July 16 and Friday, August 6, so stay tuned! Click here for more.

The Lakeway Swim Center will host this special event on Friday, June 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Step into your favorite luau clothes with your family and join us for an evening of games, free snow cones, dancing and swimming activities. There will also be a chance to learn authentic Hula dance with an instructor from Hawaiian Kona Isle. Lakeway Swim Center drop-in rates apply, and it's free for those with a summer membership. Click here for details.

It's only weeks away, but anticipation is already growing for the City of Lakeway Fourth of July Celebration. The weekend activities will be a blast this year with a fireworks kick-off show planned for Friday, July 2 at 9:30 p.m. Fireworks will shoot off near Rough Hollow Elementary School off Tomichi Trail. On Saturday, July 3, join us along Lakeway Drive for the City's special parade starting at 8:30 a.m. with the theme "America, the Beautiful - A Symbol of Freedom." A special hot dog reception will follow at the Lakeway Activity Center. Then, on Sunday, July 4, splash around with some Lake Travis mermaids during "Mermaid Day" at the Lakeway Swim Center starting at noon. Click here for more details on the fun activities planned that weekend.

Several summer camps and programs are available for your children this summer season. There are programs available for sports, engineering, science and arts now available for registration. Classes take place in June, July and August, and incorporate a variety of age groups and skill levels. Click here for details about all of the camps available, and for registration information. Still have questions? Call the Lakeway Activity Center at (512) 261-1010.

If you still need a COVID-19 vaccine, the Central Texas Counties Vaccine Collaborative is offering another opportunity this weekend. No appointments will be necessary for another vaccine event happening Saturday, June 19 at several locations including the Travis County Expo Center and the Delco Activity Center. Anyone age 12 and above will qualify to get their first free dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Click here for details on locations and times.

A total of 84,344 cases have been reported to date in Travis County. There have been a total of 2,715 cases in the Lakeway area (zip codes 78734, 78738 and 78669) since the start of the pandemic (up 6 cases from the same time last week). There are currently 267 active cases at this time in Travis County (up from 260 last week) and 76 individuals hospitalized in the region (down from 81 last week). Click here to review the COVID-19 case dashboard. Click here for more details on hospitalizations.