September sneaks up on us faster than a jackrabbit - so fast that we don't always have the time to take a spin on the famed local rollercoaster of the same name. Yes, soon the lovely sunny days that Mother Nature bestows upon Rochester for a few months every year will be behind us again, and the dreaded "W" season will be on its way.

But just because things are winding down and you're grabbing the last few items on those back-to-school shopping lists doesn't mean you can't enjoy the remaining days of summer vacation. And luckily, the folks at Letchworth State Park in Castile have the same idea. They've taken some of the best parts of summer - cookouts, animals, games, and even fireworks - and combined them into one super event taking place on Sunday, September 5.

The Farewell to Summer Festival is only in its second year, but its organizers say that it is already gaining momentum. Many local kids and their families actually kicked off the summer with a rock ‘n' roll-inspired event at the park back in June.

"Everyone gets the ‘end-of-the-summer' blues - especially kids," says Farewell to Summer organizer Rowland Beck. "Since we can all relate, really celebrating summer seems to draw people out of the woodwork."

In hopes of drawing a big crowd, activities will start at 1 p.m. in the High Falls Recreation Area (near the Mt. Morris entrance) and run until dark, when a fireworks display will light up the sky.

During the day, kids can participate in games, arts and crafts, hikes, and live animal demonstrations. Karin Fires, executive director for the Wildlife Educators Coalition, will be on hand with some furry friends to teach kids about natural cycles in life, including the seasons.

Fires is planning games that show off the animals' natural abilities and will entertain a crowd. Things like rodent races and guessing which numbers a rabbit will - no joke - poop on were notable crowd favorites at last year's event.

Fires says between her chatty cockatiel, Hiawatha, and her rambunctious spider monkey, Maggie, kids of all ages can enjoy the show, and learn a little bit, too.

"This festival is a nice way to cram everything in," Fires says. "It's sort of like a mini-summer in one day."

Admission to the park is $8 per car, and taking a dip in the swimming pool will run you an extra $1 per child and $2 for adults. All the events inside the park, however, are free of charge.

Even though this event is set to kiss summer goodbye, that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy the seemingly boundless beauty of Letchworth. The park is open year-round for camping, hiking, and fishing. For more details on the park and its last summer event, visit nysparks.state.us. or call 493-3600.

If you're not quite over the summer blues after that, check out one of Rochester's other famed parks - Seabreeze - for one last spin on their rides and slides. The park is offering special $14 tickets for its Final Fling weekend September 11-12 before it closes its gates until the weather gets warm again.