Wasn’t there a time when Island life started slowing down after school started? In those days the Island County Fair was the symbolic end of a busy summer with the next flurry of events huddled around the holidays.

Perhaps that was once true, but no more. There is no end to activities occurring on Whidbey Island regardless of the calendar date.

Last weekend, for example, featured Oak Harbor’s new driftwood carving contest, the Whidbey Island Kite Festival at Fort Casey, the Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour for art lovers, the huge Oyster Run of motorcycles that started in Anacortes but brings lots of rumbling bikes to Whidbey Island, and Whidbey General Hospital’s annual bicycle Tour de Whidbey.

Next weekend appears to be a bit of a respite for major events, but there’s still plenty to do, from getting rid of your old tires cheap to trying out for a play or listening to jazz.

Then a big new event dominates the following weekend, when the first Whidbey Island Farm Tour takes place Oct. 7. This promises to be a winner as it showcases the island’s farms and restaurants that feature local produce and meats. There will be plenty of other entertaining offerings as well, including a tour of solar homes.

Modern Island living is a lot more interesting than it used to be. If you don’t like that, just kick back, watch the grass stop growing and complain about the weather and politics. Nobody says you can’t still live like an old fashioned islander if that’s your choice. But if it isn’t, it’s nice to have so much to do.