7 terrific Bay Area things to do over Labor Day weekend

A nice, long holiday weekend awaits, campers, so let’s rise to the occasion, shall we? We have some great ideas along those lines, including great shows and festivals, a lovely day trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea and some simply sumptuous cocktails.

As always, be sure to double check event and venue websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

1: SEE, HEAR & PLAY: Great shows and festivals are all over

From an iconic Scottish festival to awesome concerts and shows, there is no limit to all the fun out there awaiting your attention over the long Labor Day Weekend. Here are some cool ideas.

2 SEE & PLAY: Captivating Carmel-by-the-Sea

Even the tiny community’s name is enchanting. And if you’re headed there for a fun weekend, here’s a boffo itinerary.

3: EAT & SWOON: More tasty fish tacos

When we published a roundup of the Bay Area’s best fish tacos recently, many of you had brilliant recommendations of your own. So (drumroll please) here are more places to go for amazing fish tacos.

4 WATCH: The devil of a movie

Famed filmmaker Lee Daniels is back with a movie that may not quite be a masterpiece, but it will totally scare the daylights out of you.

5: COOK, EAT & CHILL: Easy weeknight dinners

While fall ushers in the return of frantic school/work schedules, these three cookbooks help make weeknight dinners more manageable and let you hold onto that summertime Zen a little longer.

6 PLAY: The Rolls Royce of football video games

You know if’s a great game, if it has John Madden’s name on. The latest installment of the famed franchise is out, and we have some thoughts.

7 SIP & SAVOR: A crowning cocktail

You know what this weekend needs? A margarita. Or better yet, four tasty and amazing margarita-like cocktails.